hard-on

[ hahrd-on, -awn ]

noun

, Slang: Vulgar.

, plural hard-ons.

1. an erection of the penis.

Word History and Origins

Origin of hard-on¹

First recorded in 1890–95

About This Word

What does hard-on mean?

A hard-on is slang for an erection of the penis. It has been extended as a metaphor for being excited about something in general.

The vulgar slang hard-on is not to be confused with the expression to be hard (on someone) is to be mean and critical, or to he expression to go hard (on something), meaning “to go all out.”

What are some other forms of hard-on?

hard on

Where does hard-on come from?

To be hard (on someone), or “to be tough on or critical of,” has also been around since at least the 1860s. Hard, here, implies unfeeling treatment. In the 1950s, hard-on was slang for “tough” or “aggressive” behavior.

Hard on for “sexually aroused” is evidenced in 1893, as in He was hard on for her. By 1922, the word had become a noun for “erection” (e.g., He had a hard-on). Erect penises are characterized—if you need us to spell it out—as hard.

By the 1990s–2000s, hard-on had extended (no pun intended) to intense excitement in nonsexual contexts (e.g., You have a hard-on for McRib sandwiches).

How is hard-on used in real life?

As a noun, a hard-on is slang for “erection”—and not something you want to go around saying in a polite setting.

Verb phrases involving hard on vary in meaning. It often appears in to be hard (on someone), though in British English to be hard (on someone), as a cop on a thief, can mean “on the heels of.”

To go hard (on something) is Black slang for “going all out,” or “being really into” it, whether it’s sports or burritos.

Idc if the music industry shifted against buying, if you know that BTS don’t have radio, GP streaming nor high curated playlisting you go hard on songs sales, it’s totally doable. Cry me a river, and that’s the last I’m gonna say. Things got better tho, keep buying legends 💕

— 🥳 (@hyyhgcfilm) February 25, 2020

 

More examples of hard-on:

“To me, ‘being hard on yourself’ — it’s just another way of saying ‘having passion for the game.’ It’s just another way of saying ‘high expectations.’”

—Ryan Howard, The Players’ Tribune, September 2018