What Does DWS Mean In Texting? (Explained!)

DWS usually means “dealing with sh** in texting. It’s a way of saying you’re busy doing something. It can have a few other meanings, such as “dry wallet syndrome”, “drunken whore syndrome”, and more. Most commonly though, it means you are dealing with something frustrating.

DWS can have a few different meanings, then, but in texting it usually means dealing with sh**.

There are a variety of contexts in which you might use this phrase, and indeed all of its other variants in terms of meanings.

Let’s find out more.

In This Article

What does DWS stand for in texting?

Most commonly, DWS in texting stands for “dealing with sh**”.

You’ve probably heard this expression in spoken English, too, and it is just a way of saying that you are essentially busy with what you are currently dealing with.

This could be any number of scenarios, such as at work or in your personal life. “Can you come help me move tomorrow?” “No, sorry, I’m DWS right now,” for example.

It’s a way of saying you’re busy and you’ve got a lot on your mind.

There could be a variety of contexts in which this phrase might be used.

It could be used as a way of explaining your behavior. “Are you okay? You’ve been acting strange.” “Yes, I’m fine, I’m just DWS right now,” for example.

How seriously this phrase is being used can also depend on the context. It might be as simple as dealing with a very minor issue, such as having spilled something on yourself. On the other hand, it could be something very serious.

A person simply saying that they are DWS could indicate they’d like some privacy and that you don’t press about the topic anymore.

On the other hand, it could be a way of downplaying it, and simply trying to express that the specifics of it don’t matter.

It depends on the person and the situation, then. There shouldn’t be any harm in simply asking if it’s anything the person would like to talk about, if you aren’t clear on how they’re really feeling.

Most of the time, using this offhand expression likely shows that the person is not really dealing with anything serious—although it never hurts to make sure.

Where does this phrase come from, then?

Where does DWS come from?

We don’t know for sure where DWS originated.

It seems to have been in use by the early 2000s quite broadly, so it seems that it arose in the earliest days of texting culture and slang.

In the 1990s, when commercial cell phones were first available, they more or less exclusively featured alphanumeric keyboards.

Compared to our fast, modern, responsive QWERTY keyboards, typing on an alphanumeric keyboard was a laborious and tedious process.

Thus, everyone was looking for ways to make things faster. Early texting produced countless such abbreviations as this.

They also all spread quickly to the internet, which also happened with DWS.

Thus, it became entrenched in internet and texting lingo from the earliest times.

Since then, though, its meaning has largely expanded and it does have a few other meanings in certain contexts, now.

Let’s look at those.

What does DWS mean on TikTok?

DWS on TikTok can mean a couple of things.

To be clear, it can still mean dealing with sh**.

This is a really useful internet slang phrase in itself which can have broad application, naturally, especially in the modern age of sharing your whole personal life on social media!

One other very common meaning on TikTok is “dry wallet syndrome”.

This is a slang phrase referring to not having any money, ever.

This is the most common alternative meaning on TikTok. “I have no money these days—a severe case of DWS!” for example.

More rarely, it used to jokingly suggest “desperately seeking wife”. This means someone wants a wife and is willing to ask anyone.

Again, though, it’s usually meant as a joke and not seriously.

What about on Snapchat?

What does DWS mean on Snapchat?

DWS, again, can also mean “dealing with sh**” on Snapchat.

It’s used most often in this way the same as it is anywhere else. However, it can have other meanings which are more specific to Snapchat.

One of these meanings is “dripping with sarcasm”.

You might add DWS to the end of a message or story update to make it clear you’re being very sarcastic about something. “I’m so looking forward to school today. #DWS” for example. Using it as a hashtag is very common.

Does it have any other meanings?

What else does DWS mean?

DWS can mean a handful of other things, in rarer cases.

One less common meaning is “dats wassup”, a colloquial expression essentially meaning something is good. “Oh you brought the soda? DWS!” for example.

In some cases, it can also mean “driving while suspended,” a legal term that became a slang term in parts of Australia.

It can also be taken to mean “driving while stupid”.

While there are different things it can mean in different contexts, “dealing with sh**” is definitely the most common meaning.

It’s a common and useful expression in texting, a shorthand way of expressing what you are doing and dealing with.

But it’s taken on a variety of other humorous meanings in other contexts like social media, so always be on the lookout for other potential meanings!

More in Texting Meanings

Founder - @PollyWebster

Polly Webster is the founder of Foreign Lingo and a seasoned traveler with a decade of exploration under her belt.

Over the past 10 years, she has journeyed to numerous countries around the globe, immersing herself in diverse cultures, traditions, and languages.

Drawing from her rich experiences, Polly now writes insightful articles about travel, languages, traditions, and cultures, sharing her unique perspectives and invaluable tips with her readers.

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