What does it mean when somebody says "just take the "L"?

Question

came from this thread on boxden, where this kid gets the biggest ownage in internet history

http://slumz.boxden.com/showthread.php?t=816902

everybody is telling him to just give up and "take the L" what does this mean?

Answer 1

i couldn't really follow your link, but i'll profer this response regardless:

i can think of two contexts for the phrase "just take the 'L'."

if one were to seek a public transit route in Chicago - say, from O'Hare to the Loop, or from Wrigleyville to the Ravenswood - one could "just take the 'L'," i.e., take the elevated train. i have heard two etymologies for "the L" in Chicago: the "L" stands for "Loop," the circuitous central downtown route of all the arterial train lines, or the "EL," an abbreviation of "elevated," which much of these tracks are.

the other context would be in sports, where the "L" stands for "loss." one finds oneself in an unwinnable contest; just take the loss - take the "L" - with whatever dignity one can salvage and move on to the next game.

i'm sure any of us could imagine other metaphorical contexts.

Answer 2

Take That L

Answer 3

I have heard the term used in as take the L train- and also Loss- or L shape- D

Answer 4

I don't have a login on that site so I can't see it. But I believe it means to just take the loss. (i.e. when a sports team loses it takes another tally in the "L" column)

Answer 5

I agree, take the loss. Just take the loss. Make sense to me.

Answer 6

take the loss

Answer 7

In urban language it means take the d*** that's why they say skinny girls take the L

Answer 8

I couldn't check it out-not a member, but...I believe "take the L" means to take the train or subway or bus...

Answer 9

you catch an L if you say something stupid or, if you try to sound intelligent