from Hokkien
Very tough; demanding. Also spelt "xiong".
Week one of BMT damn siong.
by Singlish Dictionary · 18 October 2026 · adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA)
from Hokkien
Deep; complicated; hard to understand.
This movie too cheem for me, I slept halfway.
by Singlish Dictionary · 18 October 2026 · adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA)
from mixed
To get lost and end up far off course ("go Holland"). Also "go hor lan" or "go Holland".
Follow his directions, sure hor lan.
by Singlish Dictionary · 18 October 2026 · adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA)
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from Hokkien
Don't hesitate; go for it now.
The sale ending tonight, mai tu liao!
by Singlish Dictionary · 18 October 2026 · adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA)
from English
To overachieve so much that everyone else looks bad. Also "spoil the market".
Who submitted the report one week early? Spoil market.
by Singlish Dictionary · 18 October 2026 · adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA)
from English
To deliberately overlook a mistake.
Parked one minute only, the auntie close one eye.
by Singlish Dictionary · 18 October 2026 · adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA)
To shower or bathe (said to young children).
Come, pong pong time, then sleep.
by Singlish Dictionary · 17 October 2026 · adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA)
from Cantonese
To go out for a walk (often said to kids).
Wear shoes, we go gai gai.
by Singlish Dictionary · 17 October 2026 · adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA)
from Malay
To go for a stroll; to wander around.
Sunday no plans, just jalan jalan at the mall.
by Singlish Dictionary · 17 October 2026 · adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA)
from Malay
An about-turn; to turn round and go back, or to run from trouble.
Saw the queue at the clinic, straight away ke belakang pusing.
by Singlish Dictionary · 17 October 2026 · adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA)