mic
A short, casual word for a microphone, the device you speak or sing into.
A microphone, especially referred to in an informal or casual way.
To put a microphone on a person or thing so their sound can be heard or recorded.
To fit or equip a person, place, or object with a microphone, especially for recording or broadcasting sound.
Someone’s turn or chance to speak or perform with the microphone.
A person’s opportunity or role to speak, rap, or perform using a microphone, especially in live or recorded settings.
The place or channel on audio equipment where you plug in a microphone.
The microphone input or channel on an audio device, used for connecting and controlling a microphone signal.
- Base: mic
- Plural: mics
- Base: mic
- 3rd Person Singular: mics
- Present Participle: micing
- Past: miced
- Past Participle: miced
cut the mic
1Turn off someone’s microphone
To turn off a microphone so that the person using it cannot be heard.
- They cut the mic when he started to swear on live TV.
- If we run over time, just cut my mic.
- The director yelled at the crew to cut the mic immediately.
grab the mic
1Quickly take the microphone to speak
To take the microphone, often quickly or confidently, so you can speak, rap, sing, or perform.
- She grabbed the mic and started an impromptu speech.
- Rappers were invited to grab the mic and freestyle.
- He loves to grab the mic at family parties and tell long stories.
hot mic
1Microphone left on by mistake
A microphone that is on and sending sound when the person speaking thinks it is off, often catching private or unplanned words.
- The politician was caught on a hot mic making rude comments.
- Be careful, your mic is hot and everyone can hear you.
- The host didn’t realize it was a hot mic situation.
mic check
1Testing if a microphone works
A short test to see if a microphone is working and if the volume is good before a show, speech, or recording.
- We’ll do a quick mic check before we start the panel.
- You can hear the host saying, "Mic check, one, two" on the recording.
- The band is running late, but sound has already finished the mic check.
mic drop
1Dramatic gesture after a strong point
An action, or a way to talk about an action, where someone ends a speech, joke, or comment in a very strong way, as if they drop a microphone and walk away because nothing more needs to be said.
- He ended his presentation with a real mic drop moment.
- Her final line was such a mic drop that the room went silent.
- The tweet was basically a political mic drop.
on the mic
1Speaking or performing into a microphone
Speaking, rapping, singing, or hosting while using a microphone.
- Tonight we’ve got Jenna on the mic hosting the event.
- He sounds nervous on the mic but very confident offstage.
- She’s much funnier on the mic than in casual conversation.
open mic
1Event where anyone can perform
A show in a bar, club, or similar place where regular people, not only professionals, can come and perform using a microphone.
- She tries out her new jokes at a local open mic.
- The café hosts an open mic every Thursday night.
- He first performed his songs at an open mic in college.
open mic night
1Evening event where anyone can perform
A night at a bar, club, café, or similar place where anyone can sign up to perform comedy, music, poetry, or other acts using a microphone.
- We met at an open mic night at a small bar downtown.
- The comedy club’s open mic night is every Wednesday.
- She uses open mic nights to practice new songs.
pass the mic
1Give someone else the chance to speak
To give the microphone to another person, or more generally to let another person speak or lead the conversation.
- I’ll pass the mic to our next guest.
- The host passed the mic around so everyone could introduce themselves.
- It’s time to pass the mic and hear from younger voices.
step up to the mic
1Begin speaking or performing in public
To go to the microphone and start speaking or performing; also, to accept a public role or responsibility where you have to speak or lead.
- Don’t be shy, step up to the mic and share your idea.
- She finally stepped up to the mic and told her side of the story.
- New leaders need to step up to the mic and address these problems.