Slang dictionary
TFG
tfg [ tee-ef-jee ]
What does TFG stand for?
TFG is an abbreviation that stands for “The Former Guy.” TFG is specifically used to refer to US President Donald Trump during the period after his first presidential term ended in 2021. This was used as a way to avoid mentioning him by name in online posts.
TFG is typically used by people who oppose Trump to indicate disrespect for him, prevent additional attention, and avoid responses from his supporters.
Example: I refuse to repost anything from TFG.
Where does TFG come from?
TFG is an abbreviation of “The Former Guy.” The use of “The Former Guy” as a way of referring to Donald Trump was inspired by President Joe Biden dismissively referring to him as “the former guy” when pivoting away from questions about his predecessor during a February 2021 town hall.
When reporting on the event for The New York Times, columnist Gail Collins suggested TFG as a nickname that could be used to make fun of Trump and frustrate him by avoiding use of his actual name.
The use of TFG as a way for opponents to refer to Trump on social media increased over the next several months following the election of Biden.
Using TFG to refer to Trump is considered a form of “Voldemorting,” the practice of avoiding the explicit mention of a person’s name in online discussion as a way of preventing more attention for that person or unwanted interaction with their supporters. (The name of the practice is a reference to the character Voldemort in the Harry Potter stories, whose name is considered taboo and is often replaced with “He Who Must Not Be Named.”)
Some people use TFG in reference to Trump with a different intended meaning, most commonly one in which the letter F represents a different word.
Examples of TFG
Who uses TFG?
TFG is typically used by those who oppose Trump as a way to avoid mentioning him by name when discussing him on social media. It is almost always used in the context of critical comments.
I am sick and tried of seeing TFG'S face everywhere. Are you?
— Gary Richardson (@12SpUnKy)
Note
This is not meant to be a formal definition of TFG like most terms we define on Dictionary.com, but is rather an informal word summary that hopefully touches upon the key aspects of the meaning and usage of TFG that will help our users expand their word mastery.