dirty note

[ˈdɜrti noʊt]
nounpl: dirty notes
bilhete sujo; recado obsceno
1. A written message containing vulgar, obscene, or sexually explicit content
He slipped a dirty note into her locker as a prank.
Ele colocou um bilhete sujo no armário dela como uma brincadeira.
2. A piece of paper with insulting or offensive language written on it
The teacher found dirty notes being passed around during class.
A professora encontrou bilhetes sujos sendo passados durante a aula.
3. In music, a note that is played with a distorted or unclean sound quality (slang)
That guitarist really knows how to hit dirty notes for effect.
Aquele guitarrista realmente sabe tocar notas sujas para criar efeito.
Dirty notes are historically associated with schoolyard behavior and youth culture, particularly in contexts of flirtation, bullying, or classroom disruption. In Brazil, this is common slang in schools and informal contexts. The term can refer to both sexually suggestive messages and insulting notes. In American culture, passing notes in class is iconic behavior, with 'dirty notes' representing a rebellious or mischievous variant.
NYC Slang
nasty note; raunchy message
Synonyms / Sinônimos
obscene notevulgar messagelewd notecrude note
Antonyms / Antônimos
clean notepolite messageappropriate note

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
bilhete sujo
Most common term used in schools and casual contexts
General Brazilian
recado obsceno
More formal alternative
São Paulo
bilhete indecente
Regional variation
Portugal
nota suja; bilhete imoral
Portuguese European usage; slightly more formal

Related Words

obscenityvulgaritygraffitiinsultharassment

Related Idioms & Phrases

pass dirty notes
write dirty notes
slip someone a dirty note
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