suction

The term "suction" is primarily used by children, teenagers, and young adults in Hawaii to describe a wedgie. It is a playground slang word that originated from the physical sensation of the underwear being "suctioned" upward.

While mostly used in a joking, juvenile context among friends, it can also appear in bullying situations at schools. Adults rarely use the term unless they are reminiscing about their small-kid days or scolding children for roughhousing. It is highly informal and inappropriate for professional or polite conversation.

Micah stared at the rusted green lockers, his jaw tight as the rest of the JV football boys laughed. Keoni had been riding him since warmups, bumping his shoulder, stepping on his cleats, and now he was standing too close, tossing a roll of athletic tape from hand to hand. The air in the Castle High locker room felt thick, smelling of cheap body spray and damp concrete. Nobody was looking directly at Micah, but everyone was waiting to see what he would do.

"What, you going cry?" Keoni sneered, stepping into Micah's space and grabbing the waistband of his gym shorts. "Going give you one mean suction right now if you don't hand over the keys."

Micah slapped Keoni's hand away, his knuckles turning white as he gripped his duffel bag. He knew if he swung, he'd be off the team before the season even started, but the threat of a wedgie in front of the whole defensive line was pushing him to the edge. He locked eyes with Keoni, refusing to blink, the silence stretching out until the heavy metal door banged open and Coach yelled for them to get outside.