Since 2000, the reality competition Big Brother has aired every summer on CBS, growing its audience of devoted fans who adore its eccentric sensibility and quirks. With more than 20 seasons under its belt, Big Brother has developed its own unusual culture and jargon, as any show with that much history inevitably does.
Longtime viewers understand and speak the show’s lingo like a second language, but it can be a lot for new fans to take in. Whether using acronyms that refer to particular game mechanics or unofficial shorthand slang to name familiar social aspects of the game, true Big Brother fans know a whole glossary of inside terms unique to the show.
Slop
When half of the house is voted haves, the other half are named have-nots, there are a few "punishments" that come with being an unfortunate have-not. These punishments include cold showers, uncomfortable bed situations and annoying tasks. But the most iconic punishment for have-nots is being forced to eat terrible food, specifically a revolting gruel called "slop." Similar to oatmeal, slop is comprised of oats, water and lots of whey protein. The contestants must endure slop for an entire week, with no alternatives on the menu.
“Expect The Unexpected”
Every fan of Big Brother understands that the contestants should never get too comfortable, because anything can happen at any point to change up the game. Julie Chen, the iconic host of the reality competition, has made the phrase “expect the unexpected” her longtime catchphrase on Big Brother, an admittedly common expression that has become something of a ominous shibboleth for Big Brother devotees. True fans of the show have witnessed Big Brother's many creative twists and game-changing announcements throughout the years, twists that torment the houseguests but keep fans thoroughly entertained and coming back for more, season after season.
“Doing What's Best For My Game"
When certain phrases leave a contestant's mouth, fans know that something unexpected is about to happen. This is the case when Big Brother houseguests claim they're "doing what's best for my game." This expression is usually employed when a contestant is about to do something sinister like blindsiding someone who trusts them or voting to evict someone that they’ve promised to keep in the game.
One memorable moment of this happening was season 17 with the blindside eviction of Austin by Vanessa. These two were allies, with the latter of the two concluding that Austin’s eviction would be her only chance to remove a strong player from the competition and "do what's best for her game" in the end.
Floater
The term "floater" in Big Brother parlance is reserved for a houseguest who has proven themselves to be a non-threat with few competition wins throughout the season. Usually, these players have a good social game in which they are “cool” with everyone in the house, and if there are alliances, they are usually Switzerland. This ambiguity allows them to float through the competition without so much as a nomination for eviction. Floaters are often the most likable Big Brother players in the house. However, only one player, Jordan Lloyd of Big Brother 11, has won a season as a floater. Floaters typically land between eighth and third place.
HOH
Head of Household is a title given each week to the houseguest that has won the minigame competition for that week, granting them immunity from eviction. Along with this huge perk, the houseguest also receives the HOH room for the week. The room comes with a big bed and private bathroom, a letter from home, the HOH's favorite snacks, and some photos from home. Along with these perks, the HOH has the difficult responsibility of placing two housemates’ on the block, which can be both good and bad for the HOH’s game.
On The Block
It's never fun to be up for eviction, and when a houseguest is on the block, that's exactly what they're up against. Each week, it's the HOH’s task to put two other houseguests on the block. Being on the block means the possibility of exiting the game depending on which of the two players on the block the houseguests vote to evict.
Of course, things in the Big Brother house are never that simple. Houseguests who are on the block have the opportunity to take themselves off the block if they earn POV.
POV
With only one chance to save themselves before truly facing eviction from the house, the two HOH-nominated houseguests on the block must compete in the POV competition. POV in Big Brother terms doesn't stand for "point of view" but Power of Veto. Winning the Power of Veto is crucial for a houseguest who is on the block. The golden POV provides an opportunity for a houseguest to remove themselves from the block and remain in the game for another week. The POV competitions can go either way, especially when the two houseguests on the block compete not only against each other but also three other houseguests, including the HOH.
Backdoor
There's usually no reason for a houseguest to tell their target they're a target, especially when backdooring them is an option. Backdooring someone in Big Brother's house is an “elaborate” plan whereby the HOH nominates a pawn and their main target for eviction. This is done all while reassuring their main target that they’re the pawn and the other nominated houseguest is their actual target. The overall goal is usually for the HOH to evict the strongest player in the competition without getting “too much blood on their hands.” Big Brother has seen some of the best blindsides in reality TV history, while others failed horribly.
Pawn
Pawns are usually an essential component of any strong backdooring. When an HOH has a clear target in mind for eviction, they typically don't want the target to know they're being gunned for, so they'll put a pawn on the block. The pawn is a likable houseguest whom the HOH puts on the block because they are at low risk to receive votes for eviction. The idea is that the other houseguests will be virtually forced to vote to evict the main target instead of the pawn.
It's important that a pawn be widely liked, because the entire point of putting them on the block is that most of the other houseguests won't want to evict them. However, using pawns sometimes backfires, especially if the HOH's main target wins the POV and take themselves off the block, leading to the pawns unintended eviction in their place.
Showmance
When a network locks a number of young, attractive people in a house-shaped TV studio for several months, there's bound to be a little romance. In a competition show such as Big Brother, these show-based romances have created the neologism “showmance.” A showmance is a romantic connection that blossoms within the show. In the case of Big Brother, developing a showmance is often a strategic blunder that puts a target on the back of both parties. On the other hand, showmances sometimes prove to be more than just flings. Although most of them don't last, there are some showmances from Big Brother that are still going strong.