Sharking
Meaning
Sharking is a multi-purpose expression, used in various contexts and situations, most of them related to acting as a sexual predator.
One common use of “sharking” is related to the popular trend in Japan, where men are randomly approaching women to suddenly expose their breasts or genitalia, by pulling their skirts, blouses or panties.
Another widespread application of the slang is among pick up artists, who use sharking as an expression for relentlessly chasing the prey; determined, repetitive attempts at seducing someone.
Alternatively, people have defined “sharking” with acts such as chewing nipples, or pushing a boner against the back of a sleeping partner.
Origin
“Sharking” had been in use in the English language since the 17th century, where it was associated with usury, fraud, or tricks.
This origin is reflected in the phrase loan shark.
Over the years, its meaning had shifted, although it never truly turned into a popular slang expression.
Spread and Usage
The term was first defined on Urban Dictionary in 2003, with a large amount of varying definitions having been written since that time.
With the height of the internet, “sharking” videos had gained a bigger and bigger prominence on porn sites, resulting in more and more victims getting caught on camera, without suspicion.
External References
- Urban Dictionary – Sharking