Sweaty / Tryhard definition: what "Sweaty / Tryhard" means and examples

These terms are used to mock someone who is taking a casual activity far too seriously. A "sweaty" player is someone trying so hard to win a video game that they are presumably perspiring from the exertion. A "tryhard" is the person in a casual setting who acts like they are in a professional competition. While it might sound like a compliment to us, to a teenager, being called a tryhard implies you lack "natural cool" and are desperate for validation. It reflects a social value where looking effortless is often more respected than showing visible struggle or intense ambition, especially in social or recreational settings.

Examples:

1. "We were just playing a casual game of football, but he was being so sweaty and slide-tackling everyone."
2. "I don't want to look like a tryhard by showing up in a full suit for a casual birthday dinner."
3. "The other team was being so sweaty in the qualifying round that it wasn't even fun to play anymore."