The Complete Coupon Lingo Cheat Sheet – Every Term Explained
Confused by couponing abbreviations like BOGO, OOP, ECB, or YMMV? This coupon lingo glossary explains more than 120 common couponing terms, abbreviations, rewards phrases, and legacy deal-community shorthand in plain English. Bookmark this page and never be lost in a coupon community again!
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Target
Target Circle deals, home, beauty, baby, grocery, electronics, and seasonal savings.
Walgreens
myWalgreens deals, Walgreens Cash opportunities, beauty, health, and household offers.
BJ’s Wholesale
Bulk groceries, household products, membership savings, and warehouse-club offers.
Bath & Body Works
Candles, fragrance, body care, seasonal sales, and recurring promotional events.
Bed Bath & Beyond
Furniture, bedding, kitchen, storage, décor, and home shopping opportunities.
Ibotta
Check current cashback offers and referral bonuses before or after eligible shopping trips.
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A
$0.50/1, $1/1Fifty cents off one item, one dollar off one item. The number after the slash is the quantity required to use the coupon.
$1/2, $2/2One dollar off 2 items, two dollars off two items. You must buy the stated quantity to redeem.
2/$1, 3/$1Two for a dollar, three for a dollar. A price format common at dollar stores and discount retailers.
ACAfter Coupon — the price you pay after the coupon discount is applied.
AIPAltered Internet Print — a fraudulently modified printable coupon. Using AIP coupons is coupon fraud. Always use legitimate coupons from CouponFairy.
ALAAs Low As — best case scenario price, depending on which coupons you use and the sale price.
ARAfter Rebate — the cost of the item after you receive your rebate check or credit.
B
B&MBrick and Mortar — a physical store/building, as opposed to online shopping.
B1G1 / BOGOBuy One Get One — usually buy one get one FREE, but sometimes followed by a discount (e.g. B1G1 50% off). One of the best deal types to stack with manufacturer coupons.
B2G1Buy 2 Get 1 free. Same concept as B1G1 but requires purchasing two items to get the free one.
Balanced Couponing ⚠ FRAUDA made-up term used to justify the fraudulent use of coupons on products they weren’t intended for, by exploiting coding errors that allow them to scan anyway. This is NOT a legitimate couponing method. Always follow all restrictions printed on the coupon.
BD / BreakdownBreakdown — the details of a deal: item price, coupon used, where to find it, and the final out-of-pocket cost.
BeepWhen the register beeps after scanning a coupon, it means the discount didn’t auto-apply and the cashier may need to enter the price manually.
BlinkieCoupons dispensed from a blinking machine on store shelves, positioned near the products they’re for. Pull one out and it automatically dispenses another.
BOLOBe On the Look Out — a heads-up to watch for a specific deal, coupon, or product.
BricksA type of internet printable coupon with “bricks” in the web address. Can usually be printed twice — print once, hit back, refresh, print again.
BRPBalance Reward Points — a legacy Walgreens term. Balance Rewards was replaced by myWalgreens, which uses Walgreens Cash rewards instead of Balance Rewards points. See current Walgreens deals and coupons.
BTFEBox Tops for Education — a school fundraising program now centered on the Box Tops mobile app. Shoppers generally earn for their school by scanning eligible receipts or using supported connected accounts rather than clipping old cardboard labels.
BumpTo comment on a forum thread to move it back to the top so others can see it.
C
Cartwheel / CWLegacy name for what evolved into Target Circle. Current Target rules allow certain Target offers to combine with one manufacturer coupon per item, while Target Circle digital manufacturer coupons do not stack with paper manufacturer coupons. See Target coupons or shop Target.
Catalina / CATCoupons printed by a machine next to the cash register after your receipt. Can often be used like cash on your next purchase at most stores.
Checkout 51A free cashback app. Earn cash back by purchasing specific products and submitting your receipt.
CNPCoupon Near Product — similar to a blinkie but a paper coupon placed near the product rather than from a machine.
CO / C/OCents Off — a coupon value expressed in cents rather than dollars.
Coupon AngelSomeone who gives you coupons for free — a true hero of the couponing community!
Coupon FairyOriginally referred to someone who left coupons near products in the store for strangers to use. Now also refers to providers of coupon inserts and deals — like us! Visit CouponFairy.net for free printable coupons and daily deals.
Coupon PolicyThe official rules each store follows for accepting coupons — covering limits, types accepted, stacking rules, etc. Most stores post their policies online. Always read it before shopping.
Coupons.comA major printable coupon website founded in 1998. One of the most widely used sources for manufacturer coupons.
CPN / Q / QponShorthand for Coupon — you’ll see all three used interchangeably in forums and couponing communities.
CQCompetitor’s Coupon — a coupon from one store accepted at another (e.g. Publix accepting Winn-Dixie coupons).
CRTCash Register Tape — usually used when discussing CVS coupons that print at the bottom of your receipt (ECBs).
CSCustomer Service.
CVSCVS Pharmacy — a major U.S. pharmacy retailer and a longtime couponing destination through ExtraCare and ExtraBucks Rewards. See CVS coupons or shop CVS.
Creative Couponing ⚠ FRAUDAnother term used to justify fraudulent coupon misuse — using coupons on products they weren’t intended for because they’ll scan anyway. Not legitimate. Always follow the printed restrictions.
D
DDDear Daughter (chat slang) — or Dead Deal when an offer has expired or is no longer available. Also sometimes “Dumpster Dive” — searching recycling bins for discarded coupon inserts.
DGDollar General — a popular discount retailer with strong coupon and digital deals programs.
DHDear Husband / Darling Husband — chat slang used in couponing forums and communities.
DNDDo Not Double / Does Not Double — printed on some manufacturer coupons to prevent stores from doubling the value.
Double CouponWhen a store doubles the face value of a coupon (e.g. a $0.50 coupon becomes $1.00 off). Most common on coupons valued $0.50 or less. Store-dependent — check your store’s coupon policy.
DQDigital Coupon — a coupon loaded directly to your store loyalty card or app rather than printed on paper.
E
EAEach — refers to the price or discount per individual item.
Early ActivationWhen a sale starts before the advertised date. Worth watching for — especially on apps.
ECBExtraBucks Rewards — CVS rewards earned through qualifying ExtraCare promotions and offers. Redemption and delivery methods can vary, so check your CVS account and the current offer terms before planning a deal.
E-Coupons / DQElectronic coupons loaded directly to your store loyalty card (Kroger Plus, CVS ExtraCare, Walgreens myWalgreens, etc.). No printing required — discount applies automatically at checkout.
ETSExcludes Trial/Travel Size — a common coupon restriction. The coupon will not apply to small or travel-sized versions of the product.
ExpExpires / Expiration Date — when the coupon is no longer valid. Always check before shopping!
F
FARFree After Rebate — the item is effectively free once you subtract the rebate you receive after purchase.
FillerAn inexpensive item added to your cart to meet a minimum purchase requirement (e.g. “spend $50 to use this coupon”) or to match the number of items to the number of coupons you’re using.
FSFree Shipping — applies to online orders.
FSOTFor Sale or Trade — used in coupon trading communities when offering coupons in exchange for others.
G
GAF / GABGreen Advantage Flyer / Green Advantage Buy — Publix’s grocery flyer with additional sales and coupons, independent of the weekly ad. New one every 3 weeks.
GCGift Card or Gift Certificate.
GDAGood Deal Alert — a heads-up about a particularly strong deal.
Glitch ⚠ CAUTIONAn error in register scanning, price programming, or coupon coding that produces an unintended price. Advertising or exploiting glitches hurts companies and ultimately consumers. Please don’t share or take advantage of glitches.
Glittering / Glitter Couponing ⚠ FRAUDFraudulent use of coupons by exploiting coding errors so they scan on products they weren’t intended for. This is NOT legitimate couponing — it raises prices for everyone and can result in stores tightening coupon policies.
GMGeneral Mills — often refers to the General Mills insert in the Sunday newspaper.
H
HBAHealth and Beauty Aids — a product category or store section covering non-food items like shampoo, lotion, makeup, and medicine.
HTHangtag — a coupon or info tag hanging directly from a product. Sometimes called a wine tag.
HTHHope That Helps! — friendly chat slang used in coupon forums.
I
IbottaA cashback app with retailer and product-specific offers. Eligibility and stacking rules vary by offer, so check the terms before buying. Check the current Ibotta referral offer →
In-Ad / IAIn-Ad coupons — coupons printed in the weekly store ad, usually found near the store entrance.
InsertsPaper coupon booklets distributed with newspapers, mailers, or other print channels. Insert brands and schedules change over time, so older abbreviations such as SS and RP may still appear in archived deal posts even when the insert itself is no longer current.
IP / IPQInternet Printable Coupon — a coupon you print at home from sites like CouponFairy.net, Coupons.com, or SmartSource.com.
ISInstant Savings — a discount applied automatically at the register without needing a coupon.
ISOIn Search Of — used in forums when someone is looking for a specific coupon or deal.
IVCInstant Value Coupon — Walgreens store coupons found in monthly booklets and ads.
💲 Coupon + Cashback: Check Both Before You Buy
A coupon can reduce the purchase price while a compatible cashback offer may add another layer of savings. Always check the current terms because not every rebate can be combined with every coupon.
J
JFYJust For You — either Safeway’s personalized load-to-card offers, or CVS’s “Just for You” percentage-off purchase coupons sent via email to cardholders.
K
KKellogg’s — often refers to the Kellogg’s coupon insert or products.
KrogerMajor grocery chain throughout the Midwest and South, and parent company of Ralph’s, King Soopers, and others. Known for strong digital coupons via the Kroger Plus card and app.
L
Loyalty CardA store membership card that unlocks sale prices and digital coupons. Essential for couponing at Kroger, CVS, Walgreens, Publix, and most major grocery chains — always free to sign up.
M
MatchupsA listing of available coupons matched to items in a store’s current weekly ad to maximize savings. Many coupon blogs (including CouponFairy) publish weekly matchups.
MF / MFG / MFRManufacturer — usually refers to a manufacturer coupon (as opposed to a store coupon).
MIRMail-In Rebate — requires you to mail a form, receipt, and/or UPC to receive money back. Less common now that digital rebates (Ibotta, Fetch) are available.
MMMoney Maker — when the total coupon value exceeds the cost of the item, resulting in store credit or overage that reduces your total bill.
MQManufacturer Coupon — issued by the product’s maker, accepted at most stores. Different from a store coupon — and you can often use both on the same item (stacking).
N
NCBNo Cash Back — the store will not give change if your coupons exceed the purchase price.
NEDNo Expiration Date — rare but valuable! Coupons with no expiration date can be saved indefinitely.
Net CostFinal price after all sales, coupons, rewards, and cashback offers have been applied. Your true cost of an item.
NLANo Longer Available — the coupon has reached its print limit or expired. Check your binder in case you printed it before it expired!
NSL / NSRNo Size Limit/Restrictions — the coupon applies to any size of the product, including travel sizes.
O
OOPOut of Pocket — the actual cash you pay the cashier after all coupons and discounts. The goal is always to minimize OOP!
OOSOut of Stock — the item is sold out. Ask for a rain check (RC) to buy at the sale price when it’s restocked.
OTCOver the Counter — medications sold without a prescription. A common category for high-value coupons at CVS and Walgreens.
Overage / MMWhen coupon value exceeds item price, creating a “money maker.” The overage reduces your total order cost or is paid out as store credit, depending on store policy.
OYNO / OYNPOn Your Next Order / On Your Next Purchase — a reward or coupon valid on a future transaction, not the current one.
P
PAF / PABPurple Advantage Flyer / Buy — Publix’s Health & Beauty flyer with additional sales and coupons, separate from the weekly ad. New one every 3 weeks.
PeelieA coupon you peel directly off the product packaging in-store.
PG / P&GProcter & Gamble — one of the largest manufacturers of household and personal care products. Their Sunday newspaper insert is a major coupon source.
PMPrice Match — when a store reduces its price to match a competitor’s advertised price. Also means Private Message in chat contexts.
POPProof of Purchase — the barcode on a product, usually required for mail-in rebates.
Printable / IPA coupon you print at home from the internet. Find printable coupons daily at CouponFairy.net.
PublixAmerican supermarket chain (AL, FL, GA, SC, NC, TN) famous for accepting competitor coupons and running BOGO deals that stack with manufacturer coupons — a couponer’s paradise.
Q
Q / Qs / QponShorthand for coupon — used in forums, social groups, and deal posts.
R
RRegional — a coupon or deal only available in certain geographic areas.
RAK / RAOKRandom Act of Kindness — leaving coupons for strangers, sharing deals, or donating inserts to others.
RCRain Check — a slip from the store letting you purchase an out-of-stock sale item at the sale price when it’s back in stock. Not all stores offer rain checks — ask at customer service.
RebateA manufacturer offer to refund part or all of a purchase price after you submit proof of purchase. Now often done digitally via apps like Ibotta and Fetch Rewards.
RakutenAn online cashback shopping portal. Start at Rakuten, click through to a participating retailer, and eligible purchases can earn cashback under the current retailer terms. Check the current Rakuten referral offer →
RedPlum / RPA legacy Sunday coupon-insert name frequently seen in older coupon databases and archived matchups. The RedPlum name is no longer a current weekly insert brand, but the RP abbreviation remains useful when reading older deal posts.
RMNRetailMeNot — a major coupon aggregator website with printable and digital coupon codes for thousands of stores.
RollingUsing rewards earned in one transaction to pay for another in the same visit — a classic CVS and Walgreens strategy to maximize ECBs and Register Rewards.
RPRedPlum — legacy abbreviation for the former RedPlum coupon insert. Most useful when reading older coupon matchups and archives.
RRRegister Rewards — Walgreens Catalina rewards that print with your receipt. Can be used toward future purchases.
S
SASESelf-Addressed Stamped Envelope — sometimes required when requesting coupons by mail from manufacturers. See the CouponFairy Manufacturer Contact List for who to write to.
SCOSelf Check Out — the self-service register where you scan and bag your own items.
Shelf ClearerA couponer who buys every unit of a product on the shelf. Considered bad etiquette in the couponing community — leave some for others!
SmartSource / SSA legacy coupon-insert abbreviation. SmartSource was a major Sunday insert for years, but the paper insert ended in 2025. You may still see “SS” throughout older coupon matchups and databases.
SQStore Coupon — issued by the retailer, only valid at that specific store. Can often be stacked with a manufacturer coupon on the same item.
Stack / StackingUsing a store coupon AND a manufacturer coupon on the same item for maximum savings. One of the most powerful couponing strategies. Read our extreme couponing guide to learn more.
StockpileA personal supply of items purchased at rock-bottom prices using coupons, stored for future use. Extreme couponers often maintain months of inventory of non-perishables.
T
Target Circle / TCTarget’s free loyalty and deals program. Current Target policy permits one manufacturer coupon plus eligible Target item/category offers on an item, subject to each offer’s terms; a digital manufacturer coupon cannot also be stacked with a paper manufacturer coupon. See Target coupons or shop Target.
Tearpad / TPA pad of coupons or rebate forms attached to a store display or shelf, near the applicable product. Tear one off and use it!
TIAThanks In Advance — chat slang used in coupon forums.
TMFTry Me Free — a mail-in rebate that refunds your full purchase price to encourage you to try a new product.
U
UFTUp For Trade — used in coupon trading communities when offering coupons you have in exchange for ones you need.
UPCUniversal Product Code — the barcode on a product. Usually required for mail-in rebates and sometimes scanned by cashback apps like Ibotta.
V
VVVideo Value — a historical Rite Aid coupon program that ended in 2015. The term can still appear in old deal posts; Rite Aid later closed its physical store chain in 2025.
W
WAGSWalgreens — common coupon-community shorthand for Walgreens. Current savings revolve around myWalgreens, digital coupons, and Walgreens Cash. See Walgreens coupons or shop Walgreens.
Walmart Savings CatcherA retired Walmart price-comparison program found in older couponing guides. It is no longer a current Walmart savings feature. For current opportunities, see Walmart coupons and deals or shop Walmart.
WSLWhile Supplies Last — the deal is only valid until stock runs out. Act fast!
WTWine Tag / Hangtag — a coupon hanging directly from a product.
WYBWhen You Buy — a condition on a coupon. For example, “save $1 WYB 2 boxes” means you must buy 2 to get the discount.
X
XSometimes used in place of the word “expiration” — or to mean multiples (2X = twice, X2 = two of something).
Y
YMMVYour Mileage May Vary — results may differ based on your store location, cashier, coupon value, or how the store interprets the coupon. A common disclaimer in deal posts.
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Last updated: August 2026 | CouponFairy.net