On ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race,’ RuPaul says “Sashay away” when eliminating a contestant.
The phrase is delivered after the bottom two contestants perform a “Lip Sync for Your Life.” The winner is told to “shantay, you stay,” while the eliminated queen is dismissed with “sashay away.” That contrast is why the two phrases are sometimes mistakenly swapped.
“Sashay” refers to a stylized, gliding walk, fitting the show’s emphasis on drag performance, runway presentation, and theatrical language. The phrase became one of the program’s most recognizable pieces of terminology and has been repeated across many international versions and spin-offs.
Other expressions on the show have different meanings. “Condragulations” celebrates a win, while “You’re safe” means a contestant is not among the week’s strongest or weakest performers. The elimination phrase is specifically “Sashay away,” making the stored answer the canonical one.