Context is everything. Most emoji use is completely normal. These secondary meanings exist — kids know them, and so should you. Seeing one emoji in a text doesn't mean anything is wrong.
Social & Moods
Upside-down smile
Sarcasm, passive aggression, or barely holding it together
Clown
Self-mockery — "I got played" or "I'm an idiot"
Ghost
Being ghosted — cut off with no explanation
Cap / baseball cap
A lie. "No cap" = no lie. "That's cap" = that's a lie.
Skull
"I'm dead" — meaning something is hilarious
Eyes, mouth, eyes
"It is what it is" — awkward acceptance
Fairy + sparkles
Passive-aggressive sweetness — being mean while sounding nice
Cold face
Response to something savage or harsh — "cold" or "ruthless"
Devil smile
Feeling mischievous, up to no good, or flirty
Evil eye bead
Warding off bad energy or the evil eye
Fingers pointing together
Shy, nervous, or asking for something with hesitation
Wilted rose
Sadness, disappointment, something that's over
100
Total agreement, keeping it real, no cap
Eyes
Watching something interesting — or sending/receiving nudes
Hourglass
Hourglass body shape — used as a compliment about someone's figure
Substances
Leaf
Marijuana / weed
Herb
Marijuana / weed
Four-leaf clover
Sometimes used for weed
Snowflake
Cocaine
Chocolate
Sometimes used for drugs (code)
Pill
Pills — prescription or recreational
Wine glass
Alcohol — sometimes used casually, sometimes as a code
Fire
Usually just "fire" or great — but also used when talking about smoking
Sexual Meanings Know These
Eggplant
Penis
Peach
Butt
Taco
Female genitalia
Cherries
Breasts, virginity, or testicles depending on context
Brain
Oral sex
Water droplets
Ejaculation or sexual arousal
Tongue
Oral sex or sexual desire
Hammer
Sexual activity
Hot pepper
Spicy or risque content
Corn
Pornography
Spaghetti
Nudes (slang)
Hot face
Sexually attractive, or very attracted to someone
Drooling face
Sexual desire or extreme wanting
Woozy face
Drunk, high, or sexually aroused
Credit card
"I'd pay to see that" — requesting explicit content
Truck
Large or curvy backside