lol...I think OP is 'original poster'. I usually type the abbreviation in my google search bar, if I don't know what it means. Usually I get an idea of what it could mean & go with that, if it makes sense. :)

"Is it exclusive to GW??"

Some are. Some aren't. Acronyms mean different things on different boards. Here HD will mean Home Depot. On other boards I visit it always means Harley-Davidson. Yet still, on other boards HD means hard drive. In the Navy it means 'head' as in the restroom. GW means Goodwill on some of the trash-to-treasure thrift boards I visit.

You just gotta get a feel for it I guess. Often someone will use the full word in their post first and subsequently use an acronym to save typing it over and over and over. I try to do it that way so there is no confusion. On the garden side of this board plant names are often acronymed if the name is long, hard to spell and frequently comes up in the conversations.

"And what is OP?"

Original poster ie; the person who started the thread with a question or comment.

PO means 'previous owner'. One time someone asked why and how the Post Office planted hostas all the way up to their front door for them. LOL.

PP means previous poster BTW FYI. :)

Google these search terms for lists of definitions: *acronym* *abbreviation* *initialism*

Remember some acronyms have more than one meaning so if you look something up and it turns out to be a "bad word" or doesn't seen to make sense with the rest of the message a poster was trying to convey, keep searching for another definition.

Type you acronym into the box and find out what it may mean:

http://www.acronymattic.com/

Here is a link that might be useful: Type Letters in Search Box

oh & meant to ask you - GLA - good luck all?

Let's see:

HD - Home Depot
RH - Restoration Hardware
((also: RHSS -- Restoration Hardware's paint Color Silver Sage -- kinda popular here awhile back -- got it in my master bedroom))
PB - Pottery Barn
SW - Sherwin Williams
BM - Benjamin Moore
RL - Ralph Lauren
LA - Laura Ashley

can't think of more .... although I'm sure there are some .... LOL! :)

Jan at Rosemary Cottage

How about -
ORB
MWO
UCL
O*k (unmentionables)
TKO
SS

ORB oil-rubbed bronze
SS stainless steel
CL Craigslist - but UCL?

UCL - under cabinet lights
CL - craigslist

My fave: roflmao
"Rolling on floor,laughing my a** off".

this is great!! I am sure though that the DH, DD and DS came first from this site. I have never heard it used before. Maybe it was used first in more formal countries? It took me forever to realize it meant Dear Husband....like I inferred before, it does not 'fit' in 'my house. That's why i guess that it took me so long to figure out what those stood for. LMBO! JK!

In the kitchen forum there is a thread that says, "if you're new to the Kitchen forum read this first" and it has all the abbreviations in it. Very helpful!

" It took me forever to realize it meant Dear Husband....like I inferred before, it does not 'fit' in 'my house. "

The 'D' can be for "dear" or "damn".

And I still giggle when I refer to my husband as DH....
Wait till you slip up and call him that IRL (In Real Life) ;)
Here is a list of internet acronyms sites. Some times HD can be short for Home Dec forum here, so you have to see if H Dep or H Dec fits better in the context.

And my DH doesn't believe it means Dear Husband!! LOL he teases me about it. In the kitchen forum DW is dishwasher but sometimes a husband is the poster and is referring to his dear wife, a bit confusing at first.
and yeah, somethings can be embarrassing IRL, IYKWIM

" It took me forever to realize it meant Dear Husband....like I inferred before, it does not 'fit' in 'my house. "

The 'D' can be for "dear" or "damn".

Or:
daffy
dainty
damaged
dandy
dangerous
dapper
daredevil
daring
dark
dashing
dated
daunting
dazzling
dead
deadpan
deaf
dealer
debonair
decisive
decorative
decorous
deep
defective
delicate
delicious
delightful
demonic
demure
dense
dependable
dependent
depraved
depressed
deprived
deranged
derelict
deserted
detailed
determined
detrimental
devilish
devious
didactic
different
diligent
direful
dirty
disabled
disagreeable
discreet
discriminating
disillusioned
dispensable
distant
distinguished
distracted
divergent
divine
dizzy
docile
domestic
domineering
doomed
dopey
dorky
dormant
drab
draconian
dramatic
dreadful
dreamy
dreary
drifting
droopy
drunk
dry
dubious
dull
duly
dumb
dusty
dynamic
dynamite
dysfunctional

I think that about covers it ;-)

YMMV?

YMMV = Your Mileage May Vary

I see DH, DD, SIL etc. all over the internet.

Here is a link that might be useful: All Acronyms

Good site ideefixe!
MCM = Mid Century Modern
WT = Window Treatments

I remember a while back someone had posted a question and signed it TIA. So, in my response, I called her Tia--not realizing that TIA meant "thanks in advance." Duh!

Also, especially on the kitchen forum, SS can mean soap stone.

btw, in the last email I ever received from my FID (former interior designer), she told me to FOAD. For those of you who don't know that lovely acronym, here's a link to urban dictionary.

Here is a link that might be useful: Urban dictionary

What is TS when referred to as a store?

TKO - I assumed it meant "Totally Kitchen Obsessed" for those posters consumed with their decisions for their kitchen remodels. In other words - they really need to get a life.

DH=dear husband
DW=dear wife
DD=dear daughter
DS= dear son
SIL= sister in-law etc. etc.

And don't forget the PO--the Previous Owner. Used when referring to something terrible that was done to one's house before one took possession.

As in...

The PO painted latex over high gloss oil...without sanding and priming in between.

I've owned a grand total of two houses in 26 years...and I had to deal with that in BOTH. People, please. Prep properly. Do NOT become the dreaded PO.

Greenthumbfish, I love your response - I so need options!

I see hubby written all the time. My ds (darling son) ha ha gets a real kick from this. He mocks my writings all the time! He like ds too, since he refers to himself now all the time as ds. He's only 17, he'll grow out of it!! ha ha