The twentieth century really was something else. In fact, it was a fire century for slang terms. And while cool slang words, like most trends, come and go, it may be that you are still using some 20th-century slang in your everyday vocab. Perhaps one is a Gen X trying to act cool with grandkids or a millennial who skipped the phase when 20th-century slang words ceased being popular.
Whatever the case, popular slang terms from the 20th century have been long replaced with new slang words. Hate or love it, blame zoomers for replacing your favorite slang words with gen Z slang words. Because apparently, "mood" is much better for expressing agreement than "word." Nevertheless, the generation gap will always remain that one thing that different generations will have to agree to disagree on.
Either way, no matter which generation you belong to, a quick throwback to popular slang words from the 20th century may take you back to, if not easier, then to cheaper times. Any popular slang words from the past century that you still use today? Let us know by giving them an upvote! Also, what do you think of today's slang? Is the list of slang words used by zoomers 'dope' or 'nope'? Let us know in the comments!
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"Have a cow"
Meaning: to become very angry, upset, etc.
"Bust a move"
Meaning: to dance.
Hmmm...last time I tried to bust a move, I fell and busted my @$$.
"Hang loose"
Meaning: to relax or not to be too serious about something because it is not important.
I've always heard this one when I'm at work in the sense of "don't start working on something major because it's gonna be one of those days"...
"Whatever"
Meaning: indifference to what a person is saying.
This is less of slang and more repurposing an already existing word
"Wack"
Meaning: annoyingly or disappointingly bad, in various senses; lousy, cringy, uncool, messed up.
"Ankle-biter"
Meaning: a small child, a small dog, especially a poorly-behaved one or a relatively minor, irritating problem or task.
For kids, my go too phrases are crotch goblins and semen demons.
"Catch you on the flip-side"
Meaning: see you later.
"Cool beans"
Meaning: “wonderful,” expresses excitement or approval, often with a deliberately folksy tone.
I have always hated this one. No real reason. It just grated on me every time I heard it. Let it die out, please.
"What's your damage?"
Meaning: used to ask how much you have to pay for something.
"Talk to the hand"
Meaning: a saying used to ignore and disregard a comment or an insult when you can't think of a way to counter it.
"Yada yada yada"
Meaning: Seinfeld reference; when you want to skip a part in a story or something you are telling someone.
"Bread"
Meaning: money; specifically cash carried by a person.
"Goober"
Meaning: a naive, ignorant, or foolish person.
"Made in the shade"
Meaning: in a condition characterized by comfort, success, easy living or general well-being.
"Can you dig it?"
Meaning: if you say that you dig something, you mean that you like it and understand it.
"Shindig"
Meaning: a party or gathering, especially a noisy and lively one.
"Gnarly"
Meaning: used to describe something extreme, especially something that is very dangerous and exciting.
"All that and a bag of chips"
Meaning: something very special.
I remember it was usually said about a guy/girl meaning they were super sexy/hot
"Not!"
Meaning: a word made popular in the early 90's by the movie Wayne's World. You add "not" to the end of a sentence to make blatant the sarcasm in the sentence itself.
"'Sup"
Meaning: "what's up" (either as a greeting or actual question).
"Bugging out"
Meaning: to depart hurriedly; run away; retreat.
"Da bomb"
Meaning: the best; the ultimate cool thing.
"My bad"
Meaning: my fault; mea culpa.
"Germsville"
Meaning: a 1950s term used to describe a doctor's office or general practitioners.
"Cruisin' for a bruisin'"
Meaning: following a course of action likely to result in injury or other trouble for oneself.
My older brother would say this when I was annoying him. The implication was that if I didn't stop, he would punch me.
"Burn rubber"
Meaning: to accelerate so rapidly from standstill that it leaves a mark of burnt rubber on the road from the tire.
"Bust a gut"
Meaning: to work very hard or make a big effort to achieve something.
"Peepers"
Meaning: eyes.
"Lay it on me"
Meaning: to present or reveal something to someone thoroughly or heavily; confront someone with something.
"Psyche!"
Meaning: to lead someone on and then to immediately decline an ending.
It’s “psych.” It has several meanings, e.g. “I’m psyched about seeing the movie” or “Don’t let him get to you. Psych him out by playing his own game” or “I have to psych myself up to get through the job.” Etc. Psyche is the goddess of the soul, and is defined in the dictionary as the mind or spirit.
"Stop dipping in my Kool-Aid"
Meaning: to stay out of someone’s business.
Never heard this one, but I do know "Don't drink the Kool-Aid." (And, yes, it should be "Don't drink the Flavor-Aid.)
"Space cadet"
Meaning: one who forgets, daydreams, or otherwise is distracted from reality more often than most.
Hmmpf...Im far beyond a cadet...Im at least an admiral by now.
"Party-hardy"
Meaning: someone capable of partying for a long time and having fun.
"Bounce"
Meaning: to eject violently, as from a room; to discharge unceremoniously, as from employment.
"Scrub"
Meaning: someone who is just plain bad at something.
"Foshizzle"
Meaning: "I completely agree with you."
"Come on, snake, let's rattle"
Meaning: prominent in the 1950s and had one of two meanings; you could use it to ask a girl to dance or to challenge someone to a fight.
"Hunk of junk"
Meaning: a worthless or malfunctioning piece of mechanical or electrical equipment.
Hmmm...this one doesn't seems less like slang and more like an accurate description of said equipment.
"What's your bag?"
Meaning: like saying "what's your problem?" or "what's your deal?"
"Heavy"
Meaning: used to describe something such as a situation that is dangerous or unpleasant.
Also something deep/sad or meaningful./profound. You say something profoundly meaningful and response is "wow man, that's some heavy shīt right there"
"Punch it!"
Meaning: to rapidly accelerate in a motor vehicle.
"10-4"
Meaning: a way of saying “message received” in radio communications. It’s also used as a way to “you got it.”
"Skinny"
Meaning: the true information about someone or something that is not known by most people.
"Get bent"
Meaning: an angry or contemptuous way of dismissing someone's statement, suggestion, etc.
"No duh"
Meaning: an expression or exclamation that something is exceedingly obvious or apparent, or that one would have to be extremely foolish not to realize something immediately.
"Tubular"
Meaning: used mostly in the 80's, or by people mocking the 80's to describe something 'awesome' or 'excelent' ie, good.
"Home skillet"
Meaning: a close friend; homie; homeboy.
"Wet rag"
Meaning: a very weak willed, helpless, or cowardly person; one who lacks any real resolve, inner-strength, or motivation.
"To the max!"
Meaning: to a great degree or extent; very.
"Preppy"
Meaning: characteristic of or denoting a fashion style of neat, understated, and often expensive clothes.
"Hella"
Meaning: very, extremely.
"Fink"
Meaning: one who is disapproved of or is held in contempt.
"I heard that!"
Meaning: Used to emphasise the fact that one has heard a piece of information, and whole-heartedly agrees with it.
