The Evolution of American Slang
Recently I have been thinking about how slang has changed from the 1950's up to the 2010's. Each decade had its own amusing terms, but today's slang is influenced heavily by the internet and social media; in earlier decades current events and movies tended to have a bigger influence. So, I have gathered some terms from each decade to share with you. Hope you enjoy taking a trip down memory lane as much as I did.
1950's - Sputnik (1st Satellite), poodle skirts, gas at $.20 per gallon and TV shows like Lassie and Father Knows Best:
Big Tickle - something really hilarious.
Chrome Plated - someone all dressed up.
Beat Feet - to run away from something, usually to get out of trouble.
Cruisin' for a Bruisin' - looking for trouble.
Copacetic - everything's all right.
Classy Chassis - someone with a nice figure.
You Dig? - Beat community term to ask if you understand.
Drip - someone uncool.
Word from the Bird - telling the truth.
Kibosh - put a stop to something.
Passion Pit - Drive-in theater where amorous activities went on in cars.
The Living End - something amazing.
1960's - JFK, The Beatles, hippies, bell bottoms, mop tops - the grooviest and most out of sight slang, and TV shows like The Brady Bunch and Hogan's Heroes:
Far Out (or out of sight) - meaning you approve of something.
Foxy - applies to a woman or man who has sex appeal.
Gimme' Some Skin - a request to shake hands.
What's Your Bag? - what are your problems?
Can You Dig It? - means you understand what's being said.
Hang Loose - Take it easy or relax.
Fuzz - policeman.
It's a Gas - an activity that would inspire laughter.
Bread - cash, the green stuff.
Submarine Races - referring to people being intimate in a parked car.
Heavy - emotional weight.
Lay It On Me - tell me what's on your mind.
1970's - Disco was hot (Saturday Night Fever), lava lamps, Vietnam War, and All in the Family and Charlie's Angels were on TV:
Psyche - to trick someone.
Far Out - something cool or awesome.
Dream On - to show someone they were being unrealistic.
Catch You On the Flip Side - good-bye or see you later.
Boogie - having fun.
Right On! - to show agreement with something or someone.
Brick House - used to describe someone physically well built.
Can You Dig It? - do you understand or agree?
Cool Beans - to show agreement.
Do Me a Solid - to ask a favor.
Groovy - cool, neat or great.
Chump - an idiot or fool.
1980's - bright colors, leg warmers, soft rock and surfer mentality. Their slang words and terms sound odd today, and many have similar meanings; most refer to something being cool, gross or crazy. On TV - Full House and The Simpsons:
Gnarly - surfer reference to something cool.
Dude/Dudette - used in place of a person's name.
Like Totally - extreme agreement.
Tubular - surfer reference to express excitement.
What's Your Damage? - to express annoyance or anger.
Rad - something cool or awesome.
Bogus - to show disbelief or that something/someone is wrong.
Wiggin' Out - something or someone is crazy, weird or losing it.
Gag Me with a Spoon - to show extreme disgust or dislike.
Choice - something or someone that's amazing.
Grody - used to show disgust in something.
1990's - world of the internet, grunge, decade of possibilities, free speech, alternative rock, and TV was graced with shows like Law and Order and Friends:
Da Bomb - something is really cool.
As If! - to show extraordinary disbelief.
Whatever! - extreme lack of interest.
Tight - to express how great something was.
Trippin' - used to show someone was crazy or overly critical.
Boo Ya! - to show excitement when you've done something awesome.
Chillin' - taking it easy.
Dope - something is great or interesting.
Fly - meaning something was cool or fun.
Yo! - a way to say hello.
My Bad - to show guilt or an error on your part (this is one that I have never liked).
Diss - to show a lack of respect.
2000's - it was a weird period for pop culture; not as dorky as the 90's and not as hip as the 2010's. Crunchy hair, skinny jeans, My Space, Crocs, Uggs, X-Box 360, and TV shows like Glee, The Office and The Sopranos:
Fo Shizzle - for sure.
Fo Sheezy - off the hook for sure.
Cray Cray - crazy.
Pimp Juice - anything that attracts the opposite sex.
Skrill - money.
Peeps - your friends.
Head Bussa - someone who gets scrappy or can fight well.
Flossy - superficially stylish; slick.
Drop It Like It's Hot - used to salt your language with a fun throwback to retro.
Crunk - very excited or full of energy.
2010's - Facebook, Memes, X-Box Kinect and troubled times with the global financial crisis, cyber hacking, terrorist attacks and school shootings. On TV - The Big Bang Theory, Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones.
Hashtag - metadata tag used on social networks.
Bae - term of endearment - usually refers to romantic partner.
LOL - acronym for laughing out loud.
Hella - used as adverb as in "hella bad" or "hella good".
Rah - refers to stereotypical affluent young upper-class person in the UK.
Selfie - self portrait taken on a smart phone.
Snowflake - someone who has an inflated sense of uniqueness or sense of entitlement.
Swagga - swaggering gait.
Throw Shade - publicly criticize or express contempt for someone.
Womance (or sismance) - non-sexual relationship between women.
Yas - yes.
YOLO - acronym for you only live once.
I know this has been a long one, but I hope that you have enjoyed traveling through time to see how much it has changed since the 1950's. Personally, I can't say as things have improved over time with slang, but I guess the events that have taken place in the world, advancements in technology and the growth of social media have had a major impact.
Of course, if I could choose any of these I would go back to the 60's and 70's. These were the times that I was growing up and being influenced as a teen, and they bring fond memories. What era would you go back to?
1950's - Sputnik (1st Satellite), poodle skirts, gas at $.20 per gallon and TV shows like Lassie and Father Knows Best:
Big Tickle - something really hilarious.
Chrome Plated - someone all dressed up.
Beat Feet - to run away from something, usually to get out of trouble.
Cruisin' for a Bruisin' - looking for trouble.
Copacetic - everything's all right.
Classy Chassis - someone with a nice figure.
You Dig? - Beat community term to ask if you understand.
Drip - someone uncool.
Word from the Bird - telling the truth.
Kibosh - put a stop to something.
Passion Pit - Drive-in theater where amorous activities went on in cars.
The Living End - something amazing.
1960's - JFK, The Beatles, hippies, bell bottoms, mop tops - the grooviest and most out of sight slang, and TV shows like The Brady Bunch and Hogan's Heroes:
Far Out (or out of sight) - meaning you approve of something.
Foxy - applies to a woman or man who has sex appeal.
Gimme' Some Skin - a request to shake hands.
What's Your Bag? - what are your problems?
Can You Dig It? - means you understand what's being said.
Hang Loose - Take it easy or relax.
Fuzz - policeman.
It's a Gas - an activity that would inspire laughter.
Bread - cash, the green stuff.
Submarine Races - referring to people being intimate in a parked car.
Heavy - emotional weight.
Lay It On Me - tell me what's on your mind.
1970's - Disco was hot (Saturday Night Fever), lava lamps, Vietnam War, and All in the Family and Charlie's Angels were on TV:
Psyche - to trick someone.
Far Out - something cool or awesome.
Dream On - to show someone they were being unrealistic.
Catch You On the Flip Side - good-bye or see you later.
Boogie - having fun.
Right On! - to show agreement with something or someone.
Brick House - used to describe someone physically well built.
Can You Dig It? - do you understand or agree?
Cool Beans - to show agreement.
Do Me a Solid - to ask a favor.
Groovy - cool, neat or great.
Chump - an idiot or fool.
1980's - bright colors, leg warmers, soft rock and surfer mentality. Their slang words and terms sound odd today, and many have similar meanings; most refer to something being cool, gross or crazy. On TV - Full House and The Simpsons:
Gnarly - surfer reference to something cool.
Dude/Dudette - used in place of a person's name.
Like Totally - extreme agreement.
Tubular - surfer reference to express excitement.
What's Your Damage? - to express annoyance or anger.
Rad - something cool or awesome.
Bogus - to show disbelief or that something/someone is wrong.
Wiggin' Out - something or someone is crazy, weird or losing it.
Gag Me with a Spoon - to show extreme disgust or dislike.
Choice - something or someone that's amazing.
Grody - used to show disgust in something.
1990's - world of the internet, grunge, decade of possibilities, free speech, alternative rock, and TV was graced with shows like Law and Order and Friends:
Da Bomb - something is really cool.
As If! - to show extraordinary disbelief.
Whatever! - extreme lack of interest.
Tight - to express how great something was.
Trippin' - used to show someone was crazy or overly critical.
Boo Ya! - to show excitement when you've done something awesome.
Chillin' - taking it easy.
Dope - something is great or interesting.
Fly - meaning something was cool or fun.
Yo! - a way to say hello.
My Bad - to show guilt or an error on your part (this is one that I have never liked).
Diss - to show a lack of respect.
2000's - it was a weird period for pop culture; not as dorky as the 90's and not as hip as the 2010's. Crunchy hair, skinny jeans, My Space, Crocs, Uggs, X-Box 360, and TV shows like Glee, The Office and The Sopranos:
Fo Shizzle - for sure.
Fo Sheezy - off the hook for sure.
Cray Cray - crazy.
Pimp Juice - anything that attracts the opposite sex.
Skrill - money.
Peeps - your friends.
Head Bussa - someone who gets scrappy or can fight well.
Flossy - superficially stylish; slick.
Drop It Like It's Hot - used to salt your language with a fun throwback to retro.
Crunk - very excited or full of energy.
2010's - Facebook, Memes, X-Box Kinect and troubled times with the global financial crisis, cyber hacking, terrorist attacks and school shootings. On TV - The Big Bang Theory, Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones.
Hashtag - metadata tag used on social networks.
Bae - term of endearment - usually refers to romantic partner.
LOL - acronym for laughing out loud.
Hella - used as adverb as in "hella bad" or "hella good".
Rah - refers to stereotypical affluent young upper-class person in the UK.
Selfie - self portrait taken on a smart phone.
Snowflake - someone who has an inflated sense of uniqueness or sense of entitlement.
Swagga - swaggering gait.
Throw Shade - publicly criticize or express contempt for someone.
Womance (or sismance) - non-sexual relationship between women.
Yas - yes.
YOLO - acronym for you only live once.
I know this has been a long one, but I hope that you have enjoyed traveling through time to see how much it has changed since the 1950's. Personally, I can't say as things have improved over time with slang, but I guess the events that have taken place in the world, advancements in technology and the growth of social media have had a major impact.
Of course, if I could choose any of these I would go back to the 60's and 70's. These were the times that I was growing up and being influenced as a teen, and they bring fond memories. What era would you go back to?
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