In an era where “yeet”, “sus” and “rizz” dominate youth conversations, it’s easy to forget that every generation once had its own linguistic flair. While Gen Z’s colorful vocabulary might leave older adults scratching their heads, there was a time when these very people were the trendsetters of slang.
“Groovy” was once the coolest way to describe something amazing, and calling someone a “square” was the ultimate put-down. These words, once the height of cool, now sound like relics from a bygone era.
These early slang terms not only provide a glimpse into the past but also inspire a new appreciation for the ever-changing nature of language. So, buckle up for a trip down memory lane as we explore 10 slang terms from yesteryear that are sure to leave your grandkids puzzled and amused. Who knows? You might even find a few gems to revive in your next conversation!
Pang Wangle
Pang Wangle is a vintage American phrase which means “to go along cheerfully despite minor misfortunes.” If you spill coffee on yourself during work, step into a puddle of water just before an interview, or get caught in the rain after a particularly tiring day, you’re pang-wangling your way through life.
While this optimistic expression has fallen out of common usage, it has found new life as the name of a brand of environmentally friendly apparel and accessories with built-in bug repellent. The company’s choice of this term reflects its mission: to help people enjoy the outdoors cheerfully, despite the minor misfortune of pesky insects.
Happy Cabbage
In the early 1900s, the term Happy Cabbage was used to describe someone spending a considerable amount of money on self-indulgent items. At the time, ‘cabbage’ was slang for ‘money’.
Fast-forward to today and Happy Cabbage has sprouted in unexpected places, far removed from its spendthrift connotations. The phrase now graces the storefront of a London clothing brand, offering block-printed nightwear with a whimsical twist. Elsewhere, it lends its cheerful moniker to a gift boutique and even a small farm.
Far Out
The term far out was commonly used in the 1960s and ’70s to refer to something unconventional, offbeat, unorthodox, extraordinary, or mind-blowing. Initially, the phrase was primarily used within the jazz community to describe innovative or cutting-edge music.
As the counterculture movement gained momentum in the ’60s, the term’s usage expanded, and it became a catch-all phrase for anything unusual, impressive, or outside the mainstream. This semantic broadening allowed far out to capture the spirit of an era characterized by experimentation and pushing boundaries.
By the 1970s, this expression had firmly established itself in popular culture, often associated with the hippie movement and psychedelic experiences.
Rad
The 1980s slang rad is short for radical, and it was used to describe something or someone you find awesome or cool. It’s an expression of extreme enthusiasm that captures the joy you feel about experiences or objects that are completely overwhelming to you.
Rad became prominent during the Valspeak (Valley Girl Speak) era, alongside other surf-culture terms like bogus and gnarly. However, whether the term outlasted them all is up for debate.
Gigglemug
The word gigglemug is an interesting piece of Victorian-era slang. It refers to a person with a habitually smiling face. The term combines ‘giggle’ and ‘mug’, a colloquial word for face.
This charming slang offers a glimpse into how 19th-century Britons creatively described cheerful expressions. While not commonly used today, gigglemug remains a colorful example of historical English vocabulary.
Zozzled
Zozzled was a popular American slang term used in the 1920s and 1930s to imply that someone was ‘very drunk’. It’s likely derived from a combination of the older term sozzled which also means ‘intoxicated’ and zonked which means exhausted or dazed.
While not the only word for drunkenness at the time, zozzled was one of many colorful terms used during the Prohibition era, alongside others like plastered and blotto. The word captured the dazed or confused state of someone under the influence of alcohol, reflecting the vibrant slang of the period.
Square
If you were found to be conventional and old-fashioned, during the 1950s through the ’70s, you were likely labeled a square. Originating in the American jazz community of the 1940s, the term initially referred to people who were out of touch with musical trends.
While square is similar to fuddy-duddy, which alludes to an old-fashioned, fussy person, its older meaning dating back to the 16th century was a positive one, referring to someone honest and upstanding. In contemporary usage, U.S. military branches use the phrase squared away to describe things that are well-organized or in order.
Hotsy-Totsy
Hotsy-Totsy or Hotsie-Totsie means something just right or perfect. Allegedly coined by the cartoonist Billy DeBeck, it was famously used in his 1919 comic strip Barney Google and Snuffy Smith. Its earliest documented use was in the early 1920s, with the term gaining popularity around 1925-1930.
While primarily referring to something perfect or ideal, hotsy-totsy has also come to describe a very sexually attractive person, particularly a woman. This usage likely stems from the incorporation of the word ‘hot’, which is often associated with attractiveness.
Flutterbum
In the 1950s, when you called a guy a flutter bum, you were complimenting his appearance, describing him as ‘handsome’ or ‘attractive’.
This slang term was part of the colorful vocabulary that emerged during the decade, alongside other phrases like dream boat, dish, and knockout to describe attractive individuals.
Tubular
Tubular was a popular slang term in the 1980s, particularly associated with surfer culture, and later adopted by the wider youth. It was used to describe something excellent, awesome, or cool.
The word likely originated from the shape of perfect waves that surfers seek, with tubular waves being highly desirable. This word epitomizes the colorful and often exaggerated slang of the ’80s, and would likely leave many of today’s youth scratching their heads.