Results: From "The Bee's Knees" To "My Bad" -- Express Yourself Through The Decades
Every generation has its slang — new words and phrases that slip into our vocabulary, and often quickly disappear in the next decade or so. Often, these slang expressions allow kids to communicate without their parents understanding. Here's a little trip back in time to revisit some of the most popular slang terms through the decades.
1.
1.
The Roaring Twenties, with swing dancing and jazz, saw these slang expressions gain popularity. Have you ever used any of these expressions?
The bee's knees -- excellent, outrstanding
28%
•
507 votes
23 skiddoo — to get going; move along; leave; or scram
15%
•
267 votes
The cat's pajamas — the best; the height of excellence
26%
•
475 votes
Gams — legs
18%
•
327 votes
Hotsy-totsy — perfect
19%
•
341 votes
Moll — a female companion of a gangster
11%
•
202 votes
Speakeasy — a place where alcohol was illegally sold and drunk during Prohibition
23%
•
415 votes
The real McCoy — sincere; genuine; the real thing
47%
•
854 votes
None
34%
•
620 votes
2.
2.
Popular in the thirties, along with drive-in theaters and goldfish swallowing, how many of these slang expressions have you used?
I'll be a monkey's uncle — sign of disbelief; I don't believe it!
40%
•
715 votes
Gig — a job
44%
•
792 votes
Girl Friday — a secretary or female assistant
28%
•
512 votes
Juke joint — a casual and inexpensive establishment with drinking, dancing, and blues music, typically in the southeastern United States
15%
•
269 votes
Skivvies — men's underwear
36%
•
651 votes
None
31%
•
569 votes
3.
3.
In the forties, along with pin-up girls and Slinky, these expressions gained popularity. Which of these gave you ever used?
Blockbuster — a huge success
48%
•
860 votes
Keeping up with the Joneses — competing to have a lifestyle or socioeconomic status comparable to one's neighbors
53%
•
961 votes
Cool — excellent; clever; sophisticated; fashionable; or enjoyable
67%
•
1210 votes
Sitting in the hot seat — in a highly uncomfortable or embarrassing situation
39%
•
709 votes
Smooch — kiss
50%
•
912 votes
None
20%
•
353 votes
4.
4.
In the fifties, these slang expressions were popular, along with hula hoops, poodle skirts and panty raids. How many have you used?
Big brother is watching you — someone of authority is monitoring your actions
43%
•
783 votes
Boo-boo — a mistake; a wound
55%
•
991 votes
Hi-fi — high fidelity; a record player or turntable
42%
•
763 votes
Hipster — an innovative and trendy person
37%
•
665 votes
Burn rubber – accelerating a car hard and fast
49%
•
879 votes
No sweat – no problem or easy.
61%
•
1097 votes
Heat -- police
28%
•
507 votes
None
20%
•
368 votes
5.
5.
The sixties, where we were all into bell bottoms, love beads and the Beatles, saw the rise of these slang expressions. Select how many of these you have used?
Daddy-o — a man; used to address a hipster or beatnik
24%
•
438 votes
Groovy — cool; hip; excellent
50%
•
908 votes
Hippie — derived from hipster; a young adult who rebelled against established institutions, criticized middle-class values, opposed the Vietnam War, and promoted sexual freedom
55%
•
986 votes
The Man — a person of authority; a group in power
42%
•
759 votes
Hang loose – relaxing, taking it easy
36%
•
658 votes
Outta sight – amazement, excitement
38%
•
681 votes
Split – to leave the scene or area, to cut out
44%
•
795 votes
Going steady – two people who were dating exclusively
49%
•
881 votes
None
22%
•
393 votes
6.
6.
The seventies gave us disco, pet rocks and lava lamps, and these expressions. Did you use any of these?
Catch you on the flip side — see you later
31%
•
562 votes
Dig it — to like or understand something
44%
•
793 votes
Get down/Boogie — dance
39%
•
702 votes
Mind-blowing — unbelievable; originally an expression for the effects of hallucinogenic drugs
48%
•
873 votes
Pump iron — lift weights
40%
•
715 votes
Workaholic — a person who works too much or is addicted to his or her job
61%
•
1102 votes
None
22%
•
399 votes
7.
7.
The eighties were all glam metal, Rubik's cubes and MTV, and these expressions. Have you used any of these?
Bodacious — beautiful
25%
•
444 votes
Chillin' — relaxing
50%
•
907 votes
Dweeb — a nerd; someone who is not cool
34%
•
607 votes
Fly — cool; very hip
22%
•
395 votes
Gag me with a spoon — disgusting
33%
•
590 votes
Gnarly — exceptional; very cool
30%
•
536 votes
Preppy — one who dresses in designer clothing and has a neat, clean-cut appearance
43%
•
780 votes
Wicked — excellent; great
39%
•
704 votes
Yuppie — Young Urban Professional; a college-educated person with a well-paying job who lives near a big city; often associated with a materialistic and superficial personality
42%
•
756 votes
None
23%
•
413 votes
8.
8.
The nineties gave us digital pets, Tickle Me Elmo, awareness ribbons plus these expressions. How many of these have you used?
Diss — show disrespect
33%
•
600 votes
Get jiggy — dance; flirt
20%
•
360 votes
Homey/Homeboy — a friend or buddy
32%
•
574 votes
My bad — my mistake
49%
•
885 votes
Phat — cool or hip; highly attractive; hot
18%
•
325 votes
Wassup? — What's up?; How are you?
44%
•
787 votes
Diss — show disrespect Get jiggy — dance; flirt Homey/Homeboy — a friend or buddy My bad — my mistake Phat — cool or hip; highly attractive; hot Wassup? — What's up?; How are you? Word — yes; I agree
26%
•
463 votes
Word — yes; I agree
23%
•
423 votes
None
28%
•
514 votes
9.
9.
The 2000's, not so long ago, have given us Emo, Segway and and Heelys, among other fads, and these slang expressions. How many of these have you used?
Newbie — a newcomer; someone who is inexperienced
47%
•
849 votes
Peeps — friends; people
37%
•
672 votes
Rents — parents
10%
•
189 votes
Sweet — beyond cool
49%
•
889 votes
Whatever -- I don't care what you say; dismissive
58%
•
1042 votes
Going postal -- extreme uncontrollable anger
37%
•
671 votes
None
22%
•
395 votes
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