What was the most popular phrase when you were a teenager?

1. 72

   wayne barrettposted 11 years ago

   What was the most popular phrase when you were a teenager?
   
   I am interested to see how the answers will vary depending on the decade you were a teen, and where you live. Here in the US I spent the majority of my teen years in California. I would have to say the most popular phrase in my area as a teen was, "Far out!"

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2. 72

   wayne barrettposted 11 years ago

   I forgot to mention that my teen years were in the 70's

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3. 60

   xstaticposted 11 years ago

   When I moved to souththern Cal in the mid-fifties from Texas, the hot approval of things in general word was "bitchin'."

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   1. 72

      wayne barrettposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Yep, I remember that one as well.

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      xstaticposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I meant to say "southern."  Hate it when my fingers get jumpy!

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4. 62

   PaulWFitzpatrickposted 11 years ago

   Growing up outside of Boston,MA in the 70s and 80s, the terms heard most were:
   -Wicked Cool-Approval
   
   -Wicked Pissa (pisser with a Boston accent)-Approval
   
   -Total Bulls%$t- Lies ( Ive been in parts of the country where they looked at me like I had 2 heads if I used the term B.S.  I didn't shorten it for politeness either...
   
   Nice idea for a thread....now I'll be thinking about this all day.

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   1. 72

      wayne barrettposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Lol. My daughters live in Maine and I work with some guys from up north so I've heard the, wicked cool. Its interesting to know that that's been around since the 70s.

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5. 88

   JayeWisdomposted 11 years ago

   I became a teen in the second half of the 1950s, growing up in the Deep South. My generation debuted the word "cool", which has survived the decades even though the way it's said evolved a bit. Other slang I recall includes: "split" (get out of here); "made in the shade" (sure to be successful); "boss" (great); "Later, 'gator" ('bye); "dig" (understand); "flip out" (get real excited); "on cloud 9" (super happy); "drag" (someone or something boring); "go ape" (get very mad); "D.A." (the ducktail haircut); and, of course, "square" (someone who was not "hip" or "with it").
   
   As a major bookworm, I'm afraid I wasn't very hip, but I made an effort to pretend I was because it seemed so important to fit in at that age.  I was never part of the top "in" group in high school, except in glee club, where I was popular (with the other glee club students, anyway) as one of two sopranos who got most of the solos.
   
   Ah....these trips down memory lane are fun. I'll be humming '50s songs all afternoon!
   
   Jaye

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   1. 72

      wayne barrettposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Its interesting how some of those have become household phrases while others are outdated. Thanks, Jay.

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      xstaticposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Some of these are real "survivors, " like "cool" which, I guess, came out of the Beats or jazz musicians.

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   3. 87

      bravewarriorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Excellent choice for the win, Wayne!  I forgot about all those sayings!  Touche, Jaye!

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6. 61

   duffsmomposted 11 years ago

   I was a teen in the late 60's and groovy was in and also bitchin' which parents hated!! Oh yes, and also Far Out but that came a little later for me, early 70's I think when John Denver was popular.

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   1. 72

      wayne barrettposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I caught a little tail end of the, "groovy" usage. And yes, "Far out" was the most popular term in the 70's that I can remember as a teen.

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7. 57

   MissJamieDposted 11 years ago

   Gag me with a spoon. I grew up in the 80's, as if you couldn't tell. There was also "dweeb", "totally", and "cool" seemed to be coming around just at that time as well. Now it's an every day word but back then it was new and upcoming.

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   1. 72

      wayne barrettposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you, miss j. those were definitely popular in California. Where were you hearing these in the eighties?

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8. 77

   Cantuhearmescreamposted 11 years ago

   Not to imply I participated, but there was a lot of "talk to the hand"... often followed by "'cause the face don't give a damn".
   Upstate, New York during the 90's (probably a product of the media).
   Oh and the thugs in the area used words like fat (phat) and stupid to show praise!

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      wayne barrettposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks, cat. The "stupid" to show praise is a new one to me.

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      Cantuhearmescreamposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Here let me give it a try...something like... "Yo that shirt is bleepin stupid". Then the homeboy would reply; "Yea dawg, it's slammin'"
      I think that's about how it would go. :-)

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9. 60

   IDONOposted 11 years ago

   Well, you're making me date myself, but " Make love, not war!" was really big in the Vietnam/ Woodstock days.

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   1. 72

      wayne barrettposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, that one a carry over into my generation as well. It was a popular logo on t-shirts, posters, etc.

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10. 60

    Grab a Controllerposted 11 years ago

    I just recently graduated high school in Indiana, and all I heard throughout my years there were "swag," "no homo," then "YOLO" during my senior year.
    
    I hate my generation.

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    1. 72

       wayne barrettposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       I was hoping I would hear from the newest generation, and sure enough, you've got me with some I've never heard or have no idea what they mean!

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    2. 60

       Grab a Controllerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       If I remember right, I was told that "swag" is an acronym for "secretly we are gay." "YOLO" means "you only live once," and the morons in my generation use it as an excuse to make terrible or ridiculous decisions..

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    3. 61

       jg555posted 11 years agoin reply to this

       I'm also in this generation and I also hate it.
       
       I'd add:
       Sick - same as "cool"
       Dope - same as "cool" and "sick"
       Nasty - being good at something
       Dude
       Boss
       Sup - "What's Up"

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11. 87

    bravewarriorposted 11 years ago

    Far out!  Right on!  Guess we're pretty much on the same page, Wayne.  In fact, I still bring those phrases to life.  They just feel good!

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    1. 72

       wayne barrettposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Your right! "Right on" was probably just as popular as "far out"

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12. 68

    CRe8tiVeLiFeposted 11 years ago

    Gross me out
    Gag me with a spoon
    Awesome
    Groovy
    That's Rad
    Rad Man
    Dude!
    Psychodelic
    Funkadelic
    Bad to the Bone
    
    Ha ha! That was fun! Betcha can't guess what generation I'm from! ;-)

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    1. 72

       wayne barrettposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       I'm guessing 80s ?  Some of those terms are carry overs from earlier generations.

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