When we were growing up, it was another time with a whole set of phrases, sayings and slang terms. What the young kids have now, we had our own version without the computers and abbreviations!
Some of these terms you might find yourself saying today, despite them coming into the vernacular in the 70s.
The 70s were the decade when everything was laid back and relaxed, and the attitude spilled over into the slang of the day as you’ll see below. We definitely had a unique way of expressing ourselves.
Which of these terms did you remember using?
Ace: Very good, funky, awesome
Airhead: Stupid person, usually a female
Bitchin’: Very cool or really great
Blow off: To skip, avoid or ignore someone or something
Bludged: Scrounge or sit around lazily
Boogie: To dance
Boo-yah: Excited term of joy and happiness
Bummer: Bad news, not good
Can you dig it?: Do you like it; do you understand?, do you agree?
Chunder: To vomit
Cool cat: A good friend or cool person
Deadset: Genuine, awesome
Drag: Boring
Dream on: Being unrealistic about something
Far out man: Cool, awesome
Foxy: Very attractive girl
Funky: Another way of saying “that’s cool”
Good vibes: Positive energy
Groovy: A good idea
Grouse: Good
Hairy Eyeball: Somebody looking at you suspiciously or disapprovingly is giving you the hairy eyeball
Heavy: Intense, serious or very important.
Hip: Cool
Jive turkey: A detestable person.
Jump your bones: To want to have sex with that person.
Let it all hang out!: Go for it
Molls: Derogatory term for a girl
Nanoo, Nanoo: The greeting phrase from Mork and Mindy
Neat: Cool
Nick off: Go away
No Way, Jose: No
Packin’ sh*t: Terrified
Pash: Passionate kiss
Peace: Relax or goodbye
Psyche: To trick someone
Psychedelic: Awesome
Raggin’ or Rag On: Put someone down.
Right on: Cool or correct
Shagadelic: To be very hot or sexy
Shaggin’ wagon: A customised van with bed in the back for you know what
Spunky: Sexy, hot
Square: Not cool
What’s the Buzz?: What’s going on? What’s happening?