# Hey man, pick up, I'm a hep cat. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 10, 2001, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-man-pick-up-im-a-hep-cat/68293 "2001-06-10T10:27:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ageless6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@ageless6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ageless6)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2001, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-man-pick-up-im-a-hep-cat/68293/1 "2001-06-10T10:27:54Z")
Yes, I remember that before hip came hep. And “pick up” meant in hippie or biker jargon, observe that, or woosh if you didn’t pick up. I can really only remember one word that stood the test of time from 1950 to now, and that,of course, is “cool”. I remember hitch-hiking the 20 miles from my home town to the Akron armory AT NIGHT, when I was fifteen, to see anywhere from five to ten r&b acts, and watch the “Negro” cats and chicks do the “dirty boogie”. The whites were supposed to stay in the balcony, but my friends and I never did. Too far from the action. Never had any problems. Mmm…Ruth Brown, the Flamingos, Bo Diddley, and on and on. Where was…oh, yeah,what is/was your favorite hip/cool word(s)? No restrictions: new/old may apply. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2001, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-man-pick-up-im-a-hep-cat/68293/2 "2001-06-10T13:35:07Z")
Back in the 80s I liked to say “hep”. I knew it was _way_ out of date, but that’s why I said it. “It’s a hep scene, man!” In the late-80s/early-90s I liked to say “groovy”. Again, I said it because no one else was. I used to get the strangest looks from my co-workers who said “cool” and thought it was hep! But with the whole retro thing coming in, everyone is saying “groovy”; so I pretty much stopped. I do say things like, “Groove-O, man!” though. One of my favourite words now is “sack”, as in “The freeway was sacked!”, “I got the sackin’ Blue Screen of Death.”, “You meatsack!” and “Sack!!!” I can’t put the inflection on it, but “Right on” is fun to say. I think it’s sort of like if someone is telling you a story and you encourage him to continue by saying, “Go on.” That sort of inflection. Sort of matter-of-fact instead of enthusiastic. “I saw the new movie.” “Right on.” This word doesn’t belong in this thread since it’s not a “hip/cool” word, but I like it anyway. “Plummet”. I just like the image and the sound. **AudreyK** said it’s an odd word for a helicopter pilot to like. ---
**Author:** ![rackensack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@rackensack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rackensack)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2001, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-man-pick-up-im-a-hep-cat/68293/3 "2001-06-10T16:19:30Z")
I use “neat” a lot, in a meaning-inverted, deadpan, soaked-in-sarcasm way: Interlocutor: “Oh, man, a gasoline tanker turned over on I-285 and knocked out a bridge and several lanes – it’ll probably be two months before it’s all reopened.” Me: “Neat” I occasionally hear myself saying “copacetic”, but I never like myself much for it. ---
**Author:** ![Eo\_Echo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ebca7d/32.png) [@Eo\_Echo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eo_Echo)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2001, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-man-pick-up-im-a-hep-cat/68293/4 "2001-06-10T17:06:14Z")
I have always used the word hip frequently, even in the face of constant razzing from my alien ex-girlfriend. Other faves: Happening: “That is so happening.” Okee: sub for OK Non-starter: “I’m not doing that. That idea is a non-starter.” ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2001, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-man-pick-up-im-a-hep-cat/68293/5 "2001-06-10T17:41:01Z")
“Whoop-de-shit.” Got it from _MST3k: The Movie_ “Groovy.” Revived by watching _Evil Dead II_ “Right on.” “Neato.” “Zip it” “Chill out” ---
**Author:** ![Creaky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e68b1a/32.png) [@Creaky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Creaky)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2001, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-man-pick-up-im-a-hep-cat/68293/6 "2001-06-10T19:17:59Z")
Here’s some I like: “It’s the bee’s knees.” (1920’s, I think) “That’s the berries.” (Ditto) “Okay, Daddy-o!” (Cold War hipster) “That’s real boss!” (Ditto) “Go to war, Miss Agnes!” (Chuck Thompson, legendary game caller for the Baltimore Orioles) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2001, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-man-pick-up-im-a-hep-cat/68293/7 "2001-06-10T19:29:29Z")
Well, plant me now and dig me later! (Sorry. just had to say that.) ---
**Author:** ![CBEscapee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2001, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-man-pick-up-im-a-hep-cat/68293/8 "2001-06-10T19:38:09Z")
How about “bitching”… like this is a bitching website. You dig? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2001, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-man-pick-up-im-a-hep-cat/68293/9 "2001-06-10T21:19:41Z")
I liked the old DJ patter: “OK, chilluns, it’s time to unwind your minds and rethread your heads. Poppa Soul gonna lay down some riffs, make your groovin’ behoovin’!” ---
**Author:** ![Francesca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@Francesca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francesca)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2001, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-man-pick-up-im-a-hep-cat/68293/10 "2001-06-10T21:30:11Z")
I say “cool beans” a lot instead of just “cool”. It’s something i heard when i was little and have always said because i like it. That’s cool beans. I say “Jolly good” too. But then I’m English. Jolly good. Fran ---
**Author:** ![ThisYearsGirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@ThisYearsGirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisYearsGirl)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2001, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-man-pick-up-im-a-hep-cat/68293/11 "2001-06-10T22:35:45Z")
I use the word “clutch,” meaning good; it comes from a clutch hit in baseball. I dunno how common it was or is, but I dig it. I sounds kinda cute and '50s, and vaguely car-related. I also say “wicked” constantly. ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2001, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-man-pick-up-im-a-hep-cat/68293/12 "2001-06-10T22:48:50Z")
[Cartman] Sweeeet… [/Cartman] I just can’t seem to shake it. Although I rarely use the Cartman voice. 🙂 Ocassionally things are even “wicked sweet.” ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2001, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-man-pick-up-im-a-hep-cat/68293/13 "2001-06-11T06:26:30Z")
Cool bananas. Super-duper. Exxxxxxxcellent. Yowzah! Oobee-doobee. And lots of other nonsense words I just make up. (I’m an odd lad). ---
**Author:** ![SallySimpson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@SallySimpson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SallySimpson)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2001, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-man-pick-up-im-a-hep-cat/68293/14 "2001-06-11T06:47:36Z")
**Far out,** often times strongly emphasized by the revision **"far-f** _ing-out."_\* **The cat’s ass** , as in “Yeah, he thinks he’s **the cat’s ass.** ” And the old stand bys: \*\*cool, groovy, far out, \*\* because they are deliciously anachronistic. ---
**Author:** ![exchicagoan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/0ea827/32.png) [@exchicagoan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/exchicagoan)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2001, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-man-pick-up-im-a-hep-cat/68293/15 "2001-06-11T06:57:38Z")
In order of use------ cool I’m hip Actually did say, see ya later alligator. at ease disease, there’s fungus among us. crazy–then snap fingers like Brando did in The Wild One. man! say hey old bean Like, crazy. Like, wow. (sometimes followed with “man”). later! bitchin groovy neato jet far out (jokingly said farm out) like—as in—like, do you ever exercise? schazbot! -----With the exception of bitchin and groovy (soooo 60s) all above are still used------ most excellent so kewl—It’s even said differently today; and used far too casually in reference to things that aren’t really “cool”. ---
**Author:** ![Drastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Drastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drastic)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2001, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-man-pick-up-im-a-hep-cat/68293/16 "2001-06-11T07:27:04Z")
Cool–long’s I can remember. Groovy–likewise picked up directly from Evil Dead II. Often used as the alternate form, “groove”, which I sometimes use to indicate I’m listening with engaged interest and/or approval. A more personal “uh huh, go on”. Dig it; I dig. Grok–which _should_ get into vogue, dammit. Neat–used non-sarcastically. For sarcasm purposes, I use “wonderful.” I’m pretty sure I picked up that habit from Hudson ranting about being SOL in Aliens. ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2001, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-man-pick-up-im-a-hep-cat/68293/17 "2001-06-11T07:43:32Z")
Copacetic is the coolest word ever. Ya know where it comes from? You don’t, do you? That’s how cool it is. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Francesca \* > \*\*I say “cool beans” a lot instead of just “cool”. It’s something i heard when i was little and have always said because i like it. > > That’s cool beans. > > I say “Jolly good” too. But then I’m English. Jolly good. > > Fran \*\* I’ve liked “cool beans” ever since I saw it in a “Stray Bullets” comic. And since you mentioned England, I like “bloody” quite a bit. And shit pronounced “shite”. And my English friend calling everything “brilliant”. ---
**Author:** ![ageless6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@ageless6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ageless6)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2001, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-man-pick-up-im-a-hep-cat/68293/18 "2001-06-11T08:24:54Z")
I was just taking a shower and this odd rememberance slipped into my last bunch of cells. There was once a hip word for a car. It was called a “short”. Anybody remember that? Damned if I know why it was called that. I know some of you wiseacres are wondering just how much of a coincidence it was that I was taking a shower and the word “short” came to me. Keep your insulting sarcasm to yourselves! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2001, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-man-pick-up-im-a-hep-cat/68293/19 "2001-06-11T11:19:33Z")
I didn’t know “short” was slang for “car”, but I’ve heard it before in a poem parody by (I think) Tony Rodelle Larson: > [@](#): > > 'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the pad > Not a hip cat was swinging and that’s nowhere, dad > The stove was hung up in the stocking routine > In hopes that the fat man would soon make the scene. > > The kids had all had it so they hit their sacks > And me and the bride had just begun to relax > When there started a rumble that came on real frantic > So I opened the window to figure the panic. > > **I saw a square short that was makin’ fat tracks** > Bein’ pulled by eight dogs who were wearing hat racks > And a funny old geezer was flippin’ his lid > He told 'em to “make it,” and man, like, they did! > > I couldn’t help diggin’ the scene on the roof > As I stood there just waiting for chubby to goof. > They stood by the chimney in bunches and clusters > 'Till chubby slid down coming on like gang busters. > > His threads were the squarest and I just had to chuckle > In front (not in back) was his Ivy League buckle. > The mop on his chin hid his button-down collar > And with that red nose, man, he looked like a baller. > > Like, he was the squarest, the most absolute > But face it, who cares when he left all that loot? > He laid the jazz on me and fled from the gig > Wailin’ “Have a cool Yule and man, later, like, dig!” There’s a lot of lingo in this word-song you hepcats can sling. (I don’t get the “Ivy League buckle” reference. A little help?) ---
**Author:** ![exchicagoan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/0ea827/32.png) [@exchicagoan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/exchicagoan)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2001, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-man-pick-up-im-a-hep-cat/68293/20 "2001-06-12T04:25:27Z")
FYI—A “short” wasn’t just ANY car—it was a chopped hot-rod. To quote the song SHUT DOWN–“It happened on the strip where the road is wide. Two cool shorts standing side by side…Tach it up, Tach it up. Buddy gonna shut you down.” Watched part of RALLY ROUND THE FLAG BOYS (1958) this afternoon–reminded me of several more from the 50s. Only one that I remember at the moment is “flake off”. Tuesday Weld ACTUALLY called someone “daddy-o”, Dwayne Hickman played a jerk who thought he was the afore mentioned Marlon Brando in “The Wild One”. Also remembered— what a gas I’m gassed! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-man-pick-up-im-a-hep-cat/68293.md?page=2)