# More curiosity about current slang **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 18, 2026, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-curiosity-about-current-slang/1030162 "2026-05-18T03:20:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-curiosity-about-current-slang/1030162/1 "2026-05-18T03:20:04Z")
Not long ago, I noticed the use of the word “fire” to denote good. Now it seems “disgusting” is trending. What’s next, putrid? I wonder if AI could track down the first guy to use disgusting. I’m gonna guess disgusting is way more common than I realize, being apart from humanity as I am. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-curiosity-about-current-slang/1030162/2 "2026-05-18T03:27:16Z")
Gotta keep the parents guessing. 😉 (I really do not know) ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-curiosity-about-current-slang/1030162/3 "2026-05-18T03:58:38Z")
Disgusting is a sick (impressive) term for bad (good). ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-curiosity-about-current-slang/1030162/4 "2026-05-18T04:01:34Z")
When kids these days say ‘bad’ they mean ‘good’. And to 'shake your booty" means to wiggle one’s butt. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-curiosity-about-current-slang/1030162/5 "2026-05-18T04:03:03Z")
I don’t think either of those terms are remotely new. ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-curiosity-about-current-slang/1030162/6 "2026-05-18T04:43:53Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > I noticed the use of the word “fire” to denote good My 13 year old used “fire” as good for a while. It seemed to be used like “cool” in the way cool can mean something impressive, or “yes”, or “thank you”. Lately they’ve switched to “bet”. An exchange goes something like, “hey kid, the chicken is done.” “Bet.” In my own head this is a contraction of a Minnesota “you betcha.” I’ll have to ask about disgusting. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-curiosity-about-current-slang/1030162/7 "2026-05-18T05:08:15Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I don’t think either of those terms are remotely new. Yeah, it’s probably been 10+ years since I first heard “fire” to mean cool. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-curiosity-about-current-slang/1030162/8 "2026-05-18T06:06:25Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I don’t think either of those terms are remotely new Who are you replying to? The OP, or the post just before yours? ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-curiosity-about-current-slang/1030162/9 "2026-05-18T06:14:19Z")
They are the same person. But I think it was obvious the post just before mine. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-curiosity-about-current-slang/1030162/10 "2026-05-18T06:19:08Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > But I think it was obvious the post just before mine Actually, it wasn’t obvious to another poster who replied to you, so I wasn’t sure which post you were replying to. It helps to quote part of it so it’s clear. Especially since the post just before yours looked like a whoosh. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-curiosity-about-current-slang/1030162/11 "2026-05-18T06:23:58Z")
It was obvious. What else did you possibly think it referred to? This board sometimes… ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-curiosity-about-current-slang/1030162/12 "2026-05-18T06:25:03Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > It was obvious Not to the poster who replied to you. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-curiosity-about-current-slang/1030162/13 "2026-05-18T06:26:34Z")
I’m still stuck on “gear” and “fab”. (No I didn’t watch ~Hard Days Night~ today) ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-curiosity-about-current-slang/1030162/14 "2026-05-18T06:26:54Z")
The OP had two posts. I replied. Not my problem if someone else does not follow. That’s on them. I think my posts were clear. I’m done with this argument. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-curiosity-about-current-slang/1030162/15 "2026-05-18T06:39:45Z")
The pattern where words flip meaning (especially from negative to positive, but sometimes the other way) is very old. ‘Terrific’ used to mean _causing terror_; ‘prestigious’ used to mean _deceptive_; ‘nice’ has gone through a series of changes from _foolish/stupid_ to _fussy_ to _pleasant_ and in the other direction, ‘awful’ used to mean _majestic/worthy of great respect_ (same as awesome). ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-curiosity-about-current-slang/1030162/16 "2026-05-18T09:50:19Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Yeah, it’s probably been 10+ years since I first heard “fire” to mean cool. So you’re saying that fire as cool is now so old it’s cold? 🤪 ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-curiosity-about-current-slang/1030162/17 "2026-05-18T14:36:25Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > The OP had two posts. > > I replied. > > Not my problem if someone else does not follow. That’s on them. I think my posts were clear. > > I’m done with this argument. The post above yours was so _obviously_ a joke. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-curiosity-about-current-slang/1030162/18 "2026-05-18T15:00:19Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > > [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > > > I don’t think either of those terms are remotely new. > > Yeah, it’s probably been 10+ years since I first heard “fire” to mean cool. I can’t speak for the OP. But my experience is that if you aren’t on social media a lot, don’t do online gaming, and generally maintain a Year 2005-style Internet existence … the first time you start hearing 2015’s teenage slang is in 2026 when late-twenty-somethings enter your workplace (or other meatspace social domain). For me, widespread use of “fire” reached my ken around 2021-22. I had teenagers at the time, and neither one ever picked up this particular slang. My now-daughter-in-law says “fire” frequently, though. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-curiosity-about-current-slang/1030162/19 "2026-05-18T15:02:37Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Now it seems “disgusting” is trending. What’s next, putrid? In sports, “filthy” to describe “_a great play, esp one that embarrasses an opponent_” goes back at least to the 1980s. Every so often, you’ll hear a Gen X color commentator (most commonly in basketball) break out “filthy”. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-curiosity-about-current-slang/1030162/20 "2026-05-18T15:14:35Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > The pattern where words flip meaning (especially from negative to positive, but sometimes the other way) is very old. Being British, you probably are familiar with 101 ways to serve the word “brilliant”. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-curiosity-about-current-slang/1030162.md?page=2)