# Reviving Old Slang **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 22, 2003, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reviving-old-slang/176872 "2003-05-22T19:43:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sylkyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@Sylkyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylkyn)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reviving-old-slang/176872/21 "2003-05-23T00:37:33Z")
Wow…lots of these I use on a regular basis! I didn’t realize they were so passe’. Guess I have a couple more to add, though. “I’ll clean your clock.” “He ate his lunch.” (means the same as the first one) “Don’t give me any lip.” “Who pulled your chain?” “Don’t look at me in that tone of voice.” “Oh god, that guy is so TUFF!!” (meaning that guy is extraordinarily handsome, a la 1972 teen-talk) “Don’t start nothin’, and there won’t be nothin’.” Can you tell I come from a somewhat aggressive background? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reviving-old-slang/176872/22 "2003-05-23T01:03:48Z")
> [@](#): > > … poking fun of someone who thinks he’s cool or hip. If I remember correctly, “cool” first had its current meaning in the late fifties or early sixties. By the late seventies and eighties, it fell out of favor. I was very glad to see it back. I don’t think it should even be considered slang anymore. “Peachy keen,” however, can remain at rest. “Hip” is another word that fell out of favor at the time and is making a comeback. Is having a “blast” still used? That was late fifties. Next to “cool,” by favorite expression was “far out!” Nothing has quite replaced that one. When my mother gets the blues, she calls them the “mugwumps.” What a great word! Can any of you Brits tell me what “gobsmacked” means? I love the sound of it! ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reviving-old-slang/176872/23 "2003-05-23T01:05:16Z")
“Cuppa” is still used in Australia, particularly with the older generation. My favourite piece of old slang? I really like ‘cove’ used to mean ‘guy’ or ‘bloke’. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reviving-old-slang/176872/24 "2003-05-23T01:10:48Z")
**Zoe** , I’m not a Brit, but ‘gobsmacked’ (lit. “smacked in the mouth”) means ‘overcome’, ‘speechless’, ‘shocked’, etc. A cool expression, I agree. ---
**Author:** ![CBEscapee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reviving-old-slang/176872/25 "2003-05-23T01:43:44Z")
I remember tis from the 50’s, “Cheese it!” I loved “bitchin” in the 60’s. “What a bitchin concert!!” You dig? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reviving-old-slang/176872/26 "2003-05-23T02:40:16Z")
And Bob’s your uncle! Yeah, and I’m Marie of Roumania! (But that’s just because Queen Missy is one of my favorite royals of all time) ---
**Author:** ![OxyMoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9a140/32.png) [@OxyMoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OxyMoron)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reviving-old-slang/176872/27 "2003-05-23T03:22:00Z")
Heavens to Betsy!:eek: ---
**Author:** ![Pixiesnix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Pixiesnix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixiesnix)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reviving-old-slang/176872/28 "2003-05-23T03:39:11Z")
My Dad likes to describe hot summer weather as, “hotter than the hubs of Hades.” I miss calling people a dope, and I don’t mean in the context of “Straight Dope.” I also liked it when people had a swell time, even if they had to take the air. But some people could be rotten and slip their pally a Mickey. And when I think of more, I’ll be back in two shakes of a lamb’s tail. ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reviving-old-slang/176872/29 "2003-05-23T03:56:07Z")
Things are swell, nifty, and keen around here. Your new suit likes right smart on you. Are you hep to that, cat? (Only certain people are cats, in my world. It takes a certain je ne sais quois.) If you crack wise to me I will snuff you in your grill, your peeper, your sniffer, or your bean, so you’d best take a powder. ---
**Author:** ![TVGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/82dd89/32.png) [@TVGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reviving-old-slang/176872/30 "2003-05-23T04:06:07Z")
Man, and just when I thought “groovy” was a classic… ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reviving-old-slang/176872/31 "2003-05-23T04:44:40Z")
Noooooooow you’re on the trolley. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reviving-old-slang/176872/32 "2003-05-23T05:19:29Z")
I’m partial to “babycakes” and “six ways from Sunday.” To my chagrin, I have never stopped being “bummed out,” “freaked out,” or (with increasing regularity) “vegged out.” Criminy! ---
**Author:** ![Satisfying\_Andy\_Licious](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Satisfying\_Andy\_Licious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satisfying_Andy_Licious)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reviving-old-slang/176872/33 "2003-05-23T06:31:07Z")
Hey, **Kalhoun,** ixnay on the ang-slay. 86 that stuff, see? Cause strictly on the QT, you’re crampin’ my style. Now the rest of you mugs and lounge lizards, amscray. Cheese it. I gotta see a man about a horse. ---
**Author:** ![Tomcat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Tomcat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tomcat)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reviving-old-slang/176872/34 "2003-05-23T12:09:24Z")
What a _choice!_ thread, man. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reviving-old-slang/176872/35 "2003-05-23T13:07:12Z")
Oh, I find all you gal dopers so dreamy! ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reviving-old-slang/176872/36 "2003-05-23T13:16:18Z")
Ok, I making the scene again because I have time before I have to cut out and get back to my pad. It’s a real drag when the boards get flaked out, but I shouldn’t get all shook up when I’m supposed be working to make some payola. Don’t wig out, I’ll see ya at the passion pit. We’re gonna rumble to protect our turf. And that chick I saw you with really sends me. I’m cutting out now, this place is dullsville. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reviving-old-slang/176872/37 "2003-05-23T13:34:04Z")
I’m trying to revive 19th century slang,here goes- -“plug ugly” (a 19th century NY gang) -“dogwilly” (southern USA expression of amazement) -“by the jimjams!” -“tarnation” -“by all that’s holy!” -“humbug I say!” ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reviving-old-slang/176872/38 "2003-05-23T13:59:22Z")
That car is Boss! My husband says this when the cops arrive on the scene: “Chiggers! The fuzz!” Check out those gams! He looked at me like a side-dish he didn’t order (my personal favorite) ---
**Author:** ![Ender\_Will](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Ender\_Will](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ender_Will)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reviving-old-slang/176872/39 "2003-05-23T15:00:45Z")
Man, I use solidly 30% of these things in my everday lingo. Same with my friends. One of my teachers uses “drop a dime [on someone]” or “dimed [someone] off” quite a bit, and we’ve all decided that’s a great term. ---
**Author:** ![Ender\_Will](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Ender\_Will](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ender_Will)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reviving-old-slang/176872/40 "2003-05-23T15:05:50Z")
Man, I use solidly 30% of these things in my everday lingo. Same with my friends. One of my teachers uses “drop a dime [on someone]” or “dimed [someone] off” quite a bit, and we’ve all decided that’s a great term. This is as good a place as any to include one of the greatest puns ever: (from the “Most Intellectual Jokes” thread quite some time ago) What did MacBeth say when he saw Birnham Wood advancing on Dunsinnane? Cheezit! It’s the copse! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reviving-old-slang/176872.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reviving-old-slang/176872.md?page=3)