Glossary of 80s Slang
The 80s gave birth to the most rad slang terms that ever existed. If you didn't live through that decade here is a glossary of all those bodacious sayings.
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Airhead – A silly or unintelligent person.
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Awesome – Something incredibly good or impressive.
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Bad – Really good or cool (opposite of its literal meaning).
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Bag Your Face – A way of telling someone to shut up or stop talking.
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Barf Me Out – Expression of disgust.
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Bitchin’ – Excellent, cool, or great.
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Bodacious – Remarkable, impressive, or attractive.
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Bogus – Fake, bad, or disappointing.
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Book – To leave quickly.
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Buggin’ – Freaking out or going crazy.
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Bummin’ – Feeling sad or disappointed.
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Burnout – A person who is always spaced out or tired, often associated with drug use.
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Chill – To relax or calm down.
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Chill Pill – Something to help someone calm down or relax.
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Choice – Something that is really good.
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Clutch – Perfect timing or coming through in a difficult situation.
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Cowabunga – An exclamation of excitement or joy.
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Crankin’ – Really good, awesome (especially in reference to music).
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Decked Out – Dressed up or decorated very well.
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Dibs – A claim to something.
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Ditz – A ditzy or absent-minded person.
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Dweeb – A socially awkward or uncool person.
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Eat My Shorts – A way of telling someone off.
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Far Out – Amazing, cool, or unusual.
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Fer Sure – Definitely, absolutely.
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Freaked Out – Scared or overly excited.
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Fresh – Cool, stylish, or new.
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Gag Me with a Spoon – Disgusting or revolting.
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Gnarly – Something that is both good and bad; intense.
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Grody – Disgusting or gross.
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Gross – Disgusting or yucky.
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Gutted – Feeling upset or devastated.
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Heavy – Deep or intense.
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Homeboy/Homegirl – A close friend.
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Hoser – A loser or uncool person.
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Hunk – An attractive male.
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Jock – An athletic person, often perceived as less intelligent.
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Lame – Uncool, boring, or bad.
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Like – Filler word often used in Valley Girl speak.
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Major – Used to emphasize something important or significant.
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Mallrat – Someone who spends a lot of time at the mall.
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Mondo – Huge or awesome.
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Narbo – A dim-witted or uncool person.
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No Duh – Obviously.
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Not! – Used to negate a statement made right before it.
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Oh My God (OMG) – Expression of surprise, shock, or disbelief.
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Old School – Something that is traditional or from an earlier time, often used with respect.
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Outrageous – Amazing or really cool.
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Pad – One’s home or living space.
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Party Hardy – To party hard or with great enthusiasm.
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Poser – Someone who pretends to be something they are not.
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Rad – Short for radical, meaning cool or excellent.
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Radical – Awesome, cool, or excellent.
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Ralph – To vomit.
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Righteous – Amazing, cool, or very good.
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Rip Off – Something that is overpriced or unfair.
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Rockin’ – Something cool or awesome, often used to describe music.
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Scarf – To eat something quickly.
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Schweet – Another way of saying sweet, meaning awesome or great.
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Scoot – To leave or move quickly.
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Shades – Sunglasses.
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Shred – To play music, especially guitar, very well.
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Slammin’ – Something cool or exciting.
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Spaz – Someone who is clumsy or overly excited.
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Space Cadet – Someone who is out of touch with reality.
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Spazzing – Freaking out or acting erratically.
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Stoked – Excited or enthusiastic.
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Stud – An attractive or confident male.
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Sucka – A fool or someone who is easily tricked.
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Sweet – Really cool or awesome.
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Take a Chill Pill – To relax or calm down.
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Take a Hike – To go away or leave someone alone.
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Take It Easy – Relax or be calm.
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Totally – Completely or absolutely.
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Trippin’ – Acting crazy or overreacting.
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Tubular – Awesome or cool (especially used by surfers).
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Tweaked – Nervous or hyper.
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Vibes – Feelings or atmosphere.
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Veg Out – To relax and do nothing.
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Wicked – Really cool or awesome.
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Wimp – A weak or cowardly person.
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Word – Used to express agreement.
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Yuppie – A young urban professional, often perceived as materialistic.
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Zit – A pimple.
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Zoned Out – Daydreaming or not paying attention.
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Dude – A term for a person, often a male.
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Chillax – A combination of chill and relax, meaning to calm down.
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Copacetic – Everything is okay or cool.
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Decked Out – Dressed up or well-decorated.
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Funky – Stylish or cool in a unique way.
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Funky Fresh – Stylish and cool.
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Grind – Hard work or effort.
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Groove – To dance or enjoy music.
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Kickin’ – Really good or awesome.
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Mad – Very or a lot (e.g., "mad cool").
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Max – Maximum effort or very intense.
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Mega – Extremely or very.
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Neat – Cool or awesome.
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Rugged – Tough or hardcore.
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Spiffy – Looking sharp or stylish.