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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.

  • Airhead – A silly or unintelligent person.

  • Awesome – Something incredibly good or impressive.

  • Bad – Really good or cool (opposite of its literal meaning).

  • Bag Your Face – A way of telling someone to shut up or stop talking.

  • Barf Me Out – Expression of disgust.

  • Bitchin’ – Excellent, cool, or great.

  • Bodacious – Remarkable, impressive, or attractive.

  • Bogus – Fake, bad, or disappointing.

  • Book – To leave quickly.

  • Buggin’ – Freaking out or going crazy.

  • Bummin’ – Feeling sad or disappointed.

  • Burnout – A person who is always spaced out or tired, often associated with drug use.

  • Chill – To relax or calm down.

  • Chill Pill – Something to help someone calm down or relax.

  • Choice – Something that is really good.

  • Clutch – Perfect timing or coming through in a difficult situation.

  • Cowabunga – An exclamation of excitement or joy.

  • Crankin’ – Really good, awesome (especially in reference to music).

  • Decked Out – Dressed up or decorated very well.

  • Dibs – A claim to something.

  • Ditz – A ditzy or absent-minded person.

  • Dweeb – A socially awkward or uncool person.

  • Eat My Shorts – A way of telling someone off.

  • Far Out – Amazing, cool, or unusual.

  • Fer Sure – Definitely, absolutely.

  • Freaked Out – Scared or overly excited.

  • Fresh – Cool, stylish, or new.

  • Gag Me with a Spoon – Disgusting or revolting.

  • Gnarly – Something that is both good and bad; intense.

  • Grody – Disgusting or gross.

  • Gross – Disgusting or yucky.

  • Gutted – Feeling upset or devastated.

  • Heavy – Deep or intense.

  • Homeboy/Homegirl – A close friend.

  • Hoser – A loser or uncool person.

  • Hunk – An attractive male.

  • Jock – An athletic person, often perceived as less intelligent.

  • Lame – Uncool, boring, or bad.

  • Like – Filler word often used in Valley Girl speak.

  • Major – Used to emphasize something important or significant.

  • Mallrat – Someone who spends a lot of time at the mall.

  • Mondo – Huge or awesome.

  • Narbo – A dim-witted or uncool person.

  • No Duh – Obviously.

  • Not! – Used to negate a statement made right before it.

  • Oh My God (OMG) – Expression of surprise, shock, or disbelief.

  • Old School – Something that is traditional or from an earlier time, often used with respect.

  • Outrageous – Amazing or really cool.

  • Pad – One’s home or living space.

  • Party Hardy – To party hard or with great enthusiasm.

  • Poser – Someone who pretends to be something they are not.

  • Rad – Short for radical, meaning cool or excellent.

  • Radical – Awesome, cool, or excellent.

  • Ralph – To vomit.

  • Righteous – Amazing, cool, or very good.

  • Rip Off – Something that is overpriced or unfair.

  • Rockin’ – Something cool or awesome, often used to describe music.

  • Scarf – To eat something quickly.

  • Schweet – Another way of saying sweet, meaning awesome or great.

  • Scoot – To leave or move quickly.

  • Shades – Sunglasses.

  • Shred – To play music, especially guitar, very well.

  • Slammin’ – Something cool or exciting.

  • Spaz – Someone who is clumsy or overly excited.

  • Space Cadet – Someone who is out of touch with reality.

  • Spazzing – Freaking out or acting erratically.

  • Stoked – Excited or enthusiastic.

  • Stud – An attractive or confident male.

  • Sucka – A fool or someone who is easily tricked.

  • Sweet – Really cool or awesome.

  • Take a Chill Pill – To relax or calm down.

  • Take a Hike – To go away or leave someone alone.

  • Take It Easy – Relax or be calm.

  • Totally – Completely or absolutely.

  • Trippin’ – Acting crazy or overreacting.

  • Tubular – Awesome or cool (especially used by surfers).

  • Tweaked – Nervous or hyper.

  • Vibes – Feelings or atmosphere.

  • Veg Out – To relax and do nothing.

  • Wicked – Really cool or awesome.

  • Wimp – A weak or cowardly person.

  • Word – Used to express agreement.

  • Yuppie – A young urban professional, often perceived as materialistic.

  • Zit – A pimple.

  • Zoned Out – Daydreaming or not paying attention.

  • Dude – A term for a person, often a male.

  • Chillax – A combination of chill and relax, meaning to calm down.

  • Copacetic – Everything is okay or cool.

  • Decked Out – Dressed up or well-decorated.

  • Funky – Stylish or cool in a unique way.

  • Funky Fresh – Stylish and cool.

  • Grind – Hard work or effort.

  • Groove – To dance or enjoy music.

  • Kickin’ – Really good or awesome.

  • Mad – Very or a lot (e.g., "mad cool").

  • Max – Maximum effort or very intense.

  • Mega – Extremely or very.

  • Neat – Cool or awesome.

  • Rugged – Tough or hardcore.

  • Spiffy – Looking sharp or stylish.

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