Each generation of teens and young adults brings its share of new phrases, and the 50s and the 60s were no different. Some expressions from the heyday of the Silent Generations and early Boomers survived the transition to modern generations, while others were left behind. Language is constantly evolving, but some of these decades-old phrases should maybe make a comeback because they sound groovy! Let’s get moving!
Cruisin’ for a bruisin’
This strange expression dates back to the 50s, which originally meant that someone was looking for a fight. However, the phrase changed in the late ’60s or early ’70s and evolved into cruisin’ to give a bruisin’ or cruisin’ to get a bruisin’. The latter described an ill-tempered friend. It was featured in the hit movie “Grease.”
What’s your bag?
This term from the 60s has nothing to do with fashion. It was used when someone was trying to start something, so the person would basically ask them, “What’s your problem?” It was slang for questioning someone about what they do for a living or their interests.
Decked out
This idiom from the 50s and the 60s meant that someone got dressed up or something was decorated in a fancy manner. It should not be confused with decked, which means hitting someone and knocking them down. The next time you get ready for a party, you can use the hashtag decked out on social media and see how many of your peers recognize this phrase.
Ankle-biter
If one phrase needs to come back, it must be “ankle-biter.” The idiot was a big deal in the 50s and the 60s, and it meant a small child. It reflects how small kids can be as annoying as pests, and it still sounds better than rugrat, another outdated slang word for a child.
Daddy-o
The term Daddy-o went viral in the 50s, thanks to a TV show, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, with Dwayne Hickman and Bob Denver. It was used mainly by Black jazz musicians in the States, though it was not strange to hear it in everyday conversations. It symbolized a male figure, like today’s bro or dude. It fizzled out in the 60s.
The love-ins
This expression perfectly summarizes the summer of love. There was also a movie by the same name from 1967, which is considered to be a hippie classic. The love-ins were people gathered to express love, and the saying went away almost entirely after the 60s, and the idea of free love went away.
Vomit on the table
If you want to sound like a 1950s hipster, start using the phrase “vomit on the table.” It means “speak up,” “talk to me,” or “spill your guts.” The phrase vanished, likely because people found it repulsing, but you decide whether it should make a fashionable comeback.
Getting pinned
This was more than a phrase. Guys would give their darlings pins, so “getting pinned” meant “going steady.” The idiom from the 50s was prevalent on campuses, and pins were as crucial as promise rings. Today, getting pinned is also about social media posts, so the chances of this phrase making a comeback are slim to none.
Apple butter
While apple butter is still a thing, the phrase vanished and had nothing to do with tasty bread spread. It meant someone was a smooth talker or was rather flattering. There are many idioms with apples, and this is by far the least insulting, though saying that “Joe fed me a lot of apple butter” can be taken literally.
Gimme some skin
The weird idiot was started in the 40s as African American slang for shaking hands. By the 50s, everyone was using it as an informal way of saying “hello” or asking someone to high-five. It can also mean a fist bump, slap of hands, or anything that involves hand touching as a casual greeting.
Cut the gas
Unlike “vomit on a table,” the phrase “cut the gas” was a message to someone to stop talking. While it was a big thing in the 50s, this expression is likely dead today. If you told it to someone today, they would likely think it had something to do with cars, but you can try it.
Cherry
The term “cherry” was a hit in the 60s and the 70s, but then it vanished. It was used mainly by skaters and surfers to describe something or someone extraordinarily radical or super cool. You might still hear it from Boomers, though the phrase would likely confuse most people.
Backseat bingo
This famous 50s phrase was a way to express that two people were making out in a car. It was one of numerous phrases that exploded during the car-obsessed decade. The same activity was also known as “parking,” but it was likely more confusing than stating someone was busy with the “backseat bingo.”
Wig chop
If you wanted to be on point while going to get a haircut back in the 50s, you would’ve said you were going for a “wig chop.” While the phrase lasted through the 60s, it went away and never returned. While some might say it should make a comeback, we are perfectly happy with a “haircut.”
Big tickle
This 50s phrase was so famous that there was a play titled The Big Tickle. Big tickle was used to describe something really funny, so, as you guessed it, the play was a comedy. It disappeared into thin air, and today, we use LOL or LMAO, which means the same thing.
Wet rag
If you wanted to sound original while describing someone spoiling all the fun, you’d call them a wet rag. It is the same as a “wet blanket.” Another popular phrase back in the day was “wet towel.” It represented someone dull and uninspiring. There are many variations, but it always symbolizes someone you did not want to be.
Ginchy
While terms like “groovy,” “cool,” or “dreamboat” found their way into modern linguistics, “ginchy” had no such luck. Being “the ginchiest” meant someone was attractive, super cool, or excellent, and it was widespread in the 50s. It vanished, but you can still hear it in the song Kookie Kookie by I. Taylor.
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Kate Smith, a self-proclaimed word nerd who relishes the power of language to inform, entertain, and inspire. Kate's passion for sharing knowledge and sparking meaningful conversations fuels her every word.