Each generation has its own vocabulary, but baby boomers say many things that drive younger generations wild. One generation is not better than the other, but boomers grew up in the age of prosperity. Hence, other generations often see their actions and words as unfair advantages and entitlement. Without further ado, here are some common phrases used by boomers that barely anyone understands.
Wig chop
It may sound like a new dish or even the name of a fancy restaurant. However, this simply means that one needs a haircut. You can try it out during your next hair salon appointment. Perhaps it will catch on.
Don’t flip your wig
We have no idea what’s happening with the boomers and their obsession with wigs. Perhaps it is like millennials and avocados. Regardless, “Don’t flip your wig” is slang meant to tell someone to calm down. Flip Your Wig is also an album by the American band Hüsker Dü, released in the 1980s.
Thongs (not underwear)
For the rest of the world, thongs are stringy underwear. But, for boomers, thongs represent flip-flops. If your grandma sends you to her thongs, make sure you buy her summer footwear.
Threads
In today’s world, it is Meta’s social network. A few decades ago, threads was a slang word for clothes. The phrase dates back to the 1920s, but boomers adapted it to describe a stylish piece of clothing.
Peace out
Peace out is a way of saying goodbye. It implies that you wish someone peace, prosperity, and the good stuff, even after an argument. If you were arguing, a simple “peace out” would mean it is time to move on without grudges. It was used in the ’90s in the hip-hop scene, eventually shortening it to “peace.”
Zilch
If you don’t have a job or a romantic partner or feel your life is in a rut, in a bomber’s world, you have zilch going on. This term was also first noticed in the 1920s. In the 1950s, it described anything inferior or dull. By the early 1970s, it became a way to describe that you’ve got nothing going on for you.
Wannabe
Wanna-Bes were adopted by big stars, like Madonna or Bon Jovi, and later Spice Girls. It is used to describe someone who is trying too hard to be someone they are not, and it was a hit in the 80s.
Yuppie
Yuppie is a slang term for young urban professionals, and the term became insulting by the mid-80s. It represented young, well-educated, preppy, dressed, often posh people who were frequently as annoying as hipsters in the world of millennials.
Grunge
Before Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Mother Love Bone, and Nirvana, grunge was used to describe awkward dates, sour foods, and all things unappealing. The term dates back to 1969, though the Seattle scene made it iconic despite all the bands hating the phrase.
Bodacious
When you mix up bold and audacious, you get bodacious, which is a synonym for excellent or super enjoyable. Though not many use it nowadays, the 1989 hit movie Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure made the phrase iconic.
Take a chill pill
One of the phrases the boomers used heavily was “take a chill pill.” It was a way to tell someone to relax or calm down, and its popularity was well-recorded in the 1980s movies and TV shows.
Veg out
To veg out or veg was a cooler way of saying that you’re going into a vegetated state. This means you’re planning to disconnect from the world, watch TV, and do nothing. It was primarily used in the late 70s and early 80s, though it could describe how many of us lived our lives since the beginning of the pandemic.
Wet rag
If you get called a wet rag, it means that you are no fun at all. Despite how we see boomers today, they had memorable ways of describing people and situations, so if you’re trying to find a connection between a wet rag and a boring person, don’t bother. Instead, ask the nearest boomer.
Skeezy
Skeezy gained notoriety in the early 90s, so Gen X, not just boomers, used it. It is a variation of sleazy plus sketchy, and it soon becomes associated with describing strange and unpleasant men.
Gnarly
If something is scary or difficult, it is gnarly. The term faded away, but it was replaced with bent or twisted. But, before it got removed, gnarly was also used by the surfers to describe a dangerous wave. It was associated with edgy, scary, yet something extra cool.
Buzz off
If you want to tell a boomer to go away in a less-than-polite manner, ask them to buzz off. Similarly, if a boomer tells you to buzz off, they are not being cute in their attention to get rid of you.
Square
Similarly to wet rags, the square is meant to describe someone boring, though it could also mean they are old-fashioned. The term originated in the 1940s, but it gained popularity among boomers who used it to label someone (or something) as not cool.
Be there or be square
Unlike the term “square,” the phrase “be there or be square” was used to pressure someone to attend an event or to participate in something. It is not uncommon to hear this phrase in an 80s teen flick when a bully says that to the main hero.
What’s your bag?
The phrase became popular in the 1960s. It means “What’s your problem?” or “Where are you coming from?” Later, it became a way to describe one’s interests. For example, “Music is my bag” means it is one’s passion.
Ticked off
If you are a millennial, you might feel triggered. But, if you’re a boomer, you’re ticked off. Though the phrases are pretty similar, for boomers, being ticked off meant being annoying, while being triggered could have a more profound psychological background.
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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.