Summary of 50s slang glossary
- What was slang for cool in the 50s?
- What are some old slang sayings?
- How would people talk in the 1950s?
- What are 5 slang words from the 1960s?
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AI Overview
1950s slang was full of colorful terms for people, places, and actions, describing cool cats as “hip” or “boss,” squares as “party poopers,” and kids as “ankle-biters,” while car-related terms like “backseat bingo” (making out) and “burn rubber” (accelerate fast) were popular, alongside general terms like “bread” (money) and “dig” (understand), plus phrases like “cruisin’ for a bruisin'” for trouble.
People & Personalities
Ankle-biter: A small child.
Beatnik: A young person into the beat lifestyle (music, art, rebellion).
Bird dog: Someone trying to steal your girlfriend.
Cat/Daddy-O: A cool, hip guy.
Dolly/Dreamboat: A cute girl/guy, respectively.
Drip: An uncool, boring person.
Greaser: A tough guy, often with slicked-back hair.
Party Pooper/Wet Rag: Someone who spoils fun.
Square: Someone who conforms to traditional norms, not “hip”.
Actions & Situations
Backseat Bingo: Making out in a car.
Bash: A party.
Beat Feet/Agitate the Gravel: Leave quickly.
Blow Off/Burn Rubber: Accelerate a car hard.
Bust a Gut: Laugh very hard.
Cruisin’ for a Bruisin’: Looking for trouble.
Dig: To understand or appreciate something/someone.
Flip: To be very excited.
Knuckle Sandwich: A punch.
Places & Things
Bread: Money.
Classy Chassis: A person with a great figure.
Flick: A movie.
Pad: Home.
Passion Pit: A drive-in movie theater.
Ragtops: Convertibles.
Souped-up: A car with performance upgrades (hot rod).
General Coolness & Approval
Bad (meaning good): Really good.
Boss: Great, excellent.
Copacetic: Everything is fine/running smoothly.
The Most/A Gas/Unreal/Out of This World/Radioactive: Amazing, the best.
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Related Links
1950s Slang Words and Phrases Worth Remembering – YourDictionary
Jul 16, 2021 — ankle-biter – a small child. beatnik – a young person who’s into the beat lifestyle (music, drugs, booze, etc.) back s…
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OKAY MOST IMPORTANTLY, this glossary isn’t absolutely necessary! many of the words can be inferred, but there’s a lot that can’t. i highly recommend having this handy.
most of the words are taken from here, only some are added and a lot are taken out. in alphabetical order, here we goooo.
A
actor: show-off
ankle-biter: child
apple butter: smooth talk or flattery
are you writing a book?: you’re asking too many questions
B
baby: cute girl
back seat bingo: kissing while in a car
bad news: depressing person
bash: great party
bash ears: to talk
big tickle: really funny
bundie: a boy in need of a haircut
C
cat: a hip person
chariot: a car
circled: married
cloud 9: really happy
clutched: rejected
come on snake, let’s rattle: may i have this next dance?
cool it: relax, settle down
cranked: excited
cream: to badly damage a car
G
get with it: understand
give me a bell: call me on the telephone
going steady: to date
greaser: a guy with tons of grease in his hair. think of the guys from the movie grease, leather jackets and all. in this verse, that’s taekwoon, wonshik, and sanghyuk.
gringles: worries
grundy: neither good nor bad.
H
hip: very good
horn: telephone
I
i’ll clue you: i’ll tell you about it
ice it: to forget about something
ivy league style: a style of dress we would now regard as preppy (bowties, button down shirts, etc.). in this verse, it’s hakyeon, jaehwan, and hongbin.
J
jacketed: going steady
jets: smarts, brains
K
kick: a fun or good thing
kookie: nuts, in the nicest way possible
L
lighting up the tilt sign: not telling the truth
low: depressed
M
machine: car
most, as in “the most”: high praise, usually with sexual connotation
N
necking: making out
night shift: a slumber party
nowhere: opposite of cool
O
off: to steal
P
panic and a half: a really funny joke
paper shaker: a cheerleader
party pooper: no fun at all; a killjoy
passion pit: a drive-in movie theater
play dead: to keep quiet
proof: identification that shows one is old enough to buy liquor, or in this case, cigarettes
R
rag top: a convertible car
rattle your cage: get upset
rod: a car
S
shooting the breeze: talking
sides: vinyl records
slodge: a friend
sluff: to cut classes
slurg: a milkshake
sophie: one’s girlfriend
stable the horses: park the car
T
tank: a large sedan, usually driven by parents
thin one: dime
tight: good friends
W
word from the bird: the truth
most of the words are taken from here, only some are added and a lot are taken out. in alphabetical order, here we goooo.
A
actor: show-off
ankle-biter: child
apple butter: smooth talk or flattery
are you writing a book?: you’re asking too many questions
B
baby: cute girl
back seat bingo: kissing while in a car
bad news: depressing person
bash: great party
bash ears: to talk
big tickle: really funny
bundie: a boy in need of a haircut
C
cat: a hip person
chariot: a car
circled: married
cloud 9: really happy
clutched: rejected
come on snake, let’s rattle: may i have this next dance?
cool it: relax, settle down
cranked: excited
cream: to badly damage a car
cut the gas: be quiet!
D
dolly: cute girl
drag: a bore
due backs: a pack of cigarettes
F
fake out: bad date
flick: a movie
flip-top: a convertible car
flutter bum: a good-looking boy
fracture: to amuse
fream: someone who doesn’t fit in
G
get with it: understand
give me a bell: call me on the telephone
going steady: to date
greaser: a guy with tons of grease in his hair. think of the guys from the movie grease, leather jackets and all. in this verse, that’s taekwoon, wonshik, and sanghyuk.
gringles: worries
grundy: neither good nor bad.
H
hip: very good
horn: telephone
I
i’ll clue you: i’ll tell you about it
ice it: to forget about something
ivy league style: a style of dress we would now regard as preppy (bowties, button down shirts, etc.). in this verse, it’s hakyeon, jaehwan, and hongbin.
J
jacketed: going steady
jets: smarts, brains
K
kick: a fun or good thing
kookie: nuts, in the nicest way possible
L
lighting up the tilt sign: not telling the truth
low: depressed
M
machine: car
most, as in “the most”: high praise, usually with sexual connotation
N
necking: making out
night shift: a slumber party
nowhere: opposite of cool
O
off: to steal
P
panic and a half: a really funny joke
paper shaker: a cheerleader
party pooper: no fun at all; a killjoy
passion pit: a drive-in movie theater
play dead: to keep quiet
proof: identification that shows one is old enough to buy liquor, or in this case, cigarettes
R
rag top: a convertible car
rattle your cage: get upset
rod: a car
S
shooting the breeze: talking
sides: vinyl records
slodge: a friend
sluff: to cut classes
slurg: a milkshake
sophie: one’s girlfriend
stable the horses: park the car
T
tank: a large sedan, usually driven by parents
thin one: dime
tight: good friends
W
word from the bird: the truth