Every generation has words or phrases that distinguish it from previous generations, and Baby Boomers are no different. The Michael Myers Austin Powers movies that were a send-up of ‘60s-era spy flicks was a reminder of how far removed we are from the slang of that bygone era.
24/7 Tempo has compiled a list of words and phrases Baby Boomers say that no else understands, drawing on sources including Your Dictionary, BestLife, and Owlcation.
Certain styles from the children of the ‘60s, such as tie-dye shirts and bell-bottom jeans may endure (or come back), but the argot of Boomers sounds as dated today as the slang from the Depression and the 1940s that their parents spoke. (For another look back, here’s a list of 15 popular toys when Baby Boomers were kids.)
Much of the jargon of ‘60s youth was influenced by drug usage (“bogart,” “doobie,” “getting fried”), rock ‘n’ roll lyrics (“it’s a gas” from “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” by the Rolling Stones; “right on” from “Theme from ‘Shaft’” by Isaac Hayes; “out of sight” from the song of the same name by James Brown), the hippie lifestyle (“flower child,” “groovy,” “head trip”), and protests against the Vietnam War (“flower power,” “The Man”).
Some of these words and phrases date back long before even the oldest Baby Boomers were born. “Bread” was a term for money as early as the 1930s (and incidentally bread’s pre-baked form, “dough,” has been applied to money since the Civil War era). “Trippin’” (spelled with a final “g”) was first recorded with its current meaning of being under the influence of drugs in the 1920s. “Mellow,” meaning relaxed after smoking marijuana, dates from 1946. (Here are 10 words that don’t mean what you think they do.)
Blow one’s mind
> Meaning: Amaze, strongly affect
Bogart
> Meaning: Hog a marijuana joint
Bookin’
> Meaning: Leaving in haste, going very fast
Boss
> Meaning: Excellent
Bread
> Meaning: Money
Doobie
> Meaning: A marijuana cigarette
Far out
> Meaning: Excellent, awesome; a phrase of approval
Flower child
> Meaning: A hippie, especially one wearing flowers in their hair
Flower power
> Meaning: The peace-and-love ideology of flower children (see above), especially by anti-war protesters during Vietnam War era
Fuzz
> Meaning: Police
Getting fried
> Meaning: Getting high on drugs, getting very drunk
Gimme some skin
> Meaning: Shake my hand
Hang loose
> Meaning: Relax, live in the moment
Gas
> Meaning: Enjoyable, out of sight (see above)
Groady/grody/grotty
> Meaning: Disgusting, revolting, filthy
Groovy
> Meaning: Excellent, awesome; a phrase of approval (see “far out,” above)
Hang-up
> Meaning: An inhibition, problem, source of difficulty
Head trip
> Meaning: Mentally stimulating experience (as with LSD), ego trip, something confusing or deceiving
Heavy
> Meaning: Serious, meaningful, of great import
Keep on truckin’
> Meaning: Don’t be discouraged, keep going
Lay it on me
> Meaning: Tell me what’s on your mind, give me something
Making the scene
> Meaning: Showing up for an event or party
The Man
> Meaning: An authority figure, a policeman, the government
Mellow
> Meaning: Laid back, less agitated or aggressive, often after smoking marijuana
The munchies
> Meaning: Hunger or imagine hunger, often after smoking marijuana
Out of sight
> Meaning: Great, cool; a term of approval
Peel out
> Meaning: Leave fast and usually loudly, as in a car
Psyche/psyched
> Meaning: Outsmart, deceive/excited, mentally ready
Right on
> Meaning: I strongly agree, good for you
Skuzz
> Meaning: Disgusting person
Spaced out
> Meaning: Distracted; not fully conscious of one’s surroundings, often after taking drugs
Tripping
> Meaning: Under the influence of drugs, usually LSD or some other psychedelic
Up tight
> Meaning: Anxious, nervous, rigidly conservative
Way out
> Meaning: Beyond explanation, very unusual
What’s your bag?
> Meaning: What are you interested in? What’s your problem?