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Vintage Slang
Vintage slang refers to colloquial words or expressions in the English language, associated with a particular decade. Some examples of this are “catch 22” from the 1970s and “grandstand” from the 1940s.
1,017 Questions
What does the following question in urban slang mean-have you changed your oil recently?
dags att sova
What is slang for 50's group of people?
Well, according to the website Daddy-O! a place full of them would be called Antsville.
But, the real word for an entourage, et al, of people would be cats.
What does the phrase for ten and six mean?
Well 10 and 6 means "ten shillings six pence", so for 10 and 6 means "for the price of ten shillings six pence."
What is the meaning of Put the Otis back on it?
For a second I was either baffled or perplexed thinking you were referencing either one Mr. Redding or the elevators upon which that Mr. Redding used to, occasionally, rise & fall. But nope. Took me a second. What you need defined is not otis but onus, as in
Put the onus [on something].
The word onus means, more or less, burden of responsibility or blame. So when one puts the onus on someone one is forcing the blame onto that individual.
What does it mean when someone says 'Iwill cut you'?
It's a joke that usually means a whole lot of nothing. It's from the King Burger sketch on Mad TV, Bon Qui Qui says it--and, in fact, says it a lot. It's gone from meaning, there, more or less I will stab you to meaning I will say I will stab you but I wont do anything other than laugh out in the world. That's pretty much what it also meant on Mad TV but, you know, moreso since it moved.
How do you say friends in 70's slang?
From what I remember?
Crew would be one word-- as per the 999 song Feelin All Right with the Crew.
Brother is another one, it's close, not quite, and earlier 70s.
Those two I remember from being a kid. I've now read on a slang site that someone, somewhere called his or her friends his or her mellow--something that sounds really odd to me--
But that's one of the problems with asking an overall slang question. Slang terms differ depending on where you're from, who you know, what you listen to, what you read, what you see. I think crew, which I do know works, is more a British term than American but i misspent my youth listening to bands like 999 so it makes the most sense to me.
If it also helps, I think homie started then too. As did blood. Both of them do come from gang slang. At least in Los Angeles, where I am. But, then again, slang often comes from the dark depths before expiring amid the multitude, just like so much else.
There is a lot that is almost hilariously wrong with some of it. For example, the word chillaxin? The word chill didn't show up for at least a decade after 1979 and chillaxin took a decade after that so--watch your head here and YMMV. Still, some of it's helpful and if you seek online you shall surely find more. Another tip? Those of us who remember the 1970s are not all old and dead yet so, you know, you might ask someone you know.
What does it mean if someone says hey delicious?
it means that they think something is attractive whether to eat or they could be referring to the fact that a person is exceptionally attractive or "hot"
What were some popular phrases and sayings during 1942?
"From hep cats, to full birds" is the slang of the 1940's
What do you mean by chop chop?
It means quickly. Go get your coat .... come on ... chop chop. It means hurry up and get your coat. I think one of the reasons this phrase is not used so much anymore is because it is supposed to be an unflattering imitation of someone speaking Chinese.
What is meaning of to shoot someone's fox?
It means to predict an argument and complete it before the person making it, just as a fox-hunter would be prevented from a kill if the hunted fox were shot.
What is the meaning of the idiomatic expression nineteen to the dozen?
Nineteen to the dozen is an English expression. It means to do something at breakneck speed, to do something very fast. Example; We hadn't seen each other for years and were were gossiping nineteen to the dozen.
What does cream mean in 1970s slang?
Cream, as in "I could cream" or "I could have creamed in my pants" meant ejaculate.
Why do some people say 'Jiminy Cricket'?
What famous religious figure has the initials J.C.? Jiminy Cricket is a halfhearted attempt at a blasphemous oath, sharing the initials of Christ, but it skirts around actually "using Christ's name in vain".
This thinly veiled blasphemy is nothing new. In Shakespearean times, "zounds" was used to imply a shortened form of the oath "God's wounds!"
Some people just can not resist responding...
Do you say Off the top of their head or Off the top of their heads?
Off the top of their headS because they are plural. Multiple people have more than one head...
"Tar" is a slang term for "sailor", coming from the days when ships were made of wood and needed to be treated periodically with tar in order to preserve them.
"She's history" or "that's the end of her". It means she's about to die -- either figuratively, as in to lose a game spectacularly, or literally.
What does oh what a goose are you mean?
Geese are thought of as foolish creatures of little intelligence. So comparing you to a goose is a criticism of your intelligence.
What does the 1960's slang term playing John Alden mean?
The 1960s slang term "playing John Alden" refers to a man who is overly attentive or devoted to a woman, often at the expense of his own interests. It derives from the historical figure John Alden, who was known for his romantic pursuit of Priscilla Mullins in the story of "The Courtship of Miles Standish." In this context, the term suggests a kind of chivalrous but sometimes misguided loyalty.
What does guff mean in slang from the 1920's?
Guff means "back talk"
Example-- "don't you give me none of that guff!"
What does it mean to say your my cheap suit?
Saying "you're my cheap suit" typically implies a sense of familiarity and comfort, suggesting that the person is reliable or dependable, much like a well-worn, affordable garment. It can also convey a hint of affection or humor, indicating that while they may not be extravagant or perfect, they hold value in a personal or emotional context. This phrase may reflect a playful or endearing sentiment about the person's presence in one’s life.
What does it mean when someone tells you to 'dry up'?
It means they want you to either shut up, or get lost, or both.
