I’m on cloud nine and really cranked that my new peepers got it made in the shade. AKA; I am really happy that my glasses help me be successful. How did our parents understand us when we talked? I suppose the more important question is do we care what our parents think? Isn’t that the idea? Isn’t slang like some form of code that young people use to communicate or is slang more like a word fashion?

 Slang describes a certain social culture and time. The 50s were a very interesting time period not just for America but for slang. Some people say it was the best time of American history. Television was entering every living room in our country, while segregation and racism was still part of life. Rules were strict for women. We were obligated to stay at home and make sure dinner was ready for the “breadwinner.” Children were to be seen and not heard; however, with rock and roll beginning to hit the air waves, teens were discovering new found freedoms and men’s hair was getting longer with side burns and a dab of grease to keep it in place. Women became more daring in how they dressed as they began to wear full skirts and tight-fitting blouses, and young men donned jeans and leather coats. Not only were the times changing, so was the language. Today let’s salute the 50s by looking at their slang.

 Axe—An instrument

Bad—Good

Bag—A person’s particular interest

Bent eight—V-8 engine (hot-rodders)

Big daddy—An older person

Blast—A good time

Bread—Money

Cat—A hip person

Cloud 9—Really happy

Cool it—Relax, settle down

Cooties—Imaginary infestations of the truly un-cool

Cranked—Excited

Cruisin’ for a bruisin’—Looking for trouble

Cut out—Leave

Daddy-O—Term of address

Dibs—A claim—as in “got dibs” on that seat

Dig—To understand; to approve

Don’t have a cow—Don’t get so excited

Fetch—Go get

Flick—A movie

Flip—To get very excited

Germsville—A place with germs

Gig—Work, job

Greaser—A guy with tons of grease in his hair

Gringles—Worries

Grody—Sloppy, messy or dirty

Hang—As in “hang out” which means to do very little

Heat—Police

Hip—Someone who is cool, in the know; very good

In orbit—In the know

Kookie—Nuts, in the nicest possible ways

Lid—Hat

Made in the shade—Success guaranteed

Make out—Kissing session

Nerd—Well, we know what a nerd is!

No sweat—No problem

Nowheresville—a boring, bad place to be

Pad—Home

Paper shaker—Cheerleader or Pom Pom girl

Party pooper—No fun at all

Peepers—Glasses

Rap—To talk

Rattle your cage—Get upset

Raunchy—Messy or gross in some other way

Razz my berries—Excite or impress me

Shot down—Failed

Slip me—Give me

Spaz—Someone who is uncoordinated, a clutz

Split—Leave

Square—A boring person or a do gooder

The man—Police

Threads—Clothes

Tight—Good friends

Total—To completely destroy, most often in reference to a car

Tune out—Go away

Unreal—Exceptional

Wet rag—Someone who is just no fun

Word from the bird—The truth

 Well don’t let this rattle your cage man, but I have to split, rap at ya soon. Aka; Don’t be upset, got to go, talk soon.

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