“He’s letting his freak flag fly.”
“She paid four large for that jewelry??”
“He’s not a burn artist.”
These are three examples of old school slang I used recently that got a blank stare from the 20 something daughter of a friend, who said these in reply:
“Flag? What flag? I don’t see any flag.”
“Four large what?”
“You mean he was arrested for arson?”
Slang updated
The internet is a great way to get tuned into the latest slang, but by the time I know what ‘riz” is, they’ve moved on to some other catchphrase.
I used to try to keep up because of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). I still don’t understand what “flex” means or the many uses of ‘yeet.”
Nowadays, though, I don’t bother, since it feels and sounds so…awkward. (Think of 55-year-old-Steve Buscemi trying to pass as a high schooler in that 30 Rock episode saying “How do you do, fellow kids?” )
I’ll keep using ‘full tilt boogie” “Let’s book” and “whatta drag” when appropriate, and never mind the blank looks. After all, it might be a Jeopardy category someday!
YOUR TURN
But that’s me. How about you? What old school slang do you still use, or miss? What happens when you use it? What new-style slang do you still not understand? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Virge Randall is Senior Planet’s Managing Editor. She is also a freelance culture reporter who seeks out hidden gems and unsung (or undersung) treasures for Straus Newspapers; her blog “Don’t Get Me Started” puts a quirky new spin on Old School New York City. Send your suggestions for Open Threads to her at editor@seniorplanet.org.
