Slang from 1946 to 1999

About this list

Half a century in one list, because Wiktionary dates too few words to split it fairly by decade. A good deal of it is British and Australian, and a good deal came from surfers, clubs, and drug culture; the dates show which decade each belongs to.

46 words, oldest first

va-va-voom 1949

Expressing that something is lively, sexy, passionate, or exciting.

scarf the 1950s

To eat very quickly.

chunder 1950

Vomit.

sickie the 1950s

A day, or time, off work due to (supposed) illness.

zonk around 1950

An unfavorable card or token, or undesirable or worthless item used as a prize in a contest or game show (such as Let's Make a Deal).

hooter the 1950s

A nose, especially a large one.

Blog 1955

A cocktail or punch served at science fiction conventions. Ingredients vary for different conventions.

steely-eyed missile man 1958

An astronaut or engineer who quickly comes up with a solution to a difficult problem while under extreme pressure.

gobsmacked 1959

Flabbergasted, astounded, speechless, overawed.

codswallop 1959

Senseless talk or writing; nonsense; rubbish.

truck the 1960s

To travel, to proceed.

balls to the wall the 1960s

With maximum effort or commitment.

zit the 1960s

Pimple

thinking man's crumpet the 1960s

An intelligent and good-looking woman, particularly one who has a high profile in the broadcast media.

off like a bride's nightie 1960

Making a rapid departure; away.

fox the 1960s

A physically attractive person, typically a woman.

dolly the 1960s

A fashionable young woman, one who follows the latest music or clothing fashions.

coop the 1960s

Of a police officer: to sleep or relax while on duty.

gremlin the 1960s

A young, inexperienced surfer or skateboarder, regarded as a nuisance.

duck's guts the 1960s

A difficult or awkward situation, trouble.

snarf 1963

To eat or consume greedily.

angel dust around 1969

Phencyclidine, a type of dissociative anesthetic.

skate rat the 1970s

A dedicated skater who is committed to the street lifestyle.

bear the 1970s

A state policeman (short for Smokey Bear).

carburetor the 1970s

A water pipe or bong; a device or contrivance for mixing air with burning cannabis or cocaine.

skill the 1980s

Great, excellent.

zod the 1980s

A loser; a contemptible or uncool person.

crunk the 1980s

Crazy and intoxicated.

schwag the 1980s

Low-grade or commercial-grade marijuana.

torpedo the 1980s

A cigarette containing marijuana and crack cocaine.

zombie out 1981

To become listless, vacant, or unresponsive.

dirt nap 1981

A state of permanent rest; the state of death.

headlight fluid 1986

A fictional ostensible automotive product, used in jokes, to prank someone into searching for the nonexistent item (a snipe hunt), or to gauge how inept someone is in basic auto mechanics.

Pete Tong 1987

Wrong.

go Pete Tong 1987

To go wrong.

Camberwell carrot 1987

A large cannabis joint.

boo around 1988

A close acquaintance or significant other.

twitty 1989

Silly, foolish, ineffectual.

not the 1990s

Used to indicate that the previous phrase was meant sarcastically or ironically.

same difference the 1990s

A distinction which makes no difference; a distinction which does not matter.

drama llama the 1990s

A histrionic person.

murk the 1990s

To kill or eliminate.

jawn the 1990s

Something; a thing; any object, place, or person.

chillin' like a villain 1991

Relaxed and carefree.

anti-shipper 1996

One who opposes a specific ship or shipping in general.

wiggins 1997

The creeps; a feeling of fear or anxiety.