No, That's So Not Fetch
With all the new slang teens have brought in—ranging from "rizz" and "cap" to "salty"—phrases millennials and older generations know of are probably more or less forgotten. You might even get an odd look or two if you do slip these outdated expressions into conversation. But for throwback's sake, here are 20 retro phrases to take you back in time.
1. That's Da Bomb
Meaning "that's the best" or "that's so cool," this phrase was frequently used in the 90s. You'd likely hear "that's fire" now, which has the same sentiment.
2. Cool Beans
Sometimes written as kewl beans, this phrase was seen as early as the 60s. Similar to "da bomb," you would say this to mean something is great or awesome. If you don't want to risk sounding cringe, though, this phrase is probably one you should skip.
3. Take A Chill Pill
When you say "take a chill pill" to someone, you're telling them to relax or calm down. Popularized in the 80s and 90s, its origin is fuzzy and believed to have sprung up from the onset of ADHD medication back in the day.
Samuel Regan-Asante on Unsplash
4. I'm Fab
Short for "I'm fabulous," you'd say this to mean that you're fine. The shortened form, "fab," is also a playful way to express that something is great. Though it's not as commonly used as before, you'll likely still hear it used today.
5. All That And A Bag Of Chips
You would use this phrase back then to describe something better beyond belief, like "all that and more." For comparison, the closest Gen Z version of this phrase would probably be "it's giving" or "ate."
6. Can You Tape That?
During the dinosaur age of VCRs, the only way to record TV shows was on tapes. You likely won't hear this being said ever in this age, unless said sarcastically or if someone still uses VCRs.
7. My Crib
No, not the bed that babies sleep in. The slang "crib" means home or house, and it was heard in many songs and TV shows in the 90s and 2000s. It's not so used anymore, but you can throw it in conversation for a retro vibe.
8. Going Postal
Saying you're "going postal" means you're going crazy or becoming uncontrollably angry. If you dig a little deeper, it has a dark origin, having sprouted into usage after several violent events in the late 1900s.
9. Gnarly
If something is "gnarly," you mean that it's rather challenging or tricky. It's typically used by surfers in reference to rocky waves, but you can say it for anything that's particularly difficult.
10. In A Jiffy
The most common form for this phrase was "be there in a jiffy," which meant you'll be there super quick. Nowadays, you'll often use "be right back" or "in a second" to convey the same meaning.
11. Back In My Day
Though not an outdated phrase per se, saying this definitely shows your age—especially if you follow it up with another phrase from this list. Of course, you could also say this in a fun, lighthearted tone, but it's probably best not to say it at all if you don't want people immediately questioning how old you are.
12. That's The Ticket
Meaning "that's exactly right" or "that's what's needed," this phrase was commonly used in the 80s and 90s (and even earlier) to express approval or agreement. Other than maybe an elderly neighbor down the block saying this, you likely won't encounter this expression anymore.
13. Let's Duke It Out
If you wanted to challenge someone to a fistfight back then, this was the saying to use. It's believed to originate from bare-knuckling boxing, a sport popular in the 18th and 19th centuries.
14. Whatever, Major Loser
Completed with hand gestures to really bring home the effect, you'd often hear this expression used in a teasing tone. Kids who grew up watching 2000s movies will also be familiar with this phrase, most notably Camp Rock.
15. That's So Fetch
Anyone who's seen the original Mean Girls will know this phrase: Gretchen Wieners, played by Lacey Chabert, is the one who popularized this saying. You might still be using this phrase now—unless you're Regina George. (That's so not fetch.)
16. Cray-Cray
Short for "crazy," you'd hear this being used to describe something that's a bit wild or over the top. Pop culture in the 2010s brought this back to widespread usage, though the slang "cray" had been used as early as the 90s.
17. On Fleek
2016, anyone? If you watched tutorials back in the day, particularly makeup tutorials, this was a phrase you often heard. Meaning "perfect" or "flawless," you might have also seen it used as a compliment, like saying someone's outfit is "on fleek."
18. Talk To The Hand
The comebacks of all comebacks… which was used when you had no comeback at all. A phrase hailing from the 90s, this saying is used to cheekily dismiss someone. You might have even heard the full phrase: "Talk to the hand, because the face ain't listening."
19. Word
The slang "word" can be used in various contexts, but it's usually to express approval or agreement. An almost equivalent saying would be: "I know, right?"
20. I'm Outie
A more playful way to say, "I'm out of here," this expression sprung into popularity in the 90s through TV shows and movies. Another version of the phrase—if you really want to sound dated—is "I'm Audi 5000."
