They may have been cool back then, but using these phrases now will instantly transform your modern conversation into a rerun of old variety shows.
Solid
Calling somebody or something “solid” meant that they were the real deal. This meant something was of good quality, reliable, and consistent.
Although it sounds like you’re talking about the physical strength of a brick wall today, it used to mean that someone was a “real one” or that a situation was perfect.
But now anytime you use it in conversation, you’ll immediately raise eyebrows.
Groovy
“Groovy” was used to describe any cool new music or fun time spent with friends outdoors. It was also extremely popular to express that you were feeling “in the groove.”
Sadly, this has been used so often as a joke for the past fifty years that it’s almost never taken seriously nowadays. Trying to use “groovy” as a legitimate compliment will land you with confused stares.
Far out
This expression was something you said when you found something unbelievable or hard to believe. It meant that something was literally out far enough for your mind to not comprehend it yet.
When you heard something cool or saw something beautiful, far out was your go-to word. But to anyone who didn’t live through the era, it sounds too old and cartoonish.
Dig it
Digging something wasn’t about shoveling handles but rather understanding a certain feel. Asking someone if they “digged” what you were saying was normal small-talk for ensuring everyone was on the same page.
The term today sounds like forced slang that you learned from your grandfather. Ask your teen driver if they “dig” their new shoes, you’re likely to get a polite nod and a very quick exit from the conversation.
Foxy
Before talking about actual foxes in the woods, this was one of the more common ways to describe someone who was sexy.
Although meant to be complimentary, telling someone they’re foxy these days will come off as extremely forward and way too old-fashioned.
The man
“The Man” basically referred to anyone in a position of authority. It was the term for someone’s boss, the cops, or the government. All people in power were “the man” keeping you down, and honestly, not much has changed.
Millennials and Generation Z may still love to hate “the man,” but they probably won’t appreciate you using this decades-old cliché to sound cool when you do.
Right on
“Right on” was used to affirm that you agreed with someone’s statement. It was a way of saying “you’re correct” or “exactly!” The term still means exactly that, but it sounds so dated.
Using it will make your fellow millennials and younger people think they’re watching reruns of late sixties news footage.
Outta sight
If something was so good that you couldn’t even properly take it in, it was considered “outta sight.” Your best concert of the year was “outta sight”, that party you went to was “outta sight.”
This is a cartoonish way of exaggerating how good something was back then and still is today. There’s no other way to say it without sounding like a parody of yourself.
Heavy
If something was serious, filled with feeling, or just a generally sad situation, it was considered “heavy”. Your mood was heavy, the conversation was heavy, and even the news that someone passed away was described as “that’s heavy, man”.
Nowadays, using heavy to describe any mood other than an actual weight will have anyone who wasn’t alive then giggling like fools.
Neato
This is slang that meant “neat,” “excellent,” “wonderful,” or “cool.”
This word just doesn’t have the cool factor that most of the other slang from back then does. To someone who wasn’t alive when Elvis died, “neato” will always sound like a senior citizen’s version of cool.
Pad
Back in the day, you didn’t live at a house or a rental, you lived at your “pad”. It made your personal dwelling sound cooler and more exclusive.
House sounds way better than “pad” these days. Try telling someone you’re going home to your “pad”, and they’ll assume you also have an avocado-green refrigerator.
Sock it to me
Made famous by a variety of big-name comedians at the end of the sixties, “Sock it to me” became a household phrase in a matter of seconds. It was usually wanted to say “let me have it”, or “tell me your problems” with a punchy, spirited attitude.
While saying this once may have made you “cool” with the kids in the 70’s, doing it now will make you sound like you’re reading from an ancient TV that still has a dial.
