Can I get a rewind: 90s slang we should bring back
Image via Stas Knop
I was born in the mid-80s, so the 90s were some of my best and most awkward years. I watched Clueless on repeat. I owned a thousand scrunchies, and I had the SICKEST inflatable backpack.
Most of this slang works far better (both verbally and in written form) when used in conjunction with the word 'totally'. In fact, to smash 90s slang, just add 'totally' to everything.
You get me? Totally.
Off we go...
Skeeze
This term describes an unsavoury individual who is sleazy and sexually persistent (usually a guy). Skeezeballs are most commonly found at house parties, bars, and shopping mall food courts.
That douchebag with the frosted tips keeps trying to buy me a drink — he's a total skeeze.
Wicked
"Wicked" is a positive term, often brought into play to express extreme pleasure or agreement. I still use this term. I'm confident I'm the only person who does.
She had such a wicked scrunchie.
Crunk
This word started out as one thing and slowly morphed into another as the 90s ran its course. It started life in the rap scene and was used to name that jacked up state between high and drunk. Because crunk people are so extreme, the term later came to mean lively, excited and full of energy. Being around crunk people can be draining and irritating.
Listening to Chumbawamba gets me so crunk.
Fly
I'm intimately acquainted with this word because I use it about myself all the time. To be 'fly' is to be really cool. To quote The Offspring...
I'm pretty fly (for a white guy).
Slammin'
For something to be slammin', it should be out-of-this-world cool. It can be used as an enthusiastic superlative, like 'bangin', 'wicked' or 'off the hook'.
That Cownley chick is totally slammin'.
Bounce
Back in the 90s, you didn't just exit a social situation (or an AOL chatroom); you informed everyone that you were going to 'bounce'. For example:
This party is skeeze-central. Let's bounce.
Wack
We've got a few terms to cover off positive superlatives, but what about when something isn't so great? Back in the 90s, you'd describe something negative by using the word 'wack'.
I just lost all my Pogs in a game with Gary. It was totally wack.
Cowabunga
The word 'cowabunga' is originally from the 50s and was made famous by surfers in the 60s. It eventually landed squarely in the lap of 90's kids, thanks to the popular cartoon series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
It's a joyous exclamation best used in extraordinary situations. It's criminal to say 'cowabunga' without using the word 'dude' and without punching the air.
Friend: Shall we go to Pizza Hut tonight?
Me: Cowabunga, dude!
Friend: I don't think we should be friends anymore...
Psych
This clever little word is brought into play when you want to instantly undo everything you just said, by revealing that you were, in fact, only joking. Because you are 'psyching' someone out. Getting them all 'psyched up', then dashing their hopes cruelly.
This is best delivered with gleeful antagonism.
Mate, you’re not going to believe this, but Freddie Prinze Jr. just asked for your phone number. PSYCHE! You moron.
Do you have a favourite piece of 90s slang that didn’t make the roundup? Find me on Twitter and share that shit!