Can You Identify All of These High School Slang Words From the ’70s?

By: Sameena Mughal
Estimated Completion Time
6 min
Can You Identify All of These High School Slang Words From the ’70s?
Image: stux / timnewman / mysondanube / Pixabay / E+ / DigitalVision Vectors / Getty Images

About This Quiz

The '70s had a lot going on. The era of disco and hot pants left its mark on culture. The hippie movement of the '60s carried over into fashion, and bell-bottoms and flower prints were still the rage. Classics of music, film, and television were born during this time.

Bands like Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin rose as the Beatles parted ways. The early years of hip-hop began with "Rapper's Delight" and DJs like Afrika Bambaataa. "The Godfather," "Rocky," and "Grease" became major blockbusters. Modern shows like "All in the Family," "Soap," and "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" all changed television and made their contributions to culture.

Everything together affected language and the way the cool kids talked in school. Unforgettable movie lines like "May the force be with you," and "I'll make him an offer he can't refuse" made their way into everyday conversation. The DJs' language became the language of people in the clubs, then turned into the language on the street. When Jimi Hendrix sang about a "Foxy Lady," the suburban high schooler used the word, "foxy" to talk about his neighborhood crush. Funk spawned words like "funky," and "funkadelic," and it was all cool. 

Test your '70s lingo and see how far back and far out you can go! Have fun!

If you were going to the "crib," where were you headed?
The club. 50 cent is not the only one who knows about that!
The mall. It all happened there!
Home. There's no place like it.
Your friends could check you out at the crib after school or on a Friday night. Your crib is the place where, hopefully, you sleep like a baby. It's the place you're most comfortable and where the heart is, too!
The bank. It's all about the Benjamins!

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You never want to answer to "The Man." Who or what is it?
Your father. Who wants to get in trouble?
Any authority, especially the police. Don't get in trouble with "The Man!"
The word Man capitalized has a stern feel to it, doesn't it? Who wants to deal with The Man, anyway? Whether it's school or the police, stay on the straight and narrow, young bloods!
Your big brother. Why did he always have to be in charge?
Your weird neighbor. Your own personal Boogie Man!

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If you were "booking," what were you doing?
Running away from something or someone. Feet don't fail me now!
When you flip through a book, the pages fly, as should you in certain situations. When you see The Man, be ready to do this! If you have to book, you better hope your feet don't fail you!
Reading many books. It's fundamental.
Making an appointment. You can't just walk in everywhere!
Jumping rope. Have to get that exercise in!

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"Get down!" On what, exactly?
Sit down. You're too loud!
Pick that up!
Step down! You're in the way.
Dance! Dance! Dance!
Listen to Kool and the Gang! When you're on the dance floor, if you're feeling the beat and letting it move you, that's what you're doing. Let yourself get on down and feel the groove!

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"Keep on truckin." Do you know that one?
Keep driving. We need to get there!
Go with the flow. Good advice.
The Grateful Dead's song said it all. What a long, strange trip life can be! Like a truck that just keeps plowing ahead, no matter what happens, keep moving forward. Listen to Jerry Garcia!
Keep smiling. It makes the day brighter.
Keep working. Get the job done!

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The party of the year is happening and you need to "be there or be square." What exactly will happen if you're not there?
You won't be one of the cool kids!
All the cool kids and anybody who's anybody will be at this particular shinding or happening event. You want to be in with the "in" crowd and not be a square. Don't be shy! Get your boogie down!
A fight will happen. You're the peacemaker.
A party's not a party unless you're there!
You'll get arrested. Who wants that?

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What's up "blood"? Who are you talking to?
One of your parents
Your dog
A close friend
With some of your friends, you were close like blood, so that's what some of your homies called you! In the '70s, they didn't just use tame words like pal or buddy. Whatever they said had flash!
Someone you just met.

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Can you dig it? For what exactly are you supposed to be digging?
For gold!
Weeds. Clear out the garden.
I don't dig.
Can you understand? I hope so!
All the cool cats had their ways of talking. You had to keep up with their flow! When you dig, you have to get deep. When you understand something that's deep, you're the bees' knees!

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That beat was so "outta sight!" What kind of beat was it?
Too low. I couldn't hear!
Excellent! It was rockin'!
Outta sight! Excitement is in the air! When things are just groovy, fine, fantastic, peachy keen, life is good! Like Stevie Wonder said, "Everything is alright, uptight, out of sight!"
Loud. It was out there!
It wasn't there!

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I have to go. Let me "catch you on the flip side." Let me do what?
Help you up. You took a flip and fell down!
See you tomorrow. See ya!
"Parting is such sweet sorrow." When you have to leave, you have to leave. But I can always get back with you another day, like tomorrow. "Tomorrow. Tomorrow. I love ya ... tomorrow!"
Call you later
Get as far away from you as I can!

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This quiz is over. "PSYCHE!" Do you know what "psyche" means?
Just kidding. JK.
JK. Just kidding! Some people love a good prank or joke! When someone is not serious and just pulling your leg, they psyched you out. We all have that one friend who loves to be tricky!
That's crazy!
Are you OK?
Cool!

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"Stop dipping in my Kool-Aid." What do you need to stop doing?
Stop talking to me!
Stop standing so close!
Stop drinking my drink!
Stop sticking your nose in my business!
OH, YEAH! Your friends won't be saying that if you're being nosy. Just like people take their Kool-Aid seriously, they also take their personal business the same way. Stay out of it!

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Not sure what's going on? Let me give you the "skinny." What am I giving you?
A chair. You need to sit down for this!
A straw. They're skinny.
The truth. It'll set you free.
When you're out of the loop, you need to know what's going on. You need the info! When someone gives you the "skinny," they give you the "real deal." Hey, know you can handle the truth!
A drink. You'll need one!

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You need a "gig" to pay your bills. Can you tell us what a "gig" is?
Money. Get the Benjamins!
A job. Gotta have a job.
Jazz musicians called their shows engagements. That got shortened to gigs. Since jazz musicians are the coolest, the regular folk called their jobs gigs. Gig sounds so much cooler than job, anyway!
A check. Who has cash?
A bank account. You have to have one!

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Hope whatever you do, it's a "gas." What does "gas" mean here?
Energizing. Keeps you going!
Stinky. I'm making the yuck face right now!
Wonderful!
When something is cool and fun, it's the best. It's a gas. When something is a "gas," you're having a blast. Make sure that wherever you go, "it's a gas, gas, gas!"
Tiring. You need to keep busy!

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If you bump into someone, apologize, and they say, "It's casual." What does that mean?
Don't worry about it!
Don't be a drag and bring everyone down, man! Be laid-back, calm, easygoing. Let everything roll like the river. Just be casual!
They're not happy. Watch out!
They're upset, Say you're sorry again!
They're surprised. You caught them off guard!

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I've got a "jones" for the beach. What do I have?
Distaste. Ugh!
A fixation. I love it!
When you have a jones, you have an itch for something. Nothing easy breezy about it! You want it, and you want it now! When you jones, you don't think about anything else! You're all in!
Worry. I don't swim!
No opinion. I don't care one way or the other!

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Everybody's leaving. "Let's blow this taco stand." What does that mean?
Let's eat everything they have!
Let's shut the place down!
Let's go!
You're out somewhere, and you are bored. It's not happening! It's not cool. You want to go! You want to get gone! That’s when you look around and say, “Let’s blow this taco stand!”
Bring everybody back!

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Nobody likes a "narc." Do you know what that is?
A pothead. They're not in the zone.
A jerk. Nobody wants to be around them!
A whiner. I don't whine!
A squealer. Don't be a snitch!
Narc is actually short for narcotics officer. Think "21 Jump Street!" A narc is someone who blends in with the crowd, then informs the authorities of bad things people do. Tattletales are never popular, are they?

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The sky is blue. "No duh!" What does that mean?
I didn't know. Thanks!
It's a response to the obvious.
If you drive 75 in a 25 mph zone, you could get pulled over and get a speeding ticket. That won't be fun for you, not to mention expensive. So slow down! Duh! Thanks, Captain Obvious.
Huh!
I don't care, dude.

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Filet mignon is "primo." What's "primo?"
Cooked perfectly!
Somewhere in the middle
The worst. Thumbs down!
The best!
When something is supreme, sublime, stupendous, it's primo. When something is really rockin', it's primo. Nothing but "primo" for me!

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You need "bread" if you want to hang out on the weekend. What do you need?
Money. That's what I want!
Moolah, cashola, dough, bread. It all means the same thing. Cold, hard cash! Money makes the world go round and round! Just like you need bread to survive, you got to have the cash, too!
Food. Keeps the energy up!
A car. How else will you get around?
Cred. You have to be cool!

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A friend hasn't seen you in a while. Are you "copacetic"? What are they asking you?
If you're free. You know, in case they want to hang out!
If you're alright
What is one of the first things you say to someone when you see them? "How are you?" If they're alright, they're good. They're hunky dory, copacetic, alright. Everybody's good to go!
If you're upset. It has been a while.
If you're hungry. You gotta eat!

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That concert was "dope!" Can you tell us what "dope" means?
Silly. Not worth my time!
Slow. I was bored.
Awesome!
When you're in with the cool kids, you know what's groovin', rockin', or hip. You definitely know what's dope! When you know, you know! You're not a dope if you know what's dope!
Loud! My ears!

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If he told me from the "get-go," he didn't know, I wouldn't have wasted my time. What's "get-go"?
The beginning
You can avoid a lot of nonsense if people tell you what's what at the get-go, if they tell you at the start. But some people are unclear from the get-go! Things become a problem from the get-go!
The end
After we started talking
At some point in the conversation

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When you step on gum, you feel "grody." How do you feel?
Sad. I like these shoes!
Annoyed. People don't think!
Disgusting, Ugh!
Grody doesn't even sound like a nice word, does it? It's like icky, creepy, or gross. Not even remotely cool. Grody really is grody, dude. Ugh! Who wants to feel grody or grossed out?
OK. What's the big deal?

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When someone asks you what your dreams are, that can be "heavy." Can you tell us what "heavy" means?
Confusing. Too much going on.
Dark. Darkness weighs down.
Light. Opposites attract.
Intense. Serious stuff.
When things get serious, that's when it all goes down. You actually have to slow down because things can get heavy. When something's heavy, it's deep. You may want to sit down. Whoa!

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I don't know anything about rocket science. When it comes to that I'm "out to lunch." What am I?
Hungry. You can work up an appetite studying rocket science!
"Dazed and Confused," like Led Zeppelin said!
Hello, McFly! When you're out to lunch, you're out of it Your head’s not in the game. You’re in la la land. You just don't know what's happening. Good luck with that when that happens!
Taking it easy. No need to stress!
Done! No science for me!

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If you said something someone didn't believe in the '70s, they might call you a "jive turkey." What are you?
A bit on the heavy side
A little stinky. Somebody get the deodorant!
A liar
When you were full of it or just plain not telling the truth, other people knew it. They had no problems calling you out! If somebody thought you were a Jive turkey, you weren't jiving!
A smooth dancer. You go!

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If someone walked by you and told you they liked your "kicks," what were they complimenting?
Sneakers. My Addidas!
It's all about the shoes. When you had the right gear, you had all the right moves! Your kicks came in the room before you and announced your presence! The best kicks for the coolest kids!
Pants. Gotta keep up with trends!
Baseball cap. Hat to the back!
Jacket! You know what's up!

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When a conversation was going well, someone might have said, "right on!" What does "right on" mean?
Not that I care!
Whatever!
No way!
Correctamundo! Agreed!
You know when you're having a conversation with someone, and you're in tune with them? You flow and you vibe. When you're right, they'll tell you! When you're right, you're right on!

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"Say what?" What's that phrase saying?
Say no more!
"Tell me more. Tell me more!"
What do you mean? I don't get it!
Sometimes, you just can't believe what you're hearing. You have to take a minute, step back, and make sure you heard what you think you just heard. Then comes: Are you serious? Say what?
Say that again!

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When somebody knows how to play the game, they're "slick." Do you know what "slick" is?
Sneaky. They can get around the system.
Someone who's a charmer knows how to be slick. They know how to hustle. They know how to play the game. You can schmooze with the best of them! You have to be slick and have some moves in life!
Cool. They're charming!
Dirty. A little grimy-looking.
Crazy! You don't want to mess with them!

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When you scored tickets to Black Sabbath, you were "stoked!" What were you?
Annoyed. They cost a pretty penny!
Relieved. Your friends will leave you alone!
Disappointed. They weren't the seats you wanted!
Excited! And you sleep like can't hide it!
Sometimes, you're so excited that you just want to jump and down. You're pumped! Being the cool person you are, you keep it cool. Instead, you stoked! Better to be stoked than struck!

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"Star Wars" was "the joint" when it came to movies. Can you tell us what "the joint" means?
Pretty average. Not the worst or the best.
The worst. Don't waste your time!
It was the best!
Sometimes, some things are so cool, they are off the charts. It is the thing that everybody wants. It's what's on trend, right here, right now! When you have "the joint," you have what's "it!"
I know what joint makes me think of!

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