About This Quiz
The '80s were a time of slap bracelets, VHS tapes, phone cords and slang words that described situations that were "cool" or "uncool" in nature. These slang words were also used to describe friends, food and fancy items.
Let's take a look at some '80s slang words to warm you up for this quiz. "S'up" is a shortened version of "What's up" and is used as an informal greeting. For instance, "S'up Kathy, how are you doing today?"
Another popular '80s phrase was "swirly," which referred to aggressively putting another person's head in the toilet. The toilet was then flushed to create a "swirly" effect. An example sentence would be "Dude, let's give Matt a swirly for being such a nerd."
Other words were used to describe feelings of love. "Sprung" was one of these words, and was often used in the context of high school and college crushes. For example, "I am so sprung over Steven, he's so cute!"
This quiz will look at 35 different slang words that were popular in the '80s. Do you think you know what words like "spazzing," "spangler" and "skitch" mean? Try your luck with this quiz to see how well you do!
If someone uses the word "deadly" with regards to an event, they are trying to say that it's cool in nature. Another example would be "That football game was deadly."
If I call someone a "ditz," I"m trying to say that they are unintelligent. This is typically used as an insult, which is also synonymous with "air head."
The word "dyno" is used to express great enthusiasm for an event or an object. For example, "Disneyland is going to be so dyno!"
Advertisement
If someone lost an argument or a battle, someone else might say, "Dude, you just got faced." It's a way to rub it in that the person lost.
A way of expressing interest in an event or an object is by using the word "flash," which is another way of saying "cool" or "awesome." For instance, "That car is so flash."
When someone wants to show distaste in something, they will often use the phrase "barf me out." For example, "Ugh John got promoted instead of me? Barf me out."
Advertisement
The '80s used many words to describe "cool" things, and "gnarly" was one of them. For example, "Your surfing skills are so gnarly."
The opposite of "stay" is "to leave," which is exactly what the word "motor" implies. For instance, "I've got to motor from this party, I have school in the morning."
"Take a chill pill" is another way of telling someone to calm down from something. For example, "Girl, so what if you broke a nail? You can get that fixed. Take a chill pill."
Advertisement
"What's your damage" means "What's gotten into you?" This is often used when someone is acting crazy or irrational.
"Phat" is used as a compliment to show interest or approval in something. For instance, "Those jeans are so phat."
"Don't have a cow" is used to tell someone to stop being overly emotional or overly dramatic. For example, "I know he broke up with you, but that was 2 months ago. Don't have a cow!"
Advertisement
"No duh" is also synonymous with "duh," which are used to say "obviously." For example, "No duh, you shouldn't go out with the same guy that dumped you the first time."
Showing disinterest, disapproval or a disagreement with someone or something is often met with the phrase "not even." For example, "Do you think my mom is a good cook?" "Not even."
If you want to agree with someone, you might just say "word." For example, "Hey man, I loved that party last night." "Word."
Advertisement
"See you later" is another way of saying "bye." This is an informal approach that is often used with close friends and family.
The word "mad" is used as an emphasis for expressing something that is "very" cool. For example, "That concert was mad cool last night!"
If someone is acting crazy or weird, one might describe them as "mental." This is used as an insult to express distaste for someone.
Advertisement
Another way of saying "OK" or "yes" in agreement is by saying "most definitely." For instance, "Are you going to the club tonight?" "Most definitely!"
Sometimes "no" might sound too harsh, so someone might instead say "no can do." For example, "Hey, you want to hang out tomorrow?" "No can do, I have to work."
One way of telling a person that they aren't very good at a video game is by using the word "noob." For example, "Dude you got no kills in this game, you're such a noob!"
Advertisement
A posse refers to a clique of friends. For example, "Let me ask my posse what they want to do tonight."
In this context, "Ralph" is not a name, but a way of saying "vomit" or "throw up." For example, "Dude, I have to ralph right now."
"Shibby" is another way of saying that something is cool. For example, "Your hair is so shibby."
Advertisement
To react to something in disbelief, or in shock, one might say "shut up" as a response. For example, "I got fired from work today." "Shut up!"
If something is out-of-date, or has gone out of style, one might use the word "so" in conjunction with a year. For example, "Her hair is so 60's."
If someone is a space cadet, that means that they are an "airhead," or not a very intelligent person. For example, "Tiffany is such a space cadet with how she talks."
Advertisement
To sport something is to wear something. For instance, "Look at that guy and how he's sporting that new jacket!"
To "step off" means to "back off" from someone or something. For example, "Step off man, you're being a jerk."
"Tinkerbilly" is actually an '80s British word for "wannabe." For example, "That girl follows us everywhere, what a tinkerbilly!"
Advertisement
Another word for "cool" is "trunkicular." For example, "That hat is totally trunkicular!"
"'Za and brew" means "pizza and beer." For example, "Hey man, you wanna go out for some 'za and brew tonight?"
"Yello" not only rhymes with "hello," but it actually means "hello" as well. For example, "Yello Jeff, how's it going?"
Advertisement
When an accident happened, one might use the word "yikes" to describe the situation, or as a response. For example, "Yikes, I spilled water on my shirt!"