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Slang Vocabulary from the 1960s

In the early 60's, as today, the young people had a different lingo and it, as today, drove our parents nuts. These are a few of the slang words that were used in the early to mid sixties. The keyword here is "used" as some of these words came from an earlier era.

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A Gas

A lot of fun.

All show and no go.

Referenced to a car that had all the pretty chrome goodies, but wouldn't get out of its own way.

Ankle Biter

A baby or small child

Ape

Used with "Go", "Gone" or "Went". To explode or go completely irate. Example: "When my parents saw my report card, they went ape.

Bad

Awesome.

Bag

To Steal. Example: Who bagged my towel? ; Also see Score

Also; "What's your bag" meaning what's your problem or where are you coming from.

Ball

To party, as in Little Richards "Good Golly Miss Molly, Sho Like To Ball".

Bean Wagon

A Lowered all the way around, usually Hispanic owned Chevy, but could be anything.

Beat Feet

Leave the scene in a hurry.

Bench Racing

When a few of guys are sitting down (on a bench, maybe) talking about how fast a certain person's car is, or discussing who could beat who in a drag race.

Blast

A Great Time. Example: "We had a blast at the Prom".

Blew the doors off

Easily beat the other car in a race.

Blown

A car engine that has a blower (supercharger) installed. Goes between the intake manifold and the carburetors/injectors. The blower made it go faster, which was always good.

Bogart

To "hog" something.

Bone Yard

Auto wrecking yard; Junk yard.

Boogie

See Cut Out

Book

Leave the area.

Bookin'

Going real fast, usually in a car.

Boss

A great or cool thing. Example: "The Beach Boys new record is really boss".

Bread

Money

Brody

Also, Brody Out; To skid in a half circle with the brakes locked up.

Brody Knob

See "Suicide Knob"

Bug, To

To irritate or bother

Bug out

Leave the premises

Bummed out

Depressed

Bummer, What a

How depressing

Burn Rubber

To accelerate hard spinning the tires, making noise, and billows of smoke come from the rear of the vehicle.

Cat

A guy.

Channeled

A car body that has been lowered with respect to its frame, leaving the suspension as it is.

Cherry

Pristine, Totally Clean. Example: "That rod is cherry"!

Chick

A girl or a woman.

Chicken, To play

Two cars race toward each other; the first to pull to the side is the chicken (coward)

Chinese Fire Drill

Stop at a Red Light. Everyone on the Driver's side would run around and get in on the Passenger's side. Everyone on the Passenger's side would run around and get in on the Driver's side.

Choice

Really cool. Example: "That girl with the red sweater is really choice."

Choose Off

To pick a fight or a race; as in, "John is going to choose-off Bob in a race for pinks".

Chop

To cut down verbally.

Example: "Man, you're so ugly, you gotta slip up on a glass to get a drink of water." (Now that was a "chop".)

Chopped

A section is cut out horizontally through the roof pillars of a car to lower the roof.

Chrome Dome

A bald guy.

Church Key

Before poptops, a Soda can was opened with one of these.

[pic]

Circus Wagon

A car, usually lowered, with an outlandish paint job, but in lousy shape, mechanically.

Cool

Nice.

Cool Head

Nice Guy

Cooties

Someone who wasn't cool had them. No one ever saw them, but you knew who had them.

Copasetic

Very good; all right, as in no problems. Example: Everything is copasetic.

Crash

Go to bed; go to sleep.

Crop Duster

A car that burnt oil creating a cloud of smoke. A 2 cycle motorcycle.

Cruising

Driving up and down the same street looking for races, girls, guys, etc.

Cut Out

To leave without ceremony. As in, "Bob, this party is a drag. I'm gonna cut out."

Cut Outs

Additions to the exhaust system that would let you open the exhaust pipe in front of the muffler to let the engine breathe easier, thus adding horsepower and a whole lot of noise.

Daddy-O

Actually a 50's term for Man.

Daddy's Car

A car that was very conservative looking; that might be owned by your parents.

Dagoed

To lower a car in the front. (See Rake)

Decked

A term used to indicate that the trunk handle had been removed, the holes filled, sanded smooth and primed. (See Nosed)

Decked Out

Dressed up.

Deuce

A 1932 Ford. As in, "She's my Little Deuce Coupe, you don't know what I got".

Dibs

Most always used with "Got". Example: I "got dibs" on that Coke bottle. Meaning you owned that Coke bottle.

Dig

Do you understand?

Dip Stick, What a

An Idiot

Ditch

Skip a school day without permission; also, leave someone behind as in "Let's ditch this guy".

Ditz

An Idiot

Don't Flip Your Wig

See "Don't have a Cow".

Don't have a Cow

Used when someone was "going ape" or perhaps being a "spaz."

Example: So I took your book by mistake, don't have a cow about it.

Don't Sweat It

Don't worry about it; stop bothering me

Dork

See Dip Stick

Drag

To race another car a short distance (sometimes one block, sometimes two or three blocks) from a standing start at a stoplight when the light turned green. The term originally comes from the phrase "main drag", a combination of "main" or main street in town, and "drag" which referred to a car that was lowered in the back and dragged the ground if it hit a bump while racing or was just so low that it touched the ground if the street was not perfectly level.

A Drag

Someone or something that's boring or un-enlightening.

Drawing Designs

Usually some guy looking a girl over REAL good. Example: Ron was really drawing designs on Carolyn at the party last night.

Duck Tail or DA

A way of combing your hair in the back. Instead of combing your hair straight down in the back, you would comb both sides in towards the middle and then, with the end of the comb, part it down the middle.

Dude

In the 60's, a dude was a geek.

Easy

Another way of saying Goodbye. Example: "Easy, Man!!".

Fab

Great, fantastic, fabulous.

Far Out

Excellent, cool.

Fink

A tattle tale. Example: You're such a fink. Why do you always tell mom everything I do?

Five Finger Discount

Anything obtained by theft.

Flake

A useless person.

Flake Off

Get outta here.

Flat Top

A very short hair cut, usually cut extra close on top.

Flat Top with Fenders

A flat top with long sides.

Flee the Scene

See Bug Out

Flick

Movie

Flip Flops

Thong Type Sandals

Flippers

Dodge Lancers or Olds Fiesta Hub Caps.

Flower Child

A Hippie

Fox

An outstanding looking girl or woman.

Freak Out

Temporary loss of control due to an unpleasant event.

Funky

Neat, Cool; also gone bad. Example: I think that milk is funky.

Fuzz

The Police

Get or Lay Rubber

To leave some rubber on the street while accelerating in a vehicle. A term used usually with first, second, third, or fourth gear.

Example: "Bob's 49 Ford is pretty fast. He can get second gear rubber."

Gimme some skin

Shake hands

Going Steady

If you were "Going Steady", you were dating only one special person.

Golden

See Cherry.

Gone

Cool, groovy, neat, neato; said of a person, as in He's a real gone cat. Or you could say, “I'm gone over him.” (wowed, infatuated, totally sold on).

Gnarly

Originally a difficult or large wave (He wiped out on a gnarly wave), later anything big or difficult (The Chemistry test was gnarly.), then later an expletive of approval (That custom paint job is gnarly!)

Greaser

A guy that used too much grease in his hair. Usually "LB Butch Wax" or "Pomade" Also, car guys. Boys who didn’t care about school, just their cars.

Gremmy

A rookie surfer.

Groovy

Nice, "Cool" or Neat. Used commonly among hippies in the 60's.

Groady (grow'- tee):

A shortened version of grotesque. When we went to wash the car (by hand at the park) we wore our grotees. Also, someone's dorm room if it was "trashed" out would be called grotey.

Glasspacks

Mufflers that are packed with fiberglass to muffle the sound. They came in different lengths. The shorter the glasspacks, the louder the car.

Gutt Waddin'

Any type of cheap fast food, to fill you up and take the hunger away. Example:"I'm going to Skippys to get some Gut Waddin."

Hacked

Angry, disgusted, mad, ticked off, etc. Sometimes used in reference to parents. "My Old Man is really hacked at me about my grades...."

Hairy

Large; out of control. Example: "Check out the hairy slicks on that Chevy.

Hangin'

Awesome, Cool.

Hang Loose

Relax; Take it easy.

Heat

The Cops

Heavy

Deep, Cool, Chaotic, Sad, Controversial

Hep

With it. A person who understands the situation.

Hip

Very good, cool.

Hodad

A non-surfer, usually someone who just hangs around the beach.

Hook

Steal

Hopped Up

See Souped Up

Horn

Telephone

Hunk

What a girl would call a good looking guy

Jacked Up

To Raise the front end of a car. Done to transfer weight to the rear wheels for drag racing or just to make your car look cool.

[pic]

Jam

To leave the area, (See "Cut Out")

Example: "Hey John, this party is going to get busted. I'm going to jam!"

Jazzed

Elated, Excited; "This is going to be a great reunion. I'm really jazzed about going."

Jelly Roll

Another way of combing your hair. You comb it up and forward on both sides and bring it together in the middle of the forehead.

Jesus Boots

Sandals

Jinx, You Owe Me A Coke!

When two people said the same thing at the same time, one would slug the other on the shoulder and say these 6 little words.

I don't think anyone ever paid up.

Jump Bad

Looking for a fight - acting tough. As in "I think Jim was jazzed last night, he tried to jump bad with everybody!"

Keen or Keen-o

Someone or something that was Cool.

Kibosh

To quickly put a stop to; Put the Kibosh on.

Kings X

To proclaim a truce or time out

Kipe

To steal.

Kiss up

The proverbial "Teachers Pet". This person who would do anything to please the teacher.

Later

Goodbye; See you later

Lay A Patch/Strip

To accelerate leaving a strip or patch of rubber behind on the road.

Lay it on me

Speak your piece.

Lay some scratch

To burn rubber in a vehicle. Example: That car is so powerful it can get second gear scratch.

Lead Sled

Lead was used prior to Bondo to fill in the holes and to do body work. A lead sled was a car that had extensive body fill work done with lead.

Light'em Up

See Burn rubber

Lip Flappin'

Talking about things of little importance.

Lowered

To drop a car all the way around.

[pic]

"Meanwhile Back At The Ranch"

Used when someone who was telling a story would ramble off to another subject. So, the term was used by the listener to get the storyteller back on track. The term itself was no doubt linked to "the Western," which was TV's dominant genre in the late 50s and early 60s. Bonanza, Have Gun Will Travel, Rawhide, The Virginian and many more shows.

Meat

As in, "Hey Meat"; A jocks term for "Guy" or "Man"

Midnight Auto Supply

Car parts obtained through theft.

Mirror Warmer

Usually, a piece of pastel blue or pink cashmere that was attached to elastic and was placed around the perimeter of your inside rear view mirror. It was usually your girl friends idea.

Moons (Baby Moons)

Chrome hubcaps that were smooth and domed. They fit the inner part of the wheel, leaving room for beauty rings.

Neat (Neato)

Nice; Sharp

Nifty

Meaning "Cool" but usually said by someone who wasn't.

Nosed

A term used to indicate that the hood ornament had been removed and the holes filled with bondo. The spot was sanded smooth and at least primed. (See Decked)

Old Lady

Your Mother.

Old Man

Your Father.

On the Make

Usually after a break up of steadies, a guy or girl who was "on the make" was looking very hard for a new mate.

Outta Sight

Fantastic, Awesome. Example: Hey Kathleen, that tie dyed top your wearing is "outta sight".

Pad

Someone's house. Example: There wasn't much to do so we all hung out at John's pad, drank Cokes and listened to records.

Padiddle

A word "called" by someone that has just seen a car with one headlight. The caller then receives a kiss from the person of their choice.

Padunkle

Same as a Padiddle only it refers to a car with one taillight.

Panty Waist

A mama's boy or a geek.

Paper Shaker

Pom Pom Girl

Passion Pit

Drive-in Theater

Peel Out

(See Lay A Patch/Strip)

Peepers

Glasses

Peggers

A type of men's pants, very similar to today's dockers, but with a cuff.

Pig

Cop

Pig Out

Over eat

Pin

To look hard at someone. Example: Hey Bob, That guy over there is really pinning you.

Port Holer

57 T-bird

Pound

If someone was going to beat up someone else you said he was going to "pound" the other person. For an example, Joe caught Jim with the hubcaps that he stole from Joe's '50 Merc last night. He'll probably pound him after school..

Primo

First class.

Rake

[pic]

Also "On a Rake". To lower the front end of a car.

Example: "Carl's short has a cherry rake."

Race for Pinks

Also race for pink slips. Meaning two people race and the winner gets the others car.

Rags

Clothes

Rap

Talk

Rat Fink

(See Fink)

Raunchy

Raw, Rank, Disgusting

Real Gone Cat

Someone who marches to his own drummer. Example: The Fonz is a real gone cat.

Right On

I agree; I concur

Righteous

Extremely fine, beautiful. For us guys it was generally used when talking about the most important areas of our lives; cars and women.

Examples:

"John's got a righteous new paint job on his '58 Chevy".

"Ron met this righteous babe down at 26th St."

Ripped Off

To have something stolen, or to have stolen something

Rule

As in, "Greasers Rule!"; To take ownership of

Sad

An expression of disapproval. Example: "That cat is really sad."

Sano

Usually referring to someone’s car, or part of one’s car, as being pristine or clean: "Ron did a sano job on his 56 Chevy".

also "Super Sano" (Very Pristine)

Scarf

To eat very fast. Example:"I'm going to scarf this hot dog".

Scheming

When someone is really interested in the opposite sex. Example: "Jim is really scheming on Jill"

Score

To obtain something valuable or necessary; (Let's go score some pizza.)

Scratch

Money

Screwed, Got

Cheated out of something

Screwed up

Made a mistake; messed up in the head

Sectioned

A section is cut out horizontally through the body of a car to give it a lower sleeker look.

Shades

Sunglasses

Shine It On

Don't give it much thought; just forget about it.

Shined Me/Them On

Ignored me/them, or their comments.

Shotgun

A place of honor in the front seat of a car nearest the door. Usually reserved for the coolest guy in the group besides the driver of the car. If there is a doubt, before entering the car someone will call shotgun and then everyone will argue as to who actually will ride shotgun.

Skag

An ugly girl.

Skank

See Skag

Skanky

Gross, Disgusting

Skirt

Girl

Skuzz

Lowdown; undesirable

Skuzz Bucket

An ugly car

Slug Bug

This when you saw a VW beetle on the road. Saying "Slug Bug" before anyone else gave you the right to hit or slug the person next to you

So Fine

Another cool thing. "That girl in my science class is so fine".

Used in a variety of early rock and roll songs usually as follows:

"She's so fine, she makes me want to blow my mind".

So Tuff

See So Fine

Smokem'

"Let's see you burn rubber"

Solid

Something that is ok or all right.

Soc’s (pronounced - Sosh)

Meaning a person who is stuck-up, snooty, and thinks they are better than everyone else.

Example: "That girl wearing those fuzzy bobby-sox is a real sosh!"

Souped Up

A car that's had the engine modified to go fast. Example: "Bob really souped up his car. It did the quarter in 14.5 seconds!"

Spaz

Used as a put down, or to describe someone who was acting retarded.

Split

See Cut Out

Sponge

One big need. Everything you get comes from those around you. AKA; bum. Also practiced by those who are so stingy as not to spend their own money. Someone who is always borrowing money or is always broke. A spongy person

Square

Someone who was not "Cool". Example: "Jerry's so square, all he does is his homework, watch TV, and he doesn't even like Elvis!"

Steady

Boyfriend or Girlfriend

Stoked (as in I'm stoked)

Excited

Stone

A car that's pretty slow.

Stood Up

When a guy (or girl) didn't show up for a date

Stuck Up

Conceited

Stud

See Hunk

Suicide Knob

A knob placed on your steering wheel allowing you to drive with one hand, leaving the other free to put around your date.

Swampwater

Half A&W Root Beer and half Orange Drink.

Sweat Hog

A fat chick.

"Taco Wagon"

See Bean Wagon

"T Bucket"

A hot rod made from a Model T Ford. A two seater, with lots of go. Norm Grabowski, Tommy Ivo, and Edd "Kookie" Burns made them famous on TV. They are still popular.

Teach

A Teacher

"The A"

The A&W Drive In

"The Most"

Something that is the best or the greatest

"The Man"

Police

Thicker than a $5.00 malt

Someone that's not too bright. Back then, malts were only 30 cents!

Think Fast

It usually was used to tell you to get ready because someone was tossing you something.

Threads

Clothes

"Three On The Tree"

A car with a three speed manual transmission and the shifter on the steering column.

Tight

Close; as in close friends

Tooling

To cruise or drive around without aim. As in: "There was nothing to do last night, so we just went tooling around."

Tough or Tuff

Neat, cherry, great. - as in "Wow, she's really a tuff chic!".

Trollin'

Cruising the Boulevard looking for girls. As in "Let's go trollin' for some chicks."

Truckin

As in we're "Truckin" over to Joe's house to party, or Let's "Truck" on over to Holly's and scarf.

Twice Pipes

Dual Exhaust

Uncorked

Running your car with the "Cut Outs" open.

Wet Willie

A trick played when someone wets their finger and puts it in your ear.

What's Your Bag, Man?

What's your problem; where are you coming from?

Wicked

Term of Admiration. Example:"That Chevy that Bob has is one wicked machine."

Wiggin' out

Going crazy

Winnie

As in, "He gave me the Winnie." Or "I got the Winnie." It could mean many things. For example: The jerk didn't show up for our date last night! Or, I got grounded for coming in late!

When things really got bad, it was the "Big Winnie."

Wipe(d) out

Originally, to fall off a wave while surfing, later to crash one's vehicle and severely damage it (He wiped his coupe out at the drags.), then later a term for extreme fatigue (I'm wiped out, I'm gonna crash.)

Woody Wagon

A wood sided station wagon used to transport surfboards and surfers to and from the beach.

Zits

Pimples.

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