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Last Updated on March 18, 2022
Thereβs a lot of weird shizzle that came out of the 90s, but potentially, the weirdest isnβt the fashion or the fact that Angelina Jolie carried a vial of Billy Bob Thorntonβs blood around her neck for a while, there (what the heck was that all about?). No, the weirdest may just be the specific 90s slang we all used. Remember that?
I donβt know why we couldnβt just talk like normal people (God, listen to me, I sound like my mother), but thatβs fine with me, cause now Iβve got material for this bitchinβ article Iβm writing. See what I did there?
110 Percent β Since you were going above and beyond, giving it only a 100 was not enough! 110 percent was the amount you gave when you were giving it your best! This phrase was so absurd that it even made it into The Simpsons in 1992.Β
All that β You know, like in βSheβs All Thatβ. This is used to describe someone whoβs like, the coolest, or who seems perfect in every way. Itβs probably usually that girl weβre all jealous of.
All that and a bag of chips β Same definition, basically, but more like all that and THEN some. A lot of this slang is going to be weird and nonsensical, but this one is really random.
As if! β Used to express a ludicrous idea, i.e. As IF I would ever date that guy, eww! You probably already knew this, but this one was popularized by Alicia Silverstone in Clueless, and if you didnβt know, I am revoking your 90s kid card, because this is UNACCEPTABLE.
Bada-bing β The term is used to emphasize that something will happen effortlessly and predictably. For example, you will do all that and bada-bing! You will be a millionaire, just like that. Bada-bingβs origin goes back to the practice of the drummer in American burlesque shows of punctuating the comicβs jokes with a hit on the side of his drum by his stick, followed by a hit on the cymbal. In 1999, Bada Bing was also used as the name of a fictional strip club in The Sopranos.
Banginβ β This essentially means βawesomeβ, but most frequently, itβs used to describe something thatβs hot. So, something like βBro that chick last night looked BANGINβ. Picture that in a frat boy voice for the full effect.
Beeotch β Self-explanatory, a variation of βb*tchβ. Isnβt usually used to mean that someone is acting like a b*tch, but rather as a way to address someone or as a misguided term of endearment. Iβm pretty sure you can find it in Mean Girls somewhere.
Bitchinβ β Similar meaning to banginβ, in that it means awesome, or cool, but itβs mostly used for stuff, as opposed to people. Like, youβd maybe say that youβve got a bitchinβ ride that you roll with through the neighborhood.
(The) Bomb β Means that something is really cool. In fact, thereβs an even cringier variation on this: the bomb dot com, which I hear people STILL SAYING even know, much more often than Iβm personally comfortable with. Itβs just wrong.
Bling β Jewelry, typically gold or diamonds. This oneβs another one that you may have heard of because people still use it. Timeless.
Booyah β More of an onomatopoeia, typically an expression of excitement. Itβs usually used in a context where youβve achieved something or done something to surpass a competitor.
Bounce β To leave. As in, βthis is lame, letβs bounceβ.
Buzzkill β Someone or something that has a depressing effect AKA ruins the fun. If there was something none of us wanted was to be called a buzzkill!
Chillax β Another way to say calm down your horses and relax. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, it all began in an online β90s forum discussing Quentin Tarantino. βChillax my friend. I agree with most of your sentiments about Tarantino and his use of violence as comedy,β someone posted sometime in December 1994, two months after the release of Pulp Fiction. And the rest, as they say, its history.
Chillinβ β Doing ok, relaxing. This oneβs still being used, as well β maybe something like βWhat are you doing?β βOh, you know, just chillinβ.
Chill out β Chill or chill out means to relax or calm down. Itβs used differently than chillinβ, as chill out is typically appropriate in a context where someone is angry, anxious, or otherwise freaking out, so youβd tell them to just chill out.
Crib β House, home; also known as βpadβ. Iβm sure youβre familiar with this one, you must have seen MTV Cribs at least once in your miserable life.
Dawg β Friend, homie, dude. If youβve ever seen Pimp My Ride or Xibit, I donβt think we can still be friends anymore.
Dope β This just means cool or awesome, and it can be used in pretty much any context. βThat gig last night was pretty dopeβ, βThose jeans are dopeβ, βMy parents are really dopeβ β see what I mean?
Dude β Man, friend, but can also be gender-neutral. Anyone can be a βdudeβ now, and itβs generally just used as a generic way to address someone: βDude, letβs hurry upβ, βThereβs a dude over there who looks like Brad Pittβ, βHey dudes, whatβs up?β
Fine β Good-looking, hot, gorgeous. You would have often heard people talking about others and saying they were βfineβ in the 90s. βThat chick is some kind of fine!β
FYI β For your information. The 90s were all about contractions and expressing more complex thoughts more succinctly, and FYI is just one of the ones that stuck around, decades later. Itβs usually used in casual conversation, and can be quite sarcastic.
Fly β Cool, awesome. You must know that awful song from the 90s, right? Pretty Fly For A White Guy? The Offspring got it right β a guy can be fly, or an outfit, or a situation, or your new gadget. Basically anything.
Freaking β An intensifier for whatever you want to say, but letβs be real β itβs a non-rude way of saying βf*ckingβ. Just like the word it replaces, freaking can be used in basically any place in a sentence and it works. βMy freaking mom made me go to my roomβ, βMy mom freaking made me go to my roomβ, βMy mom made me freaking go to my roomβ, βMy mom made me go to my freaking roomβ. See? SO versatile!
Freak out β Go ballistic, be anxious, be angry, be nervous; just generally having an unsettled state of being. Most people probably actually still use βfreak outβ to mean a variety of moods: βI got home late last night and my mom totally freaked outβ, βThose shoes I wanted went on sale and I freaked out!β, βI heard a noise last night and it completely freaked me outβ.
Fresh β Mostly used to mean βcoolβ, smart, clever. Even if youβve never seen it, youβve heard of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Will Smith was fresh. Actually, he still totally is.
Getto β Nasty, dirty, poor, cheap. Usually used to throw shade at something, like βThat outfit she wore was totally gettoβ, βWhat is with that getto behavior?β, βMy boyfriend took me to this horrible little pizza place last night, it was so gettoβ.
Going postal β Going crazy, going insane, freaking out. You donβt hear this one much anymore, mainly because itβs weird.
Harsh β Clueless is an endless source of 90s slang catchphrases! When Tai declares that Cher is βa virgin who canβt driveβ, Cher answers, βThat was way harsh, Tai.β
Hella β Word used for emphasis; qualifier, amplifier. Means βveryβ. βThat exam was hella difficultβ, βShe wanted us to go out after, but I was hella bored alreadyβ.
Hey, Home Skillet β This is used to say hi to a friend.
Hit (it, that) β Have sex. Thankfully, no one really uses βI want to hit thatβ to mean they want to sleep with someone anymore.
Hoochie β Slutty, easy, etc. As in, Hoochie mama. βThat gal was a total hoochie!β. Not a term thatβs very nice or respectful towards women.
Ice β Diamonds. Not really used outside of rap songs, tbh. βWhere are you going with all that ice?β
Iβm Totally Buggin β Another great phrase from Clueless that means you are freaking out or flipping out. Perfect to use in a high-stress situation.
Jack β To steal something; also see βjackedβ, meaning to damage something. βThat car was jackedβ
Jiggy β After Will Smith used it in his 1007βs hit βGettinβ Jiggy Wit Itβ it acquired connotations of dancing, fun, and sex, not just getting nervous.
Mad β Word used for emphasis; very. βThat guy has mad dribbling skills.β
Majorly β Consider, once again, Clueless. When Cher realizes she is in love she says to herself, βIβm majorly, totally, butt-crazy in love with Josh!β. And the rest is history.
My Bad β Used whenever you make a mistake to acknowledge that the responsibility lies with you.
No Duh β When someone is saying something that is absolutely obvious, you can say this instead of βno reallyβ. Donβt forget to say it dripping with sarcasm.
Noob β This term means βbeginnerβ and it made its first appearance in 1995, in a Usenet forum devoted to the band Phish. It has since been a lot in the gamer community when someone doesnβt know how to play or doesnβt know the basics.
Oh, Snap! β Thatβs what you would say after you found something truly surprising.
O.G. β Original gangster, but is typically used euphemistically and metaphorically.
Phat β Something that is awesome or otherwise hot and cool. See: βBaby Phatβ, the slightly cringy label Kimora Lee Simmons came out with yonks ago.
Salty β Angry, jealous, bothered. This one is actually enjoying a huge resurgence right now, everyoneβs using it.
Scrub β Broke, lame guy who thinks heβs all that. Youβll know this one from TLCβs timeless anthem, βNo Scrubsβ.
Snark β Snark is used to describe an attitude or expression of mocking irreverence and sarcasm.
Sup? β Short for βwhatβs upβ, and a great way to greet someone.
Take A Chill Pill β Whenever you have someone that is getting on your last nerve, send them packing and tell them to relax with βtake a chill pillβ.
Talk To The Hand β If a friend is annoying you, put your palm up and tell them to βtalk to the hand.β If they are 90s babies, theyβll know that is the end of that conversation.
Tight β Awesome, great. Tight can be used to refer to actions and events mostly, but not so much objects, you know what I mean?
Trippinβ β Criticizing someone or otherwise going off on them. Itβs often used as a warning to other people βYou trippinβ.
Wack(ed) β Crazy, insane, unreasonable. It can certainly be an insult, but itβs mostly used as a semi incredulous statement about someone else. βThat guy is wacked!β
Wicked β Intensity qualifier, very. Mostly of British origin, and still used, actually. Youβll hear people talk about that βWicked cool pair of shoesβ, or whatever.
Word β Generally speaking, βwordβ can be used to signal that you got the general idea of something someone is saying to you, or to express a tacit agreement with what is being said.
If youβre old enough to remember these, I hope you enjoyed this nostalgia-fueled trip down memory lane. If youβre only just now learning about these words and their meaning, your life has truly been too sheltered and I resent you for it. Iβm also giving you homework: go watch some iconic 90s movies. Now split before I freak out on you.
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