Recently, while at the gym, a younger guy commented that I had “cakes.” Confused by the term, I turned to my friend’s teenage daughter for clarity. She explained that “cakes” refers to having a curvy backside. I never considered my figure to be Kardashian-worthy, yet I understand that “big” is subjective. Regardless, I can cycle long distances without discomfort—so call me Little Debbie!
Language is fascinating, especially how it changes over time. Some phrases endure, while others fade away. I hadn’t thought much about the slang from my ’80s youth until my 11-year-old son asked, “What does ‘I’m so sure’ mean?”
To my surprise, I realized I still use that phrase—often laden with my usual exasperation. When the kids scatter cat food everywhere and ignore the mess, I exclaim, “I’m so sure!” Or when one son randomly punches his brother, the words slip out again: “I’m so sure!” Even when I ask my child to clean a filthy bathroom and he does a half-hearted job, I raise my eyebrows and declare, “I’m so sure!”
Clearly, I still embrace some of that ’80s lingo, and why not? We had some excellent phrases back then. How about these gems?
- Gag me with a spoon
- Grody to the max
- Barf me out
- Tubular
- Rad
- Righteous
- Gnarly
- Totally awesome
- Like, totally
- Like, whatever
- Très
- Don’t have a cow, man
- Take a chill pill
- No, duh
- Damn skippy
- Word
- Anything ending with “-amundo” (e.g., “I’m starving-amundo”)
My brother was the ultimate ’80s slang enthusiast; he often said, “I dogged you” or simply yelled “Face!” while rubbing his chin. If he could bring back any term, it would surely be “face” so he could dash to the elevator and shout it at his coworkers.
I suggested to my son that he should revive “I’m so sure”—especially since I use it so frequently. However, he just rolled his eyes, claiming he and his friends have their own slang. Sure, they do. But let’s face it: Nothing could quite measure up to phrases like “Don’t have a cow, man” or “Gag me with a spoon.” I mean, no duh!
When I asked friends about phrases that have fallen out of favor, my buddy Mark chimed in with “Dial the phone.” Word.
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In summary, the ’80s brought us memorable phrases that still resonate today. While new generations create their own slang, nothing beats the charm of the classics.