We stan a slang queen. Don't know what that means? Yeah, me either.
The kids in our lives have one sacred job--to impart upon us adults the newest trends and make sure we are down with the newest lingo.
Unfortunately that is a far more difficult job than it would appear to be and our poor kids have their work cut out for them.
u/bofasonsofa asked:
Teens of Reddit, what are some trends / slang that you've had to explain to us old folk recently?
Here were some of those answers.
It Ain't The Sandwich Type
GiphyI've had to explain "let's get this bread" to my parents.
which means?...
Bread is an old slang term for money.
Hehe, Nice D00d
69 and 420 and people responding "nice".
One time I was cashiering and the total of the order was $420.69. I tried getting my assistant and the other cashier's assistant to take a quick pic of it, but my assistant was busy with packaging and the other couldn't get his phone out fast enough. The elderly couple just wanted to head out, so we sadly finished the transaction. At least we have the memories of it happening.
It's Not That Hard, Mom
My mom doesn't understand any kind of meme, she constantly asks me to explain the memes she sees on Facebook, even when they don't involve some form kind of "Internet knowledge", she just doesn't understand any part of them, like at all. She's only 39.
It's Not A Typo
I work at a breakfast restaurant where I have to wear a shirt that says 'Hangry? We can help.' I swear I haven't had a day where I had to explain it's a play on words.
Pffft, people don't appreciate a good portmanteau when they see one
Far Out
My dad thinks that "weird" has an exclusively negative connotation. I told him that its modern usage is mostly ambiguous.
I would say weird is in general more negative than positive. But you are right, weird can be used in a more positive way, it isn't always an insult.
Shlameel, Shlamazzle
Back in about 2005 we had to explain to our math teacher what forshizzle meant, and that it wasn't Yiddish. It was a weird time. Now students have to explain their slang to me. How the turn tables.
Hit That Whoah
Hitting the woah. No grandma, we're not actually attacking a "poor man" named "Wo". Came up because a friend said "u/jinho_jung, if you hit the woah again I'll have to call the cops".
Yeet Yote Hee Hoo
Yeet = to throw with power
Yote = having thrown with power
Kobe = to throw with accuracy
Kobe'd = having thrown with accuracy
The Kobe one predates the yeet one by like, a decade.
Let That Music Play Henny
I helped my mum sign up for Spotify and get her account going early in the year. My dad got my mum a tablet and new phone for Christmas, and they came with 2 google home things. Because I set the google homes up with my phone, it linked my Spotify account, so when ever someone at home (I live 500kms away for uni) asked google to play music, it would interrupt what I was listening to. Took me a minute to realise, as my music was suddenly interrupted by David Bowies greatest hits (which isn't a bad thing).
I then also worked out I could control the volume, so I terrified my poor mother by blasting songs she had never heard of. I called her straight after, and she said she thought that google had become sentient and disobedient. My mum isn't computer illiterate or anything, and even my dad is pretty good at learning about new gadgets and technology he gets (except typing, I can't imagine how long it would take him to write an email), but there is a period where the uncertainty of something new (even just an app sometimes) means I become a certified IT specialist that gives away services to my family. Love em though, wouldn't have it any other way.
The 90s Are Truly Over
GiphyMy 17-year-old niece explained to me, 29, that "streaking" is when you send several Snapchats to someone, several consecutive days in a row.
For us it was more about removing all clothing and running through a public place AKA the Quad or Gymnasium.
@jman42/Bluesky
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@evanrachelwood/Instagram