16 Expressions Common in the ’50s and ’60s That No One Uses Anymore
In the 1950s and 1960s, you might have had it made in the shade, but if you didn’t cut the gas, you’d be cruisin’ for a bruisin’. Can you dig it?
Throughout the ’50s and ’60s, Americans introduced many unique words and phrases into popular culture. Over time, these expressions have fallen out of style, often replaced by another generation’s own slang.
While you may not hear these expressions much anymore, they can instantly bring back memories for many older Americans. This list of words and phrases that Mindfully American collected from various sources provides some insight into the 1950s and 1960s.
1: Big Tickle
Long before “lol” made its way into the vernacular, there was “big tickle.” This 1950s-era phrase describes something that’s very funny.
Example: “That television show is a big tickle. It makes me laugh every week.”
2: Wet Rag
In the 1950s, the last thing you wanted to be was a wet rag. The phrase refers to someone who spoils the fun for others.
Example: “Mary, stop being a wet rag. Let’s put the books away and go to the skating rink.”
3: Made in the Shade
Today, the word shade has become slang for an insult or a sign of disrespect. In the ’50s and ’60s, however, the phrase “made in the shade” meant you were successful or had an advantage in life.
Example: “Henry grew up in a wealthy family and will take over his father’s business after he graduates. He’s got it made in the shade.”
4: Wig Chop
In the 1950s and 1960s, you could say you needed a haircut. But it was more fun to say you needed a wig chop.
Example: “I’m headed to the barbershop. It’s time for a wig chop.”
5: Cut the Gas
If you tell someone to cut the gas today, you might be asking them to stop the car (or perhaps you’re commenting on their, er, gastrointestinal issues). In the ’50s, you used this phrase if you wanted someone to stop talking.
Example: “Cut the gas, Jim. Nothing you’re saying makes any sense.”
6: Cruisin’ for a Bruisin’
Cruisin’ for a bruisin’ dates to the mid-1940s, when it appeared in a military publication about the Army football team looking to defeat its rival, the Navy. In the 1950s, cruisin’ for a bruisin’ was a popular phrase that meant a person’s behavior may result in their physical harm. It became well known to another generation after the release of the hit movie “Grease” in 1978.
Example: “Billy can’t keep his mouth shut. He’s cruisin’ for a bruisin.”
7: Fink
In the 1960s, fink was a word for someone who told an authority figure about another person’s bad behavior. Today, the same person might be known as a snitch or a tattletale. Fink could also be a verb about the act of telling on someone.
Example: “I can’t believe she ratted you out to your mom. She’s such a fink.”
8: Ankle-Biter
No, ankle-biter doesn’t refer to mosquitoes. In the ’50s and ’60s, ankle-biter was a term for small children.
Example: “Joan just had her fourth baby. Now they have a whole house of ankle-biters running around.”
9: Dig It
The phrase “dig it” rose to popularity in the ’60s and carried on throughout the ‘70s. It meant to understand or to appreciate. It was often part of a question, preceded by the words “can you?”
Example: “We’re all going over to Janie’s house after the dance. Can you dig it?”
10: Main Squeeze
In the ’50s and ’60s, you affectionately referred to your romantic partner or love interest as your main squeeze. Today’s youth use the word “bae” in the same way.
Example: “I’ve been seeing Carol for over three months. She’s my main squeeze.”
11: Daddy-o
While “daddy” has long been an affectionate term for father, the term “daddy-o” became a common way to address any man in the 1950s and 1960s. It’s similar to words like dude and bro today.
Example: “Hey, daddy-o. Do you want to meet the gang at the diner later tonight?”
12: A Gas
A young person today might look at you funny if you called them a gas. If you were a gas in the 1960s, however, it meant you made others laugh. It could also refer to something fun or entertaining.
Example: “He had me laughing so hard my face hurt. He’s a gas.”
13: Groovy
Some younger Americans may be surprised to learn the word “groovy” didn’t originate from the “Austin Powers” movies. In the 1960s, groovy meant good or great, similar to the word awesome today. Many people associate groovy with the 1970s, but there’s some evidence that it had fallen out of style by then.
Example: “That song is groovy. It makes me want to get up and dance.”
14: Foxy
This 1960s-era word meant beautiful or appealing. It could describe either a man or a woman.
Example: “He has beautiful eyes and a bright smile. He’s so foxy.”
15: Fuzz
The fuzz is a slang term for police. There are various theories on how the phrase originated, ranging from the static over police radios to British officers’ fuzzy hats. During the ’60s, a period marked by protests and countercultural movements in the United States, Americans may have used the term in a derogatory way.
Example: “Let’s handle this dispute ourselves. I don’t want to get the fuzz involved.”
16: Gimme Some Skin
“Gimme some skin” might raise some eyebrows today, but in the 1960s, it meant you were asking for a handshake. It could also mean you wanted a high five.
Example: “It was really nice to meet you. Gimme some skin.”
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