25 idioms that were common in the ’60s

John Rodgers/Redferns // Getty Images The 1990s hit film trilogy “Austin Powers” may have reintroduced many to 1960s lingo, phrases, and idioms. In the films, a 1960s-era spy, played by comedian Mike Myers, time travels to the 1990s, where he anachronistically uses phrases like “groovy, baby” and “shagadelic.” But did people actually talk like that? If you lived through the 1960s, you might need a refresher course. And if you were born after the 1960s, you might be curious about what it was really like. So, using sources from the news and etymological dictionaries, Stacker compiled a list of 25 words and phrases that were specifically popular or popularized during the 1960s. The list contains a range of slang terms that might still be in use and those that have become completely obscure. Hippie terminology dominates this list, but it’s important to note that much of the slang featured here originates from the jazz culture of the 1920s through the 1940s. Specifically, the slang comes from the African American community that created and cultivated jazz and its lingo. Like much of popular slang throughout history, this African American vernacular then became adopted and utilized by a wider and, of course, whiter audience. Other terms and phrases were coined from pieces of then-present-day popular culture, like 1960s rock music and early television. Keep reading to see what idioms were common in 1960s culture, how they came to be, and if they stayed in fashion. You may also like: 50 famous paintings and the stories behind them Groovy Photo Media/ClassicStock // Getty Images Decades before “Austin Powers,” the term groovy as we know it first emerged in the Jazz Age of the 1920s. It’s derived from the phrase “in the groove,” as in the groove of a record where the record player needle hits. It’s a word closely associated with 1960s hippie culture and peaked when Simon & Garfunkel released their song “The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy)” in 1966. However, there is some debate about whether it was ever truly a “cool” word to say–as discussed in a 1971 article from the New York Times. Far-out Bettmann // Getty Images A word originated on the hit 1960s TV sketch comedy show “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In,” “bippy” is a stand-in for “butt.” The phrase “you bet your bippy,” meaning “you can be certain of that,” caught on due to the show’s popularity. Moptop Keystone // Getty Images “Moptop” is a slang term for the hairstyle popularized by the Beatles, which is essentially a chic bowl cut. The hairstyle was longer and shaggier than hairstyles popular before the 1960s–hence its comparison to a mop. Necking Bettmann // Getty Images The term “necking” means to kiss passionately–what we might call “making out” today. This word dates back to the 19th century and was used throughout the 1960s, but has since gone out of style. Out of sight Elaine Mayes // Getty Images If something is “out of sight” that means that it’s extremely “far-out,” remarkable, amazing. Literally, the phrase has been used for decades. It was often used in African American communities during the jazz era, but as slang, it picked up during the 1950s and 1960s. Pad Dennis Hallinan // Getty Images A groovy “pad” is where one lands at the end of the day–their home. According to lexicographer Jesse Sheidlower, the term started in the underworld way back in the 17th century to refer to the bed of straw or rags for poor travelers or criminals to use. It eventually made its way into the lingos of 1960s hippies. It’s still a pretty common word to hear today, particularly in reference to the pad of a bachelor. You may also like: 25 iconic historic sites keeping American history alive It’s a gas Ralph Ackerman // Getty Images “It’s a gas” or “that’s a gas” or “life’s a gas”–anything being “a gas” is a good thing, it means that it’s fun. The word “gas” standing in for the word “enjoyment” seems to have first been used in print by Charles Dickens in 1839, then by James Joyce in the early 20th century, and later in African American jazz culture of the 1920s and ’30s. The phrase “it’s a gas” first appeared in print in 1957 in a work by author James Baldwin and gained popularity from there. Lay it on me Sulfiati Magnuson/Getty Images Still fairly commonly used today, “lay it on me” is a “chill” way of asking someone what’s on their mind. It was a part of hippie slang in the 1960s and hasn’t completely gone out of fashion. Bogart Steven Clevenger/Corbis via Getty Images A “bogart” is a slang term for someone who selfishly takes or hogs something, like the last french fry on a shared plate or the last puff of marijuana if you are a 1960s hippie. The word comes from actor Humphrey Bogart, who often had a cigarette hanging from his lips until its very last possible drag. What’s your bag?