My parents were from the twenty-three skidoo generation, a phrase that according to Wikipedia, became the first national slang fad. Since
WWI there have been hundreds, if not thousands, of ways we’ve had to express
ourselves while reflecting the trends of the day. The shelf life of some phrases
is short (Far Out!) while others are here to stay (Cool It!). It is not
surprising that most come through media (Catch you on the Flip Side) and
entertainment (May the Force be with you) rather than something grassroots (What
a blast!). Each can represent a time and become a label (baby boomers), a fad
(disco), or a product (Mmm, Mmm, Good). Politics plays a role (Hey, hey, LBJ,
how many kids did you kill today?) and whole eras get defined (Make love, not
war). Some get put to music (Groovy) or a piece of music defines it (Bad).
It isn’t surprising to learn that religion contributes.
“Jeez Louise!” comes out of my mouth easily. The other day I wondered for the
first time how that phrase originated and learned that it is slang for Jesus’
name with a little rhyme thrown in. When we were young saying, “h-e-double
hockey sticks” made us laugh and feel as though we were getting away
with a cuss word. Today four letter words once meant to shock are common –
still not necessarily accepted or acceptable, but common. Blimey, I got
sidetracked there for a minute, but, in for a penny, ‘damn’ probably entered
everyday language after Gone with the
Wind. Think about the various slang associated with race, gender, and
sexual orientation and you’ll realize some of the significant evolutions in
your lifetime.
There is a lot of slang today that I’ve never heard and
wouldn’t understand, but we’ve come a long way since twenty-three skidoo gave
people a popular way to indicate they were leaving quickly or gettin’ out while
the getting’s good. Now popular phrases get abbreviated (LOL) for quick and
easy communication. What phrases do you fondly remember or enjoy using? Me? I’m from a laid back generation and it
takes time to get around to ‘after while, crocodile!’
Marilyn
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