Baby Boomer Slang Decoder: Translate Groovy Gibberish to Plain English

Hearing “groovy” or “far out” from your Boomer parents or boss? Welcome to the Baby Boomer Slang Decoder! We’ve cracked 105+ terms from the flower-power, rock ‘n’ roll generation so you can dig their lingo without flipping out. Search below—because, man, it’s a gas!

Slang Translator Table

Baby Boomer Slang	Normal Talk	Example Sentence
A gas	Fun	This party’s *a gas*, man!
Ace	Great	That new record is *ace*.
Ape	Crazy	He went *ape* at the dance.
Bag	Interest	Jazz is my *bag*, dig?
Bail	Leave	Let’s *bail* before the fuzz show.
Beat	Tired	I’m *beat* after that gig.
Big deal	Important	Getting that job’s a *big deal*.
Bitchin’	Cool	Your hot rod is *bitchin’*.
Blast	Great time	The beach was a *blast*.
Blow off	Skip	I’ll *blow off* chores today.
Bogart	Hog	Don’t *bogart* the popcorn!
Boogie	Dance	Let’s *boogie* to this tune.
Boss	Awesome	That guitar riff is *boss*.
Bread	Money	Need more *bread* for gas.
Bug out	Leave	Time to *bug out* of here.
Bummer	Bad news	Rain’s a real *bummer*.
Burn rubber	Drive fast	Let’s *burn rubber* outta town.
Can you dig it	Understand?	New plan—*can you dig it*?
Cat	Cool person	He’s one hep *cat*.
Chick	Girl	Met a cool *chick* at the diner.
Chill	Relax	Just *chill* by the radio.
Chill out	Calm down	*Chill out*, it’s no biggie.
Choice	Cool	That jacket’s *choice*.
Chrome	Shiny	His car’s got *chrome* everywhere.
Cool	Great	Your shades are *cool*, man.
Cop out	Quit	Don’t *cop out* on the gig.
Crash	Sleep	Gonna *crash* after the dance.
Cruisin’	Driving around	We’re *cruisin’* Main Street.
Daddy-o	Guy	Hey, *daddy-o*, what’s cookin’?
Dig	Like/understand	I *dig* this new band.
Digs	House	Check out my new *digs*.
Dope	Cool	That shirt is *dope*.
Downer	Sad thing	Losing the game was a *downer*.
Drag	Boring	This movie’s a real *drag*.
Ducktail	Haircut	Rockin’ a *ducktail* today.
Fab	Fabulous	The Beatles are *fab*.
Far out	Awesome	That solo was *far out*.
Fink	Snitch	Don’t be a *fink* to the fuzz.
Flip	Freak out	She’ll *flip* when she hears!
Foxy	Sexy	She’s looking *foxy* tonight.
Freak	Weird person	He’s a total *freak*.
Freak out	Panic	Don’t *freak out* over the test.
Fuzz	Police	The *fuzz* are on our tail!
Gas	Fun	This dance is a real *gas*.
Get bent	Go away	Tell him to *get bent*.
Get lost	Leave	*Get lost*, I’m busy.
Gimme some skin	High five	*Gimme some skin*, brother!
Go ape	Go wild	We’ll *go ape* at the concert.
Gone	Cool	That car is *gone*, man.
Grease	Style	Got my *grease* on tonight.
Greaser	Tough guy	He’s a real *greaser*.
Groove	Enjoy	I *groove* to this beat.
Groovy	Cool	Your tie-dye is *groovy*.
Hang loose	Relax	Just *hang loose*, dude.
Hang out	Chill	Let’s *hang out* at the pad.
Happening	Cool event	This party’s a *happening*.
Heavy	Intense	That news is *heavy*, man.
Hep	In the know	She’s a *hep* cat.
Hip	Cool	Stay *hip* with the times.
Hippie	Free spirit	He’s a total *hippie*.
Hog	Big motorcycle	Riding my *hog* today.
Hood	Rebel	That *hood* stole my bike!
Hooked	Addicted	I’m *hooked* on Elvis.
Hot	Cool/attractive	She’s *hot* in that dress.
Hot rod	Fast car	My *hot rod* is souped up.
Hunk	Handsome guy	He’s a real *hunk*.
In the groove	On track	I’m *in the groove* now.
Jam	Play music	Let’s *jam* in the garage.
Jazzed	Excited	I’m *jazzed* for the show.
Jive	Talk	Don’t give me that *jive*.
Keen	Great	This soda’s *keen*.
Kicks	Fun	Got my *kicks* on Route 66.
Knockout	Stunner	She’s a real *knockout*.
Lay it on me	Tell me	*Lay it on me*, what’s up?
Like	Filler word	It’s, *like*, so cool.
Loaded	Drunk	He got *loaded* at the bar.
Lush	Great	This cake is *lush*.
Make out	Kiss	Caught them *making out*.
Man	Exclamation	*Man*, that’s wild!
Mellow	Calm	Feeling *mellow* tonight.
Mod	Modern	Her outfit’s totally *mod*.
Neato	Cool	That car’s *neato*.
Nifty	Clever	A *nifty* trick with cards.
No sweat	Easy	Fixing it’s *no sweat*.
Out of sight	Amazing	That band is *out of sight*.
Pad	Home	Crash at my *pad* tonight.
Peace	Goodbye	*Peace*, see ya later.
Peachy	Great	Everything’s *peachy* now.
Pig	Cop	Watch out for the *pigs*.
Rags	Clothes	Got some new *rags*.
Rap	Talk	Let’s *rap* about life.
Right on	Agree	You said it—*right on*!
Rip off	Cheat	That price is a *rip off*.
Scene	Place	This club’s the *scene*.
Score	Win	I *scored* a date!
Shag	Dance	Let’s *shag* to this beat.
Sharp	Stylish	Your suit is *sharp*.
Sock it to me	Tell me	*Sock it to me*, what’s new?
Solid	Great	You’re a *solid* friend.
Split	Leave	Gotta *split* before dark.
Square	Uncool	Don’t be a *square*, dance!
Threads	Clothes	Check my new *threads*.
Tough	Cool	That bike is *tough*.
Trip	Experience	That concert was a *trip*.
Wig out	Freak out	She’ll *wig out* over this!