Can you "dig" this vocabulary?

Flower Power Slang: 10 groovy 1960s idioms explained

Image: Vasilios Muselimis

The 60s were truly a magical time, weren’t they? If there’s one word that truly defined this decade, it would be the word "freedom": After all, the 60s were defined by their revolutionary new takes on music, art, and society in general. In fact, this era was so groundbreaking that it even changed the world we speak, introducing timeless terms to the English language. With that in mind, we have selected 10 terms that gained traction during the 60s. Some of them might seem outdated, while others are still relevant in this day and age: Regardless, all these words defined what it meant to live in the 60s. Enjoy!

Image: Thomas M. Evans

We’ll start with what many consider to be the quintessential 60s word. The word "groovy" (or any of its variations like "groovey" or "groovie") is an extremely versatile term that was mostly used as a synonym for excellent. However, depending on the context, "groovy" could also be used to describe an incredibly fashionable piece of clothing, or an intricate and powerful melody.

According to music historians, this word comes from the world of jazz in the 20s, where the term "groove" was used to describe a mixture of a music’s rhythm and the response by the audience. As you would expect, many songs and albums from the 60s and 70s mention the word "groovy", including bands like Simon & Garfunkel, The Clash, and The Mamas & the Papas.

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We might as well consider the words "far out" and "groovy" as synonyms: They are both used to describe something amazing, and they both come from the world of jazz. However, since "far out" can also mean something strange or unconventional, this word also conveys a certain feeling of innovation or creativity.

By the time the 1960s came around, the counterculture movements of this decade picked up this term and popularized it: An inventive beatnik poem or a piece of hippie art could be easily considered to be "far out".

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The first negative word in this article, "bummer" is used to describe something disappointing, although it is usually reserved for things that aren’t particularly serious. For instance, a canceled date, an ice-cream cone that fell to the ground, or missing closing time at a coffee shop are all great examples of a bummer.

Interestingly, this term’s first recorded appearance comes from journalist Tom Wolfe, who mentioned the term in his book about the notorious motorcycle gang, the Hell’s Angels. In due time, "bummer" became an extremely popular word, which is still being used today.

Image: Manja Vitolic

No, we are not talking about our favorite feline friends. The term "cat" or "cats" gained prominence in the 60s and 70s as a way to refer to someone particularly cool: In fact, this is actually an abbreviation from the phrase "cool cat". This term was extremely popular during these decades and was referenced in lyrics by iconic artists like David Bowie or Pink Floyd.

"Cat" is yet another '60s term that comes from the world of jazz, where the term was used to describe a lover of jazz music, or someone who was up to date with the latest trends and styles.

Image: Enrico Mantegazza

Keeping in line with our previous entry, an egghead is the exact opposite of a "cool cat". We realize how strange it is to call a farm product the opposite of a common pet, but bear with us, we can assure you it makes sense. The slang word "egghead" describes someone who is, in essence, boring or overly studious. In the 80s, eggheads would be called "squares", while in our current parlance, they would be called a "nerd".

We can see how in the 60s, a decade ruled by long and luscious hairstyles, being called an egghead could be considered a devastating insult: Egghead has the added image of someone who has gone bald from studying too much.

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If "groovy" was the quintessential word from the 60s, then "Flower power" was the slogan that defined this decade. This phrase was everywhere: Painted in vans, walls and on protest signs all around the world. "Flower power" became the ultimate representation of non-violent and passive resistance movements that were sprouting across America in the 60s.

The phrase was first coined by American poet Allen Ginsberg: In an essay published in 1965, Ginsberg proposed that protesters should hand out flowers to policemen in order to both make a statement and also reduce the tension inherent to a protest. These sorts of flashy practices quickly became popular, leading to the emergence of the term "Flower power".

Image: Andrey Metelev

If someone asks you if you can "dig it", they are not politely asking to grab a shovel and find a buried treasure nearby: What this confusing little phrase means is closer to saying "Do you understand what I’m saying?". However, much like with "groovy", "digging" something relates more to feeling than to knowledge: It basically asks whether you can put yourself in your partner’s shoes.

As you probably guessed by now, this phrase was extremely popular in the 1930s, before gaining a resurgence thanks to the Beatnik movement. However, some believe that it actually dates further back than the 30s: Linguists believe that the phrase comes from the Irish expression an dTuigeann Tú, which means "do you understand?" Since the word dTuigeann sounds remarkably like the verb "dig", many believe that this similarity is the origin of the slang phrase.

Image: Kate Remmer

No, we are not saying that the 60s literally invented bread, which is undoubtedly one of the oldest types of food known to man. The bread we are referring to comes from a slang term that first originated in the 1930s and came back into prominence in the 1960s.

In case you are not familiar with this word, "bread" is slang for money. This use of bread gained traction after being featured in several '60s books, including Hunter S. Thompson’s non-fiction book "Hell’s Angels".

Image: Jakob Owens

While nowadays this term is heavily ingrained in surfer culture, many forget that the 60s are considered to be the heyday of this aquatic sport. In that sense, the phrase "hang loose" (and its associated hand sign) describes one of the most essential aspects of surfing: Having a laid-back attitude that helps you tackle the many difficulties of this sport with a smile on your face.

As expected, the "hang loose" sign comes from the birthplace of modern surfing: Hawaii. Known as the "shaka" sign, this gesture is used by residents of Hawaii to convey friendliness and understanding.

Image: Chang Duong

We’ll end this article by bringing back a term almost lost to time. While we have featured several words that have retained their relevance to modern times, we can’t confidently state that "ginchy" is still as fresh as it was in the late 50s and the 60s. This word, which is used to describe something excellent, was subsequently replaced by the far more popular "cool".

However, there’s much to be said about "ginchy". For one, its original meaning has an aspect that cool doesn’t really represent: "Ginchy" is also used to describe someone attractive or downright beautiful. So, if you ever need a new and unusual word to pay a compliment to a special someone, look no further and help us bring "ginchy" back in style!

The fear factor

Afraid of what?! Here are some phobias you didn’t know existed!

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We all know someone who’s afraid of spiders, heights, or enclosed spaces. But what about those who fear belly buttons? Or the color yellow? Phobias come in all shapes and sizes, and some are pretty unusual. Hey, no judgment here! Even if they are weird, they’re genuine to the people who experience them. Let’s take a deep dive into the world of weird phobias; don’t be afraid to keep reading!

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Do you know that feeling when peanut butter gets stuck to the roof of your mouth? If the thought truly terrifies you, you might have arachibutyrophobia.

Most of us just grab a glass of milk and move on, but those with this rare fear experience real anxiety at the sight of peanut butter. Some people develop it due to a choking incident, while others may have a general fear of sticky textures. In any case, PB&J are off the menu!

Image: Chad Madden

Ever feel a little lost when you forget your phone at home? Nowadays, we might all have a little bit of this. But imagine that feeling cranked up to full panic mode: that’s nomophobia or the fear of being without a mobile phone.

People with this phobia get extremely anxious if their battery is low or if their signal is weak. Worst case scenario? Losing their phone!

While modern life makes phone use unavoidable, nomophobia can seriously disrupt daily life. Maybe it’s time for a digital detox or at least a backup battery.

Image: Markus Krisetya

Math anxiety is one thing, but arithmophobia takes it to the next level. People with this phobia don’t just dislike numbers; they are genuinely afraid of them.

The thing is, numbers are everywhere, so you can imagine how disturbing this phobia can be! The sight of math equations or even having to deal with numbers in daily life can trigger anxiety. Thankfully, calculators exist, but even using one might be nerve-wracking for someone with this phobia.

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Most people dream of winning the lottery; we know we do! But that’s not the case for people with plutophobia, who would rather stay broke. Why? Because this phobia is a fear of money, either having it, dealing with it, or even being around wealthy people.

Some fear the responsibility that comes with wealth, while others associate money with greed or corruption. While the rest of us check our bank accounts with dread, plutophobes avoid money matters entirely. If only bills could pay themselves, right?

Image: Tim Mossholder

The color yellow is usually associated with sunshine and happiness, but for people with xanthophobia, it’s a cause for panic. Can you believe that?

This rare phobia involves an intense fear of anything yellow (yes, from flowers to school buses, and even a banana could trigger anxiety.) Since yellow is everywhere, avoiding it entirely is nearly impossible. Imagine trying to walk through a grocery store without spotting mustard or lemons!

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For most of us, opening our eyes is an automatic action, but for those with optophobia, it’s a source of fear. This rare and highly debilitating phobia makes people afraid to open their eyes, often due to a deep fear of what they might see.

It’s usually linked to anxiety disorders and can make daily life incredibly difficult. Many sufferers prefer to stay in dimly lit spaces or keep their eyes closed as much as possible.

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If just reading this word made you nervous, you might have hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia: the fear of long words. Ironically, the name itself is one of the longest words in the dictionary, which seems a bit cruel for those who actually suffer from it, don’t you think?

A more manageable term for this phobia is sesquipedalophobia, but either way, it involves anxiety over reading or pronouncing long words. It often develops during childhood if someone struggles with reading, leading to embarrassment or fear of making mistakes.

Image: Eli DeFaria

Belly buttons are harmless, right? Well, not if you have omphalophobia, the fear of belly buttons. People with this phobia can’t stand looking at, touching, or even thinking about navels, sometimes even their own!

Some sufferers keep their belly buttons covered at all times, while others avoid places like beaches or swimming pools where they might be exposed. If you know someone with this phobia, you can cross off crop tops from their gift list!

Image: amirali mirhashemian

Believe it or not, some people are terrified of string. Linonophobia is the fear of string, yarn, or anything similar. Even the thought of touching string can cause extreme anxiety in those who suffer from it.

You may think this one is not quite debilitating, but think of all the clothes! Or wrapping a gift, let alone sewing! Those are impossible tasks for them. Have you ever heard of this one?

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Facial hair is trendy, and most men have it! But for people with pogonophobia, beards are downright terrifying.

Phobias are irrational; there’s no logic behind them, but we can imagine that some find beards unclean, while others feel uneasy about their texture and volume. Pogonophobes may avoid bearded people entirely, which can be tricky during "No Shave November." Sorry, Santa, these folks aren’t coming anywhere near you!

Image: Marvin Meyer

We all complain about work, but people with ergophobia take it to a whole new level. This phobia involves an intense fear of working, the workplace, or anything job-related.

It can stem from anxiety, past job trauma, or even fear of failure. While it might sound like an excuse to avoid going to the office, ergophobia can seriously disrupt a person’s ability to earn a living. Can you imagine?

Image: Robby McCullough

People with eisoptrophobia want nothing to do with mirrors. This fear may stem from superstitions (who wants to risk seven years of bad luck?), self-image issues, or a fear of seeing something supernatural.

Some avoid looking at their reflection entirely, which makes getting ready in the morning a bit of a challenge. Whether it’s about avoiding bad luck or just disliking what they see, mirrors are a no-go for eisoptrophobes.