Can you "dig" this vocabulary?
Flower Power Slang: 10 groovy 1960s idioms explained
Published on November 2, 2024
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 Some of them might seem outdated, while others are still relevant in this day and age: Regardless, all these words defined what it meant to live in the 60s.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!
Groovy
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.
Far out
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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".
Bummer
Image: Sarah Kilian
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.
Cats
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.
Egghead
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.
Flower Power
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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".
Can You Dig It?
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.
Bread
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".
Hang loose
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.
Ginchy
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!
