Your words can date you

Your slang says a lot about your age: Learn 12 words from every decade

Slang has always been a fun way to express ourselves and reflect the vibe of a particular time. Over the years, different phrases have come and gone, often capturing the era's spirit. Some words may have seemed normal back in the day, but now sound totally out of place. Take a look at 12 of these idioms. Do you remember your grandparents using any of these?

The 1910s are filled with evocative terms for describing feelings of depression, and one such term is woofits. This term was used to describe a low or uneasy feeling. The term was popularized by pilots during WWI to describe the "dread disease" of depression or physical sickness after excessive partying.

It could be triggered by a variety of causes, from overindulging in alcohol to simply not getting enough rest. The term continued to be used into the 1920s and beyond to describe feelings of melancholy or physical discomfort.

This expression was used to describe the pain of unrequited love or a one-sided crush. It is a phrase that could easily make a comeback among modern-day romantics. The association of torches with love dates back to Greek and Roman wedding traditions, where a torch lit at the bride's family chimney was used to light the fire in her new home.

The expression exploded in popularity during the 1920s alongside the rise of "torch songs". These were sentimental ballads, often performed by female jazz singers known as "torch singers", that lamented lost or unreturned love.

If you find yourself stuck with tedious or meaningless work, try calling it a "boondoggle." It’s a slang term that describes a frivolous waste of time.

The word boondoggle may have originated from American scoutmaster Robert H. Link, who used it to describe the braided leather tassels worn by Boy Scouts. This meaning gained popularity in the 1920s, and by the mid-1930s, it had evolved into its current usage.

If you've ever encountered someone who works tirelessly, you might call them an "eager beaver." While the phrase references the industrious beaver, known for constructing watertight dams and elaborate lodges with multiple underwater entrances, it gained popularity not by the river, but during World War II.

According to a 1942 dispatch, the term referred to a soldier "imbued with the desire to please his superiors" by tackling unpleasant tasks that his peers would rather avoid.

This phrase has evolved and can be understood in different ways. But, in the 1950s, if someone was "cruisin' for a bruisin'," they were essentially looking for trouble or an excuse to start a fight.

The term describes someone who was cruising around in search of a violent altercation with potential bruises as a result.

This adjective, originating from jazz, is used to describe something amazing or downright strange that is situated far away from the normal range.

It gained significant popularity in the 1950s and ’60s, especially among hippies and beatniks who were into jazz music, and embraced it as part of their cultural lexicon.

A jive turkey refers to someone who is insincere, deceitful, or dishonest, essentially, a person who can't be trusted. The term carries strong connotations of untrustworthiness and duplicity.

Interestingly, the word jive on its own, used as an adjective, has been around since the 1940s with the same negative meaning, long before it was paired with "turkey" to form the full expression.

During the 1980s, when someone said "bad," they might have meant something good. It’s similar to how people use "sick" to describe something impressive or cool.

The term gained popularity in such form thanks in large part to Michael Jackson’s hit song "Bad", but it had been used for over a century in Black American culture. Linguists suggest the inversion might stem from West African languages like Mandingo or Hausa, where negative terms are often used emphatically to describe positive extremes (e.g., "it is good badly" meaning "it is very good").

During the 1990s, the term "fly" was used to describe someone stylish, attractive, or just generally impressive. For example, someone might have said, "Check out my new sunglasses, they’re so fly."

Back in the 2000s, the word "sketchy" started being used to describe someone or something that seemed suspicious or untrustworthy. It quickly became a go-to term for calling out shady behavior or situations.

The phrase "first-world problem" became popular in the 2010s as a humorous way to highlight minor frustrations or complaints that come with a life of relative comfort, especially when compared to more serious issues faced in less privileged situations.

The term "to cap" basically means to lie. It’s often used when someone is being dishonest ("he’s capping") or, on the flip side, to emphasize honesty by saying "no cap," meaning you’re telling the truth.

Deep roots

11 everyday words with indigenous roots

English is a very welcoming language in the sense that it incorporates terms from many other languages from all over the world. And, as it couldn’t be otherwise, Native American languages have lent many of their words and terms to English speakers. Some traveled through Spanish or French before settling into English, and others arrived directly through early contact and trade, helping shape the way we speak today. Did you know about these 11 terms?

The word "canoe" comes from the Taino term canoa, which was first used by Caribbean islanders long before Europeans arrived. Early explorers adopted it to describe the slim, sturdy boats they saw.

Over time, "canoe" became the standard English word for a small paddled craft. Today it still carries that sense of simplicity and closeness to nature.

The word "barbecue" comes from barbacoa, another Taino term for a wooden frame used for cooking meat over fire. Europeans adopted it and applied it to both the method and the gathering itself.

Today, "barbecue" means everything from a backyard cookout to a regional cooking style. Its origins highlight the deep culinary influence of Native Americans in the nation's current culture.

"Skunk" comes from the Algonquian word squnk, which means "urinating fox" (quite a fitting term, indeed). This was an obvious reference to the animal’s strong defensive spray. Early settlers adopted the term directly.

Since English had no better name for the creature, the Native word stuck. Today, the word skunks is also used as playful slang.

The word "moose" originates from Eastern Abenaki, a part of the Algonquian family, where it meant "he strips off bark." Yes, it described the animal’s habit of tearing bark from trees.

The name entered English quickly because settlers relied on Native knowledge of local fauna. The word remains unchanged because of its accuracy and usefulness.

"Raccoon" comes from the Powhatan word arakun, meaning "he scratches with his hands." It described the animal’s clever, humanlike front paws.

Settlers adopted the term because it captured the creature’s behavior beautifully. Today, the raccoon is used as a household symbol of curiosity, not unlike the animal itself.

The term "chipmunk" most probably comes from the Ojibwe word ajidamoo, which means "one who descends trees headfirst." Early English settlers adapted the sound into today’s form.

Though the spelling changed over time, the lively image of a chipmunk racing down a tree face-first stayed.

The word "caribou" comes from the Mi’kmaq term qalipu, which means "snow shoveler," referring to the animal’s habit of digging through snow for food.

French settlers brought the word into English, keeping its descriptive nature. The name still connects the modern animal to the winter landscapes it belongs to.

"Totem" comes from the Ojibwe word ototeman, which means "kinship group." It described symbols representing clans and shared roots.

English adopted it to describe carved poles and symbolic elements. Though broader in modern usage, it still hints at the original sense of community, identity, and heritage.

"Coyote" comes from the Nahuatl word coyōtl, which was used by Indigenous tribes of central Mexico. Spanish speakers adopted it, and English borrowed later.

The word kept its meaning, and it remains one of the most direct links between the English language and Nahuatl.

The tasty avocado’s name traces to the Nahuatl word ahacatl, which refers to the fruit and to a body part as well. Spanish speakers transformed it into aguacate.

Later on, English speakers adapted it to avocado. While the name sounds contemporary and culinary, it has ancient Native roots.

The last Nahuatl word and also the last word on the list comes from the term xocolātl, which describes a bitter cacao drink that was consumed long before Europeans arrived in America. The name traveled from Spanish to English.

Though the product changed dramatically, the word survived. Today, chocolate is a universal symbol of sweetness, with rich and deeply indigenous roots.