There is a certain kind of person who, when something genuinely blows their mind, says ‘amazing’ or ‘literally’ and just sort of… stops there. That person deserves better vocabulary options.
The ’60s had it figured out. Not everything about the ’60s — let’s not romanticize the whole decade — but the slang? Genuinely good. Specific. Expressive. The kind of words that actually matched the feeling.
So here’s a list of the ones that deserve a comeback. Use them unironically. Watch people’s faces. It’s worth it.
Why did ’60s slang hit different in the first place?
’60s slang worked because it was built by people who were deliberately rejecting the stiff, buttoned-up language of their parents’ generation. Every word on this list was a tiny act of rebellion. That’s not nothing.
And honestly? Some of these hold up better than the stuff we’re currently using. ‘Slay’ is fine. ‘Far out’ is better.
Far Out
“Far out” is the ’60s version of losing your mind in the best possible way — reserved for things that genuinely stop you in your tracks.
Not for your coffee order being correct. For the actual breathtaking stuff. A sunset that makes you pull the car over. A piece of music that does something to your chest. That’s far out territory.
Use it sparingly and it lands. Use it constantly and you’re just a person who says ‘far out’ at everything, which, honestly, still sounds kind of fun.
Groovy
“Groovy” is the most versatile compliment that somehow got abandoned, and I don’t know why we let that happen.
It’s not just cool. It’s cool and easy and pleasant all at once. Something being groovy implies a kind of effortlessness — like it’s just flowing right. A great playlist is groovy. A perfect Saturday is groovy. That one friend who never seems stressed about anything? Extremely groovy.
Outta Sight
“Outta sight” means something is so good it has broken the scale entirely — it’s beyond what you can even measure.
This one is genuinely underused right now. We have ‘incredible’ and ‘unreal’ doing the same job, but neither of them have the same punch. Your friend’s kitchen renovation that turned out better than anyone expected? Outta sight. The deal you got at the thrift store that you keep bringing up? Outta sight.
Sock It to Me
“Sock it to me” is what you say when you’re ready — for the news, the challenge, the tea, whatever’s coming.
It’s feisty without being aggressive. It’s a little theatrical in the best way. Someone has gossip? Sock it to me. You’re about to hear your performance review? Sock it to me. There’s a confidence implied in the phrase that I think we could all use a little more of.
Right On
“Right on” is agreement that actually sounds like it means something.
“Totally” has been so overused that it barely registers anymore. “Right on” still has some weight to it — it implies you’ve actually considered the thing and you’re co-signing it with conviction. Someone says something genuinely correct? Right on. Not just ‘yeah’ or ‘totally’ or a string of ‘mhm’ sounds. Right on.
The Man
“The Man” is the bureaucratic, joy-killing, form-filling entity that makes things harder than they have to be — and we still need a name for it.
And look, I know “The Man” has specific historical weight from the civil rights and antiwar movements — it wasn’t just a funny phrase, it was a real critique of institutional power. That matters. But in everyday use, it captures something we still deal with constantly. You’re on hold with your insurance company for the fourth time this week. You are fighting The Man.
Threads
“Threads” for clothes is just objectively better than saying “outfit” for the tenth time in a sentence.
It’s specific in a way ‘fit’ isn’t — threads implies something a little more considered, a little more put-together. Somebody walks in wearing something genuinely great? Those are some killer threads. This one could slide back into common usage without anyone even noticing, which is honestly the best kind of comeback.
Cat
In ’60s slang, a “cat” was a cool person — usually with an edge, a talent, some kind of magnetic thing going on.
This one came out of jazz culture, where it was used to describe musicians, and it carries that energy. It’s not just ‘cool person.’ It’s ‘person who has a whole thing happening.’ You know exactly who in your life is a cat and who isn’t.
Dig It
“Dig it” means you understand something and you’re also into it — two things at once, very efficiently.
“I get it” covers the understanding part but not the appreciation. “I’m into it” covers appreciation but implies you might not fully understand. “Dig it” does both. That’s efficient language. Bring it back.
Split
“Let’s split” is simply a more interesting way to leave a place, and I think we should all start using it.
There’s a decisiveness to it. You’re not ‘heading out’ or ‘taking off’ or doing any of the other soft-landing versions. You’re splitting. Gone. The party is over for you specifically, and you have places to be.
Cool It
“Cool it” is a deescalation phrase that somehow also has a little authority to it.
It’s not as dismissive as ‘calm down’ — which, if you’ve ever been on the receiving end of ‘calm down,’ you know that never actually helps anyone calm down. “Cool it” is more… collegial. Like you’re asking someone to bring the temperature down as a team effort. It works.
Pad
“Pad” for your home or apartment is charming in a way ‘place’ just isn’t.
There’s something about it that implies your space has a personality. You don’t just have a place — you have a pad. It’s yours. It reflects something about you. Come hang at my pad is an invitation. Come hang at my place is… also an invitation, but less interesting.
Bummer
“Bummer” has actually survived, but it’s been downgraded — people use it for minor inconveniences when it was built for real disappointment.
Reclaim it for appropriately sized bad news. The event you were looking forward to got cancelled. The thing you ordered arrived broken. Your favorite show isn’t coming back. That’s a bummer. Not your coffee being slightly too hot. That’s just life. And if you want more on how ’60s counterculture shaped the language we still use today, there’s a whole rabbit hole waiting for you.
Is it weird to use old slang unironically?
Honestly, no. Every word was new once and old slang comes back around constantly — that’s just how language works.
“Groovy” sounds retro because of its associations, but the associations are mostly good ones. Nobody’s going to be upset that you said something was outta sight. The worst case scenario is someone smiles at you. That’s the whole downside. But what do I know?
Somewhat related: back when I wrote about the phrases that date you more than your actual age, the comments were very divided on which ones people were willing to give up.
Language is supposed to be fun and the ’60s knew that better than most decades. These words weren’t just filler — they had personality. They were doing something.
Pick two. Just two. Work them into your actual conversations this week and see what happens. My money is on ‘far out’ and ‘dig it,’ but that’s just me.
And if someone gives you a look, tell them The Man doesn’t want you using interesting words. Then split.
Frequently asked questions
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