25 Pieces of Groovy 1960s Slang

Cultural experts often identify an era by its fashion, music, and trends. However, the true essence of a decade can be heard in the way people communicated. While the slang of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s each has its own flavor, the 1960s' peace and love vibe left a lasting mark on contemporary language. Here’s a look at the phrases that were on everyone’s lips during that iconic decade. (And no, we’re not just talking about LSD.)

1. Bag

Not quite connecting with the atmosphere? Perhaps it’s simply not your bag, a term that gained popularity around 1960, often referring to someone’s interests, preferences, or general attitude. (It could also denote a person’s drug of choice.)

2. Far Out

Perhaps you’ve just witnessed something incredibly cool or downright strange. In either case, this adjective—originating from jazz and African American Vernacular English (AAVE)—perfectly captures the moment, especially as it gained widespread popularity among both hippies and beatniks during the 1950s and 1960s.

3. Nudge/Noodge

Derived from the Yiddish verb nudyen, meaning “to bore or bother,” this subtle jab (sometimes spelled nudge) served as a warning to stop complaining or pestering someone. If you did it often enough, you might even earn the title of nudnik—a Yiddish term for an irritating person, which became popular in the early 20th century.

4. Bummer

The infamous Hells Angels motorcycle gang is credited with introducing bummer into everyday language. According to Green’s Dictionary of Slang, the term initially referred to “any unpleasant experience or depressing situation.” (The expression riding a bummer, mentioned in Tom Wolfe’s 1968 book The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, described “a bad motorcycle trip.”) It later expanded to describe a negative drug experience, regardless of whether you were part of the biker community.

5. Fab

Fab, short for fabulous, made its way to the U.S. alongside The Beatles around 1963. The band, famously known as the “Fab Four,” also helped popularize the term moptop to describe their untamed hairstyles, which stood in stark contrast to the neat cuts of the 1950s, as noted by the Oxford English Dictionary.

6. Flower Power

The emergence of the counterculture hippie movement in the 1960s, which championed love over war, soon gave rise to a term capturing the group’s impact: flower power. The phrase originated from the flowers these nonconformists often wore as symbols of their peaceful ideals. Followers were called flower children or flower people, and the era’s youth were also referred to as the flower-power generation. The term youthquake also emerged in the mid-1960s to further define this cultural shift.

7. Sock It to Me

The phrase sock it has historically meant delivering harsh news or imposing a high cost, whether literally or metaphorically. In the 1960s, the popular variety show Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In transformed it into a trendy catchphrase, signifying an “exhortation.” The expression was so iconic that convincing the traditionally formal presidential candidate Richard Nixon to appear on the show in 1968 and deliver the line was a comedic triumph. (Nixon would later sock it to the nation with the Watergate scandal.)

8. Bogart

This term originates from the legendary Hollywood actor Humphrey Bogart, whose surname was adapted into a verb. To bogart meant to act aggressively, much like the actor did in his roles as a private detective in films such as The Maltese Falcon and The Big Sleep. It also described someone who took more than their fair share, particularly when hogging a shared marijuana cigarette—a habit Bogart was rumored to have in real life. To bogart a joint was considered extremely inconsiderate.

9. Grungy

The term grungy described something dirty, filthy, rarely cleaned, or otherwise disgusting. A 1960 article in the Hartford Courant tried to explain it: “If you want to describe something you really like, call it ‘wiggy’—but if it’s very bad, it’s ‘grungy.’” The noun grunge had a similar meaning, while grunger referred to a person. (Urban grunge was also used to describe the New York Dolls’ music in the 1970s, and grunge later became synonymous with the Seattle sound of bands like Nirvana.) Another option was groady, derived from grotesque.

10. Boob Tube

The rise of color televisions in the 1960s expanded the national audience, but it also sparked concerns about excessive passive consumption. The term boob tube gained popularity in the 1960s, though it originated as early as 1957. It was used to critique both the television sets and the perceived lack of meaningful programming. Thankfully, that issue has since been addressed.

11. Freak Flag

When nonconformists in the 1960s wanted to express their unique perspectives, they were said to be waving their freak flag high. The phrase likely originated with Jimi Hendrix, who featured it in his 1967 song “If 6 Was 9.”

12. Marvy

When something was extraordinary, it was referred to as marvy for short. The term could be used both positively and sarcastically, with negative experiences described as marvy (or marvie) in a biting manner.

13. Can You Dig It?

If you’re understanding someone’s point or vibe, then you might dig it, a phrase that traces back to the late 1930s. An early printed use of can you dig it appeared in 1963 in a book review in the Independent Star-News of Pasadena, California.

14. Zit

Zit is such a universal and enduring term that it feels like it belongs in a medical dictionary. However, it emerged from 1960s slang. Green’s Dictionary of Slang doesn’t pinpoint an exact origin (the OED cites a 1965 advertisement), but it’s evident that teenagers first began using zit to describe stubborn blackheads during that era. They also used zat, zitz, and zort, but only zit has endured.

15. Catch Some Rays

If you wanted to tan in the late 1960s, you’d say you were going to catch some rays. Sunbathers might also cop, get, grab, or soak rays. By 2002, the phrase had evolved into a casual goodbye: Have fun! Catch some rays!

16. A-Go-Go

Trendsetters sporting the latest looks used the term a-go-go to capture their modern flair. A 1960 article in the Daily Times mentioned, “In Paris, thigh-length tubular sweaters are called sweaters a go go. Germany now boasts pajamas a go go.”

17. Golden Oldies

When one decade feels nostalgic for another, terms like golden oldies come into play. This phrase appeared in a 1960 Arizona Republic article, describing older songs or films that remained popular. It likely originated from the title of a radio show that played classic hits.

18. Cherry-Pick

The verb cherry-pick, meaning “to select the most advantageous option,” evolved from the earlier noun cherry-picker, which dates back to 1940.

19. Hacker

For centuries, hacker referred to a tool used for cutting down trees. By the 1930s, it described a poor golf player. In the 1960s, it evolved to describe someone trying to access a telephone network illegally, as seen in a 1963 incident at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Today, it’s widely associated with unauthorized computer network access.

20. Handsy

When someone makes inappropriate physical advances, it’s known as sexual harassment. In the 1960s, such individuals were called handsy.

21. Getting the Munchies

While munchie has referred to snack foods since the early 1900s, the phrase getting or having the munchies became popular in the late 1960s. It describes the intense hunger often triggered by marijuana use, both then and now.

22. Power Trip

The OED traces power trip back to at least 1968, when Newsweek described someone as being “on a constant power trip,” or intoxicated by their own authority.

23. Groovy

This adjective, meaning cool, hip, and trendy, is closely tied to the ‘60s, though it didn’t start there. Groovy actually originated in the 1930s, describing musicians in a focused state or something generally excellent. Today, it’s often used ironically to poke fun at the outdated culture of the ‘60s. Bummer.

24. Kidult

This blend of kid and adult has been around since at least 1958, typically describing TV shows and movies that appeal to both children and adults (hello, MCU). Programs from the 1960s like The Flintstones fit the kidult category, though the term can also describe an adult who refuses to act their age.

25. Bread

If someone asked for bread in the past, they might have meant an actual loaf or could have been asking for money. While the term bread for money originated in the 1930s, it became widely used in the 1960s, even appearing in Hunter S. Thompson’s 1967 book, Hell’s Angels.

Are you a word enthusiast? Do you enjoy learning unusual words and vintage slang to spice up conversations, or uncovering fascinating facts about the origins of common phrases? Then check out our new book, The Curious Compendium of Wonderful Words: A Miscellany of Obscure Terms, Bizarre Phrases, & Surprising Etymologies, releasing June 6! Pre-order your copy on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, or Bookshop.org.

A version of this article was originally published in 2023 and has been updated for 2024.