Americans Want to Bring Back These Outdated Slang Words, According to a New Study
Slang never really disappears… it just takes a nap. From “baloney” to “bogus,” the words that once rolled off our tongues in school hallways or sitcom catchphrases are finding their way back into conversations (and even group chats).
To see which retro phrases Americans miss most, language-learning platform Preply surveyed more than 2,000 people nationwide. The study asked which old-school slang terms they’d like to revive, which decades had the best slang, and how different generations feel about today’s lingo. The results are equal parts nostalgic and hilarious.
The Most Missed Slang Words in America
If you’ve ever called something “bogus” or told someone to “take a chill pill,” you’re in good company. Over half of the respondents voted for those two, along with “baloney” as the slang they most want to bring back.
Here are the top slang words Americans wish would make a comeback:
- Baloney — classic 1920s term for “nonsense.”
- Take a chill pill — the ultimate 1990s way to tell someone to relax.
- Bogus — 1980s shorthand for “lame” or “fake.”
- Groovy — the 1960s answer to “cool.”
- Cruisin’ for a bruisin’ — old-school warning for picking a fight.
- Spiffy — 1920s way to say “stylish” or “sharp-looking.”
- Heebie-jeebies — that nervous, uneasy feeling everyone knows.
- Knuckle sandwich — the punchline that’s also a punch threat.
- Gnarly — another ’80s favorite meaning “awesome” or “extreme.”
- Rad — short for “radical,” and still totally rad today.
Some honorable mentions from write-ins: “Cool beans,” “dig it,” “sick,” “dope,” and “hella.”
Which Decade Had the Best Slang?
When it comes to favorite slang eras, the 1990s still reign supreme. More than a third of Americans chose that decade as the best for slang, though surprisingly, none of its phrases cracked the top ten. The ‘90s gave us gems like “Wassup?,” “Da bomb,” “Booyah!,” and “Chillax.”
The 1980s came in second, driven by phrases like “bogus,” “rad,” and (of course) “take a chill pill.” Gen X helped keep those alive, while Baby Boomers gave a big nod to the 1960s, over a third of them said that’s when slang peaked.
Interestingly, men were more likely to prefer slang from the 1970s, while women favored the 1990s.
Generational Language Gaps
No surprise here, Gen Z is the most fluent in modern slang and the least nostalgic for the old stuff. Nearly a quarter of Gen Zers said today’s slang is better than what came before. But they’re also the most likely to Google meanings; a whopping 80% admitted to looking up slang words online.
Gen X, on the other hand, leads the pack in nostalgia; 78% said slang from their youth makes them sentimental. Millennials weren’t far behind at 77%, with Boomers close at 70%. Women overall were more likely to feel nostalgic (80%) compared to men (72%), and they also tend to use old slang sincerely instead of jokingly.
Why Old Slang Still Matters
Preply’s researchers say outdated slang does more than just sound funny, it shows how we express emotion, humor, and connection in ways standard words can’t. Slang mirrors the culture of its time, whether it’s the rebellious spirit of the 1960s or the laid-back sarcasm of the 1990s.
It’s also a reminder that language is alive — and deeply personal. Whether you’re calling something “dope,” “bitchin’,” or “cool beans,” these words carry a little history, a little personality, and a whole lot of nostalgia.
So if you catch yourself saying “as if!” or calling your plans “rad,” don’t fight it. Maybe some words are just too good to retire.
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