Pre-teenhood was the golden era of awkward hair, mismatched bodies, uncomfortable social behaviors, and some truly intellectual middle school jargon. These days, it is all yolo, just do you and totes, but let’s reflect back on some of the integral slang from our younger years, which you may or may not remember fondly.
"Your mom." Along with it’s cousin phrase, ”Your mom goes to college,” was uttered in response to just about anything with no rationale required.
“It’s in your face.” I remember a point in time when this was the answer to any question concerning the location of something. This, or the even more obnoxious, “It’s in your mouth,” which may have just been used by the annoying seventh grade version of my older brother.
“That’s what she said.” This originates from the glory days of The Office. Often applied to scenarios in which it makes no sense from children who had not quite grasped why she was saying such things. “Hey, pass the pepper... that’s what she said!” Cool.
“Psych” and “not.” Words that were thought to be hilarious when placed at the end of a false statement. Users often felt they were being cunning by luring you into their obvious and obnoxious trickery.
To get “owned” or “p’wned.” Used to verbally call attention to someone else’s defeat, however mild. Often utilized in order to make someone look a fool.
“Dis!” Something that could be exclaimed right after someone has p'wned you.
“Crunk.” The compound of crazy-drunk, used by kids to describe all sorts of random things before they even experienced what it meant to be crazy drunk. Or mildly tipsy. Which would be mipsy.
“Fail.” A crutch word used for any occasion that did not go as planned. Possible usages: at the end of a sentence or story, or standing on its own following a personal action or the actions of another. Modern adaption: “awkward.”
“Tight.” Remember when just about anything could be tight, not just sorority girls’ yoga pants? “Your mom isn’t making you go to cotillion this year? That’s tight, man.”
“Uber.” No, not the noun that gives you a ride when you have had too much to drink, the adjective that means "very," but in a way that makes you feel more cultured and chic.
We are all guilty of partaking in the usage of at least one of these words or phrases back when they were still on the circuit. I, for one, can say I am glad none of them have popped back up, again.
That's what she said.
Okay, almost.
