Funky ’70s Slang Words & Phrases to Add to Your Vocabulary

The 1970s were a glorious linguistic petri dish: disco glitter, surf culture, movie one-liners, and everyday American
conversation all colliding into slang that somehow still feels fun to say. (Try saying “groovy” out loud without
smiling. You can’t. It’s science.)

This guide is a practical, modern-friendly playlist of ’70s slangwhat it means, how to use it today,
and when to leave it on the dance floor. You’ll get specific examples, quick “modern translations,” and a few
anti-cringe rules so you don’t sound like you’re auditioning for a disco biopic.

How to Use ’70s Slang Without Sounding Like a Costume

• Use one term per sentence. Two max. Any more and you’re basically wearing bell-bottoms in your mouth.
• Match the vibe. Fun slang works best in casual chats, texts, parties, or friendly banterless so in performance reviews.
• Don’t force it. If you wouldn’t naturally say it, don’t. Start with “right on” or “bummer” and build from there.
• Avoid punching down. Some vintage slang can be mean, dated, or tied to stereotypes. If it feels iffy, skip it.
• Own the wink. Part of the charm is the playful throwback. A light tone makes it land.

Funky ’70s Slang Words & Phrases (With Meanings + Real Examples)

1) Groovy

Meaning: Excellent, admirable, or just plain cool.
Use it like: “That playlist is groovy. I’m not even mad about the commute anymore.”
Modern translation: “Awesome,” “so good,” “love that.”

2) Far out

Meaning: Unconventional, wild, strangein a good way (or at least an interesting way).
Use it like: “That movie’s ending was far out… I need a snack and a full explanation.”
Modern translation: “Wild,” “trippy,” “unexpected.”

3) Right on

Meaning: Exactly right; an enthusiastic “I agree.” It can also describe someone tuned in to the times.
Use it like: “You want tacos instead of salad? Right on. Lead the way.”
Modern translation: “Exactly,” “facts,” “I’m in.”

4) Out of sight

Meaning: Excellentso good it’s almost unfair to other good things.
Use it like: “These seats are out of sight. I can actually see the stage and my future.”
Modern translation: “Incredible,” “next level,” “elite.”

5) Funky

Meaning: Stylish in a bold, unconventional way; sometimes also used for music with a strong groove.
Use it like: “That jacket is funkyin the best possible way. Main-character energy.”
Modern translation: “Fresh,” “unique,” “statement.”

6) Boogie / Boogie down

Meaning: To dance; to get moving (often enthusiastically).
Use it like: “This song? Immediate boogie situation. No choice.”
Modern translation: “Dance,” “turn up,” “get after it.”

7) Crash pad

Meaning: A temporary place to stayusually informal.
Use it like: “If the flight gets canceled, I’ve got a crash pad near the airport.”
Modern translation: “Couch to sleep on,” “place to stay.”

8) Pad

Meaning: Your placeapartment, house, living quarters.
Use it like: “Come by my padI’ll make snacks and we’ll pretend we like kale.”
Modern translation: “My place,” “my spot.”

9) Bread

Meaning: Money.
Use it like: “I’d love that weekend trip, but my bread says ‘stay home and microwave something.’”
Modern translation: “Cash,” “bucks,” “funds.”

10) Bogart (as a verb)

Meaning: To hog something meant to be shared; to take an unfair share.
Use it like: “Don’t bogart the friesthis is a democracy.”
Modern translation: “Hog,” “monopolize,” “keep to yourself.”

11) The fuzz

Meaning: The police (old-fashioned slang).
Use it like: “We were parked too long and thought the fuzz was comingturns out it was just a delivery guy.”
Modern translation: “Cops,” “police.”

12) Bummer

Meaning: A disappointment; something unpleasant or inconvenient.
Use it like: “They discontinued my favorite chips. Total bummer.”
Modern translation: “That stinks,” “sad,” “L.”

13) Rip-off

Meaning: A swindle, a bad deal, or an exploitative imitation.
Use it like: “$18 for a tiny salad? That’s a rip-off wearing lettuce as a disguise.”
Modern translation: “Scam,” “overpriced,” “knockoff.”

14) Do me a solid

Meaning: Do me a favor (often a helpful one).
Use it like: “Do me a solid and tell me the honest truth: is this hat working?”
Modern translation: “Help me out,” “do me a favor.”

15) Hang loose

Meaning: Stay relaxed; don’t stress; keep it easy (often associated with surf culture).
Use it like: “We’ll figure it out tomorrowhang loose.”
Modern translation: “Relax,” “take it easy.”

16) Kick back

Meaning: Relax, rest, lounge.
Use it like: “After that week, I’m going to kick back like it’s my full-time job.”
Modern translation: “Chill,” “unwind.”

17) Space cadet

Meaning: A flaky, forgetful, or absent-minded person (often teasing, but use gentlytone matters).
Use it like: “I walked into the kitchen and forgot why. I’m such a space cadet today.”
Modern translation: “Scatterbrained,” “in my own world.”

18) Threads

Meaning: Clothes, especially a fresh outfit you’re proud of.
Use it like: “New threads for the concertwatch me pretend I’m effortlessly cool.”
Modern translation: “Fit,” “outfit,” “drip.”

19) Foxy

Meaning: Attractive, good-looking (very ’70s flirt energy).
Use it like: “That’s a foxy jacket. Where’d you get it?”
Modern translation: “Good-looking,” “hot,” “cute.”

20) Jive turkey

Meaning: A dishonest, unreliable, or generally ridiculous personan insult tied closely to ’70s culture.
It’s comedic, but it’s still an insult, so deploy carefully.
Use it like: “He promised he’d help and disappeared. Classic jive turkey behavior.”
Modern translation: “Clown,” “faker,” “all talk.”

21) Deep-six

Meaning: To get rid of something; to scrap a plan; to toss it entirely.
Use it like: “Let’s deep-six that idea and start overpreferably with snacks.”
Modern translation: “Cancel,” “ditch,” “scrap.”

22) Book (as slang)

Meaning: To leave quickly; to take off in a hurry.
Use it like: “The line doubled, so we booked before my patience filed a complaint.”
Modern translation: “Bounce,” “dip,” “head out fast.”

23) Dig / I dig it

Meaning: To like, understand, or appreciate something (old-fashioned slang vibe).
Use it like: “Minimalist design with big sound? I dig it.”
Modern translation: “I’m into it,” “I get it,” “I like that.”

24) Keep on truckin’

Meaning: Keep going; push forward; stay resilient. The phrase became iconic in ’70s pop cultureespecially through
the counterculture art tied to Robert Crumb’s “Keep on Truckin’.”
Use it like: “It’s been a week, but we’re still here. Keep on truckin’.”
Modern translation: “Keep going,” “you’ve got this.”

Quick “Drop-It-In” Phrases for Texts & Real Life

Want to sprinkle in disco-era slang without turning your group chat into a time machine? Try these low-risk,
high-reward lines:

• “Right on.” (Agreeing without writing an essay.)
• “That’s groovy.” (Compliment that feels like sunshine.)
• “Total bummer.” (Sympathy, but still casual.)
• “I dig it.” (Approval with retro charm.)
• “Hang loose.” (Calm-down energyfriendly, not bossy.)
• “Let’s boogie.” (Works for dancing… and also leaving.)
• “Do me a solid.” (Best used with a tiny favor request.)

Common Mistakes (AKA How to Avoid Instant Secondhand Embarrassment)

• Don’t stack slang. “Right on, groovy, far out, out of sight!” is not a sentenceit’s a disco medley.
• Don’t use insults as a “joke” with strangers. Terms like “jive turkey” can land wrong if the relationship isn’t there.
• Don’t use police slang casually around serious topics. “The fuzz” is fine in a movie quote moment, not during real-world conversations with stakes.
• Don’t force it at work. Unless your team culture is super relaxed, keep it to light moments (“groovy” in a Slack reaction, not a legal memo).

Real-Life “Try It” Experiences: Adding ’70s Slang to Your Week (About )

If you’re curious how this vocabulary actually feels in the wild, here’s a simple “slang sampler” you can run over
a week. Think of it like trying hot sauce: start with a drop, not a full bottle.

Day 1: The Low-Stakes Text Test

Begin in the safest environment known to humanity: a casual text. When someone shares good newsnew job, new haircut,
a successful grocery run where they didn’t forget the one thing they went in forreply with “Right on!”
or “That’s groovy.” You’ll notice something immediately: these phrases sound cheerful without being
overly emotional. They’re upbeat, quick, and they don’t demand a whole follow-up conversation (which is the true
luxury in modern communication).

Day 2: The Compliment Upgrade

Try “funky” as a compliment for styleshoes, a jacket, a bold phone case, even a playlist. The key is
tone: say it like you mean “distinctive and cool,” not “mysterious smell in the fridge.” If you want extra safety,
pair it with a modern anchor: “That jacket is funkyin the best way.” People tend to laugh, and laughter is basically
social permission.

Day 3: The Food & Money Moment

The next time you see a price that feels like it came with hidden fees and a personal insult, drop “That’s a
rip-off” or “My bread can’t support this lifestyle.” These land well because they’re
expressive but not dramatic. Bonus: “bread” is playful enough that it often gets a callback like “Same, my wallet is
on a diet.”

Day 4: The Friend Favor

Ask a small favor with “Do me a solid.” It’s friendly, direct, and slightly nostalgic. Keep the favor
truly small“Do me a solid and grab napkins”so it feels light, not demanding. If you try it with a huge request
(“Do me a solid and help me move a refrigerator”), you may discover a new ’70s term: silence.

Day 5: The Relaxation Cue

When you’re winding down, tell a friend “I’m going to kick back” or “Just going to
hang loose tonight.” It signals rest without sounding like you’re announcing a life crisis. This is
where ’70s slang shines: it’s chill by design.

Day 6–7: The Party/Dance Finale

If you’re going outor even just cooking dinner with musicuse “Let’s boogie.” It’s goofy in a good
way, and it practically forces the mood to lighten. By the end of the week, you’ll likely have two realizations:
(1) the best slang is the kind that makes people smile, and (2) moderation is everything. A little retro seasoning
goes a long way.

Conclusion

’70s slang is basically a fun set of verbal accessories: you don’t need the whole outfit, just one piece that fits.
Start with the classicsgroovy, right on, bummer, I dig it
and use them where your personality already lives: casual conversations, playful texts, weekend plans, and any moment
that could use a tiny splash of disco sparkle. Keep it natural, keep it kind, and you’ll sound less like a parody
and more like someone who knows that language is supposed to be fun.