Language is always changing, but some slang sticks around for a very long time. These words caught on because they sounded good, they named something everyone recognized, or they were used by people with loud voices like actors, sailors, or writers.
Over years and sometimes centuries, their meanings shifted a bit, but they kept enough of their flavor to stay useful.
This post looks at everyday slang that has lived a long life. Some of the terms started in taverns, ships, or markets. Some grew out of jokes or stage shows. Others were lifted into newspapers and spread from there.
What they have in common is that they do a job people still need. They let us praise, tease, dismiss, or describe with a single memorable word.
You will find short, plain explanations for each word, a quick line that sums up the meaning, and a short example to show how people use it today.
Slang tells stories about where we have been and how we talk now. Read on to meet words that survived the ages, and maybe try one out in conversation today.
SlangWise Tip: Use these words with a touch of respect for their history, and they will add color without sounding forced.
Table of Contents
27 Slangs we still use from centuries ago
1. Cool
Once a plain word for temperature, cool grew into a way to praise calm style and quiet confidence. Musicians, writers, and performers spread it through clubs, recordings, and interviews, and the word stuck because it names a feeling people want to show.
Cool works for people, outfits, music, ideas, and attitudes. It is short, flexible, and friendly, so it travels across generations.
When you call something cool you give it soft approval that feels casual and sincere rather than loud or forced.
In short: good or stylish.
Example: “That jacket is cool.”
2. Nab
Nab means to grab or catch quickly and it sounds immediate and physical. It came from street and criminal speech then moved into everyday talk and headlines because it reads tight and vivid.
People nab bargains, seats, snacks, and sometimes suspects, and the verb fits actions that happen fast. The word is useful in playful and serious tones alike because it carries motion.
Nab keeps conversations quick and concrete, and it works in short reporting where you want to show action without long phrasing.
In short: grab quickly
Example: “She nabbed the last slice.”
3. Bunk
Bunk is a short way to say that something is nonsense or empty talk. It comes from the older word bunkum and became popular in public debate where people wanted a neat put down.
The charm of bunk is that it feels blunt but not angry, useful when you want to dismiss a claim without long argument. It moves easily from casual chat to written opinion.
Because calling something bunk is both direct and light, the word stays handy whenever truth is under debate.
In short: nonsense
Example: “That excuse is bunk.”
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4. Cheesy
Cheesy started out tied to the food cheese but moved into meaning tacky or overly sentimental. The image of something that tastes cloying helps people judge movies, songs, acts, and gestures that feel insincere or corny.
Cheesy is handy because it sums up a feeling about style and emotion in one short word. People use it when they want to laugh at excess or point out that something tries too hard to be moving or funny.
The word is familiar and easy to say in many settings.
In short: tacky or too sentimental
Example: “That rom com was cheesy.”
5. Scuttlebutt
Scuttlebutt once named the water barrel sailors used, where gossip flowed along with drinking cups. From that literal scene the term came to mean informal rumor or workplace chatter.
Scuttlebutt carries an image of a small group passing news in whispers, and that picture helps it survive as a colorful alternative to bland words like rumor. It is useful when you want to suggest insider talk or casual hearsay.
The term keeps a playful link to its maritime past while fitting modern social life.
In short: rumor or inside talk
Example: “What is the scuttlebutt on the merger?”
6. Gossip
Gossip evolved from an old word for close companions into the everyday act of talking about other people. Across centuries gossip moved from private chat to public columns and online feeds because people are drawn to stories about personal lives.
The word remains central because sharing news about friends, neighbors, and famous people meets social needs for belonging and information.
Gossip can be kind or cruel, playful or harmful, but its survival shows how human communities use talk to shape trust, status, and entertainment.
In short: talking about others.
Example: “Stop spreading gossip about her.”
7. Hanky panky
Hanky panky is a rhyming phrase that means trickery or playful sexual mischief. It began in traveling shows and performance spaces where comic acts and clever scams mixed with flirtation.
The phrase is light in tone and flexible in use so it can warn against shady deals or wink at romantic antics. Hanky panky keeps a theatrical feel, which helps it sound cheeky rather than crude.
People choose it when they want to soften a charge or joke about behavior that is sly or a little naughty.
In short: shady trick or flirt
Example: “No hanky panky in this deal.”
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8. Bum
Bum originally labeled a vagrant or idle person but then grew into several uses, some blunt and some affectionate. In the past it described poverty and street life during large social change, and that history gave the word strong emotional weight.
Over time it picked up playful senses like music bum or film bum, where it names someone who loves a thing.
The word survives because it can show pity, insult, or fondness depending on tone, making it a flexible tool in everyday speech.
In short: idle person or playful label
Example: “He is a film bum.”
9. Flabbergasted
Flabbergasted is a comic sounding word from the eighteenth century that captures utter shock and amazement.
Its theatrical voice helped it travel from stage scripts into everyday language where people want to express big surprise without sounding stiff.
Saying flabbergasted gives a sentence a bright, dramatic feel and signals emotion more theatrical than calm.
Because people still enjoy colorful ways to react aloud, the word keeps being used to mark moments that genuinely stun or delight, especially when you want to be clear and lively.
In short: very Surprised
Example: “I was flabbergasted by the news.”
10. Blooper
Blooper came into use around sports commentary and broadcasting to name those harmless mistakes that make people laugh. The word feels light and forgiving, so it fits outtakes, slips, and pratfalls that amuse rather than harm.
Television and movies made blooper reels a staple, and the internet turned them into shareable content.
Blooper helps us point at human error with a smile and reminds us that mistakes can be entertaining. Its popularity reflects a lasting appetite for seeing people be fallible and funny.
In short: funny Mistake
Example: “They showed the blooper reel after the movie.”
11. Pal
Pal is a compact, friendly word for a friend or companion that works across tones and ages. It likely moved from regional speech into wider use as city life created new casual social bonds.
Pal is brief and warm so it fits greetings, small favors, and teasing remarks. Depending on tone it can be sincere or sarcastic, which makes it versatile in conversation.
Because friendship is central to social life, pal remains useful as a quick label that signals closeness without heavy language or formal tone.
In short: friend or Companion
Example: “Come on pal, help me move.”
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12. Ragamuffin
Ragamuffin began as a vivid label for a scruffy, often poor child in tattered clothes, and literature helped keep it alive. Writers used it to show charm mixed with hardship, and that mixture made the word more affectionate over time.
Today ragamuffin often describes someone lovable but messy rather than a real social condition.
The term survives because it paints a strong picture and carries a gentle irony, letting speakers note rough appearance with warmth rather than raw judgment.
In short: scruffy but endearing Person
Example: “That little ragamuffin climbed the fence.”
13. Codswallop
Codswallop is a playful British term for nonsense that sounds a little silly and therefore softens the blow of disagreement. Its roots are not clear but the phrase caught on because it feels comic and memorable.
Saying codswallop lets people reject an idea without heavy insult, which is handy in casual debate and humorous writing.
The word’s sound helps it stick in the ear, and that memorability keeps it useful when you want to call out rubbish with a wink rather than anger.
In short: rubbish or Nonsense
Example: “That theory is codswallop.”
14. Old hat
Old hat describes something outdated or too familiar in a neat visual way, since hats used to be central to fashion and identity.
The slang phrase moves easily from clothing to ideas and methods, signaling that something feels worn out and predictable.
Because it is polite and clear, old hat is useful in reviews, commentary, and casual chat when you want to suggest change without harshness.
The image behind the phrase helps it remain understandable even when hats are less common in everyday life.
In short: outdated or Predictable
Example: “Those tactics are old hat.”
15. Shindig
Shindig names a lively party or gathering and carries a slightly retro, cheerful tone that makes it fun for community events. It came from regional words for celebration and stayed because it sounds upbeat and friendly.
Calling a bash a shindig suggests music, food, and a relaxed crowd rather than a formal event.
The word fits invitations, event write ups, and casual mentions among friends. Its charm is in the sound and the feeling of shared, noisy good times that it brings to mind.
In short: party or Celebration
Example: “We are having a shindig this weekend.”
16. Dude
Dude began as a mocking label for a city dressed fellow and later became a flexible, casual term of address or greeting. It can mean friend, express surprise, or soften a command depending on tone.
The word dude gained wide reach through popular culture and everyday speech and now moves across ages with varied feeling. Saying dude can create instant informality and shared vibe, especially in friendly groups.
Its easy sound and multiple uses keep it useful in speech and online chat.In short: friend or casual addressExample: “Hey dude, you coming?”
17. Mate
Mate is a standard term for friend or companion across Britain and many Commonwealth countries, and it also works politely with strangers.
The word carries warmth and directness so it can show support, agreement, or mild challenge based on context. Mate is useful at work and in casual life because it names social connection without fuss.
It grew with urban and working communities where short friendly language mattered, and its survival owes to that steady, everyday usefulness across many types of conversation.
In short: friend or Companion
Example: “Nice one mate.”
18. Skedaddle
Skedaddle paints a picture of a sudden quick exit and it sounds playful and hurried, which makes it useful for light commands and comic scenes.
The term rose in the nineteenth century and caught on in American speech where it described scattering or running off fast. Skedaddle fits situations with sudden change like storms, alarms, or awkward moments, and its jaunty rhythm keeps it lively.
People use it when they want to tell others to move fast without sounding forceful or rude.
In short: run away First
Example: “When the rain started, we skedaddled.”
19. Grub
Grub moved from meaning to dig to meaning food, and its rough, plain sound makes it a perfect casual word for eating. People say grab some grub rather than use fancier culinary terms because grub feels homey and unpretentious.
The word covers snacks, full meals, and comfort food, and it works well among friends and family.
Its durability comes from being useful in everyday life when people seek something simple to eat and want a short familiar phrase to name it.
In short: Food
Example: “Let us get some grub.”
20. Bonkers
Bonkers describes someone or something wildly silly or crazy in a playful way, often with affection rather than cruelty.
It rose in modern English and became popular because it gives a light, comic way to remark on odd behavior or wild ideas. Bonkers lets speakers react strongly without sounding mean, and it fits both surprise and deep enthusiasm.
The sound of the word helps it feel breezy, which makes it useful in casual speech and headlines seeking a fun twist.
In short: silly or crazy
Example: “That plan is bonkers.”
21. Kudos
Kudos borrows a Greek root to give a short way to offer praise or credit in modern speech. It reads cleaner and slightly more formal than some slang praise words, so it works well in office notes, public thanks, and conversation.
Saying kudos signals recognition without long explanation and fits many achievements from small wins to bigger projects.
Its compactness and tone of respect let it survive where people want to acknowledge effort quickly and politely in both spoken and written form.
In short: praise or Credit
Example: “Kudos on the article.”
22. To do
To do names a fuss or event that becomes a noticeable bother or public matter. The phrase covers drama and planned activities that seem larger than they need to be, and it works when people want to point to noise or complication.
To do is useful in gossip, reporting, and casual complaint because it signals social attention rather than technical detail.
It remains relevant because human life creates small storms and gatherings and people need a short way to label those moments of fuss and fussing.
In short: fuss or event
Example: “What is the to do about the meeting?”
23. Ballyhoo
Ballyhoo means loud, showy publicity and it carries an image of carnival style hype and shouting. The term came from show business and stuck because it names the noise around promotion that can feel excessive.
Calling something ballyhoo suggests exaggerated excitement or marketing that promises more than it delivers. The word is useful for critics, writers, and consumers who want to flag oversell without heavy moralizing.
Its theatrical feel keeps it handy when describing attention grabbing stunts and noisy campaigns.
In short: noisy Publicity
Example: “All that ballyhoo did not help sales.”
24. Blarney
Blarney refers to smooth flattering talk that charms without dealing in hard truth, rooted in Irish lore and political speech. The word suggests clever verbal softening, where a speaker avoids blunt facts with gentle persuasion.
Blarney survived because flattering language has long been part of public life and social bargaining. It fits politics, sales, and small talk when someone wants to win favor or deflect a question.
Using blarney suggests the speaker is clever and likable, even if they are not being fully direct.
In short: smooth flattering talk.
Example: “He used blarney to charm the crowd.”
25. Scallywag
Scallywag is a lively label for someone cheeky or roguish, soft enough to feel playful rather than mean. It began in nautical and regional speech to name minor troublemakers and then moved into general chat where it labels lovable mischief.
The sound carries a bit of affection, so people employ scallywag for children and friends who bend rules without harm.
Because it is both image rich and mild in tone, scallywag survives as a useful way to name character and behavior that is tricky but not cruel.
In short: playful rascal
Example: “That little scallywag stole my hat.”
26. Gaffe
Gaffe names a public blunder or awkward mistake in speech or action, a slip that causes embarrassment. The word came from other languages and fits modern life where media and public life make slips visible.
Calling something a gaffe helps surface an error and often invites a quick correction or apology. It is useful for journalists, commentators, and friends because it points to human fallibility in a direct way that prompts repair.
The term endures because mistakes keep happening and people need a neat word to describe them.
In short: public mistake or blunder
Example: “The mayor’s gaffe made headlines.”
27. Pip
Pip began as a small seed or mark and evolved into a short word meaning a standout person or a narrow and exciting victory. It travels well in casual praise and in sporting talk where to pip someone means to beat them by a little.
Pip has a crisp sound that makes it satisfying in moments of close finish or sudden praise. People use pip when they want a quick, lively way to mark a bright moment or tight success without long explanation.
In short: standout or narrow win
Example: “She piped him at the finish.”
Why these slang terms endure
Across this list, clear patterns show why these words survived for so long. They describe feelings and situations that every generation understands, such as wonder, mischief, gossip, or friendship.
Many have sounds that stay in the mind, through rhyme, rhythm, or lively imagery. Cultural channels like theatre, printed stories, radio, film, and social platforms continued to spread them.
Most of these words also shifted gently in meaning over time, allowing them to fit new settings, playful moods, serious remarks, or friendly conversations.
How to use these words with taste
Using old slang well is mostly about balance and awareness. Some of these terms feel warm and humorous, while others can land sharply if used in the wrong situation.
A little knowledge of their roots helps you avoid misunderstandings or unkind tones. Blend them with modern phrasing so they sound fresh rather than forced.
Save the more colorful expressions for moments when personality adds value, not for formal writing or technical reports where clarity needs to take the lead.
Quick summary
- Old slang survives when it fills a real need, sounds memorable, and is shared by storytellers and communities.
- Many words shifted meaning slowly, moving from literal objects or jobs to feelings, judgments, or jokes.
- Use these words with care, so you honor their history while keeping your writing fresh and human.
Conclusion
Language carries memory. These 27 slang words show how small, vivid phrases can travel from taverns, ships, stages, and street corners into our daily talk. Each word survived because it named a common feeling or scene, had a catchy sound, or was used by people who shaped culture. Keep them in your voice, not as costume pieces.