The Eighties in America - Salem Press (2009)

(Nandana) #1

 Glossary


This list is a representative collection of words and phrases that were either first used or gained prominence
during the 1980’s in the United States. (n. = noun; adj. = adjective; adv. = adverb; v. = verb; exp. = expression)


AIDS, n. The acronym for the disease acquired im-
munodeficiency syndrome.
airhead, n. An ignorant or foolish individual.
amped, adj. Excited.
anorexia nervosa, n. A serious eating disorder that
primarily afflicts teenage girls and young women
and involves self-starvation.


bag, v. To take or steal something.
barf bag, n. A very offensive person.
Barney, n. A male who is considered unattractive.
Beemer, n. A BMW automobile.
bimbette, n. A female who is considered either stu-
pid or sexually promiscuous.
Bite me, exp. An expression meaning “Kiss my ass.”
Black Monday, n. The day in October, 1987, when
the stock market plummeted more than five hun-
dred points.
bling, n. Luxurious items such as jewelry.
blood, n. Friendship.
blow off, v. To let pass or to skip.
bodacious, adj. Attractive.
boho, n. Someone who is considered to be an artist
or a bohemian.
bohunk, n. A very dumb athlete.
boink, v. To have sex.
bone, v. To engage in sexual activity.
boogie, v. To leave.
boom box, n. A portable stereo player.
boy toy, n. A good-looking male who is under the
control of an older woman.
bring-down, n. Sad news.
bro, n. A male relative or friend with whom someone
has established a close bond.
bulimia, n. A serious eating disorder that afflicts pri-
marily teenage girls and young women and in-
volves the gorging and purging of food.
bunk, adj. Nonsense or insincere bluster.
bust rocks, v. To exert oneself.
butt ugly, adj. Physically unattractive.


Cabbage Patch Kids, n. An extremely popular brand
of doll created by Xavier Roberts and manufac-
tured by Coleco.
camcorder, n. A portable video recording device.


cap, n. A bullet.
Care Bears, n. A popular set of characters created by
American Greetings that appeared on greeting
cards, on television, in feature films, and as
stuffed teddy bears.
CD, n. The acronym for compact disc.
CD-ROM, n. The acronym for compact disc read-
only memory.
cheese, n. Money.
cheesy, adj. Shabby or clichéd.
choice, adj. Very good.
chopper, n. A motorcycle that has been customized.
clock, v. To punch.
clydesdale, n. A large all-American male.
CNN, n. The acronym for Cable News Network.
cordless telephone, n. A portable telephone that
works through the use of radio waves.
couch potato, n. Someone who spends a great deal
of time watching television.
crack, n. A very addictive form of cocaine.
crackass, adj. Something that is considered to be
cheap.
crib, n. The place where someone lives.
crusty, adj. Filthy.
cyberpunk, n. A popular science-fiction genre that
primarily depicts alienated characters living in a
world of high technology.

dead presidents, n. Money.
deep shit, n. A lot of trouble.
deke, v. To fake a person out.
dickhead, n. Someone who is considered to be a fool.
dinero, n. Money.
dink, n. The acronym for dual income, no kids.
dipstick, n. Someone who is considered to be a fool.
dis, v. To say something offensive or disrespectful to
someone.
disposable cameras, n. Inexpensive cameras made
to be used only once.
do lunch, v. To make an appointment to have lunch.
Donkey Kong, n. A popular video game released by
Nintendo.
Don’t have a cow, exp. To ask someone to stay calm.
dork, n. Someone who does socially inappropriate
things.
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