Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

In the gnarly world of far-out slang, only 'cool' is still groovy
Post Star ^ | 1/30/2006 | Larry Neumeister

Posted on 02/11/2006 6:14:22 AM PST by JusticeTalion

NEW YORK (AP) -- Groovy is over, hip is square, far out is long gone. Don't worry, though -- it's cool.

"Cool" remains the gold standard of slang in the 21st century, as reliable as a blue-chip stock, surviving like few expressions ever in our constantly evolving language. It has, despite the pressures of staying relevant and trendy, kept its cool through the centuries -- even as its meaning changed drastically.

How cool is that?

Way cool, say experts who interpret words and slang for their messages about society.

"Cool is certainly a charter member for the slang hall of fame," says Robert Thompson, a Syracuse University professor of popular culture. "Cool just sits back and keeps getting used generation after generation and lets the whole history of the language roll off its back."

(Excerpt) Read more at poststar.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: cool; groovy; language; slang
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-67 next last
God bless our troops wherever they may be.
1 posted on 02/11/2006 6:14:25 AM PST by JusticeTalion
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: JusticeTalion

Kool.


2 posted on 02/11/2006 6:17:06 AM PST by kjo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JusticeTalion
Kuel.
3 posted on 02/11/2006 6:21:44 AM PST by cowboyway (My heroes have always been cowboys.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JusticeTalion

Sweet.


4 posted on 02/11/2006 6:22:06 AM PST by XR7
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JusticeTalion

"Dude" has also had an impressive run


5 posted on 02/11/2006 6:22:22 AM PST by McBuff
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JusticeTalion

Kewl.


6 posted on 02/11/2006 6:23:31 AM PST by WIladyconservative (Can't find a suitable exercise video for my age; they don't have one called "Buns of Putty.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JusticeTalion

Steve McQueen.


7 posted on 02/11/2006 6:23:42 AM PST by bvw
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JusticeTalion

Quewl.


8 posted on 02/11/2006 6:24:29 AM PST by P-Marlowe
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JusticeTalion

Real cool daddy-o


9 posted on 02/11/2006 6:24:56 AM PST by 8mmMauser (Jezu ufam Tobie...Jesus I trust in Thee)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JusticeTalion

Tender.


10 posted on 02/11/2006 6:25:01 AM PST by humblegunner (If you're gonna die, die with your boots on.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JusticeTalion

Über-cool...


11 posted on 02/11/2006 6:25:12 AM PST by Kurt_Hectic (Trust only what you see, not what you hear)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JusticeTalion
"Cool" is at the root of all the (c)rap stars with "Ice" in their names: Ice T, Ice Cube, Vanilla Ice ...

Nuthin' "cooler" than ice, dontcha know ...

12 posted on 02/11/2006 6:26:18 AM PST by IronJack
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: IronJack
"Nuthin' "cooler" than ice, dontcha know ..."

Until a rapper comes out called something like LN2 Big Daddy.

13 posted on 02/11/2006 6:30:25 AM PST by Tench_Coxe
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: JusticeTalion

Word.


14 posted on 02/11/2006 6:30:54 AM PST by finnman69 (cum puella incedit minore medio corpore sub quo manifestu s globus, inflammare animos)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JusticeTalion

Cool's wide range of meaning other than the opposite of warm has mostly a positive connotation--pleasantly amusing, not angry. And that is cool.

But the top slang word of the 20th century has to be gay, which is seldom used anymore to mean the opposite of sad. Now gay is sometimes used as a mild pejoritive. And that is cool.



15 posted on 02/11/2006 6:31:09 AM PST by cloud8
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tench_Coxe

Then LHe will come out to outcool him.


16 posted on 02/11/2006 6:31:45 AM PST by drlevy88
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: JusticeTalion

Hawt.


17 posted on 02/11/2006 6:32:27 AM PST by drlevy88
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: McBuff
"Dude" has also had an impressive run"


Ever see the Iraq video of a bunch (30 or so) enemy troops getting blasted to bits by a bomb dropped by a US pilot?

The enemy gets scattered like bowling pins and one can hear over the radio the pilots comment (a good Beevis and Butthead imitation)...."AAAAWWWWWWWWWW DDDuuuuuuuuuuuuuuudddeee"

Absolutely hysterical even in light of the killing of others.
18 posted on 02/11/2006 6:33:01 AM PST by taxed2death (A few billion here, a few trillion there...we're all friends right?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: taxed2death
Ever see the Iraq video of a bunch (30 or so) enemy troops getting blasted to bits by a bomb dropped by a US pilot?

Dude, that was hot.

19 posted on 02/11/2006 6:36:00 AM PST by P-Marlowe
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: JusticeTalion

I grew up during the 60's and wouldn't have been caught using the word 'groovy'. That would have been tantamount to using the Lord's name in vain.

But I do enjoy using 'groovy' around children. They think its hysterical!


20 posted on 02/11/2006 6:37:13 AM PST by Mrs. Shawnlaw (Rock beats scissors, don't run with rocks. NRA)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-67 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson