This skit was presented by Charles Schmuck, Dave Datz, Rich Coakley and John Poimiroo at the Class of ’65 50th Reunion.  It is based on real slang (identified in italics) used during the early 1960s.  No insult was or is intended. Though exaggerated, these are actual words and expressions we used.

BHS Skit – They Haven’t Changed At All

Charles – Hey Dave, what’s new?

Dave – Hi, I was just on Burlingame Avenue and ran into Rich Coakley and John Poimiroo.

Charles – Oh, yeah? I haven’t seen them in years.

Dave – Well, you haven’t missed much. They haven’t changed at all.

Charles – Oh really?

Dave – Yeah, here’s what I overheard.

(Rich AND John APPROACH THE MIC)

Rich – Gimme some skin, John

John – Back at ya, Rich (BOTH Rich AND John SHAKE HANDS)

Rich – I saw you cruisin’ the El Camino, last night. Looks like you were still driving Daddy’s car. I was gonna hang a BA at you, but I saw your main squeeze was in the birth control seat and in the back seat… // was that a couple of ankle biters I saw?

John – Yeah, my old lady and I were heading back to our pad and playing perdiddle with our kids’ rug rats. One of them just scored a periwinkle. It was a gas. We had just come from pigging out on swampwater at Hasty Tasty, or whatever they call it now.

Rich – Bad, man. (NODS KNOWINGLY) // You know, some time back, I went ape when the dork who bought the place turned it into a donut shop.

John – Yeah, that made me barf, too. When we were back at Blingum that was theeeee place for gut waddin. My idea of lunch was scarfing down a deluxe cheeseburger dripping with their famous…

(Both Rich and John, together WHILE EACH CLENCHING FISTS TOGETHER AND LOOKING SKYWARD) …secret sauce!

(Both Rich and John, together while slugging each other on the shoulder)… Jinx, you owe me a coke!

Rich – Geez, man doing Jinx at the same time puts the kibosh on ever winning that game. Besides, you owe me about a million cokes by now.

John – You kissee, fink-faced, panty-waist, greaser wearing ivy leaguers. Stop your lip flappin. You owe me just as many cokes.

Rich – Kings X (SAYS WHILE HOLDING UP HANDS AND LOOKING SKYWARD)

John – Double X (MAKES THE SAME GESTURE)

Rich – Double, double X

John – I double your double X and double that, too. // Hey meat, lay it on me. I heard you were on the make with that sosh fox you were dating. What’s the rap?

Rich – Well, you heard right. She was a righteous paper shaker from Mills, but some raunchy rat fink from Mateo was scheming on her. Then, I heard someone spied her swapping spit with him as he copped a feel – cause, truth be known, she was eee-zee. After that, I felt shafted, got hacked, stood her up and beat feet. Since then, I just shine her on.

John – Wasn’t she the one who put pink mirror warmers on your crop duster of a lead sled?

Rich – (SAID IN A FALSELY HURT TONE) Climb it, Tarzan. My wheels weren’t that groady. // They were boss, primo actually. They had a necker’s knob, dingle balls all around, tufted seats in red and white naugahyde, glasspacks and one gnarly rake… // I tell you man, they were sano.

John – I heard it was a skuzz bucket of a bean wagon that you won, racing for pinks.

Rich – What’s your bag, man? I should give you a wedgie for that. // No way, Jose. They’re way hotter than the stone of a slug bug you drive. I’d say smoke ‘em, spaz, but I know your ride can’t. Your tin can is useless, particularly at the submarine races.

John – I swear to buddah, the tail dragger I’m driving scores every time I go trollin’ for chicks. And whether I take ‘em to the passion pit or swordfish fights, I get on base.

Rich – In your dreams, Dip stick. You’d have better luck booking out in a deuce with three on the tree and a horny skag riding shotgun, than in what you’re steering. In that bug, you couldn’t get a hickie from a stoned slut with toys in the attic.

John – Bitchin. (NODS HEAD KNOWINGLY AND SMILES)

Rich – Bitchin. (NODDING HIS HEAD)

John – Bitchin. (NODDING HIS HEAD)

Rich – Later, man.

John – Later.

The following slang expressions were used during the 1960s.  Some were carried into the ’60s from the hip and beat slang of the 1950s, while others were wholly born in the ’60s.  Many are have now become vernacular to American English.

 

A Gas

A lot of fun.

 

All show and no go.

Referenced to a car that had all the pretty chrome goodies, but wouldn’t get out of its own way.  Also means someone who looks good, but has no substance. 

 

Ape

Used with “Go”, “Gone” or “Went”. To explode or go completely irate. Example: “When my parents saw my report card, they went ape.”

 

BA

Bare Ass

 

Bad

Awesome.

 

Badass

A tough guy. A guy you really don’t want to mess with.

 

Bag

To Steal. Example: Who bagged my towel? ; also see Score
Also; “What’s your bag” meaning what’s your problem or where are you coming from.

 

Ball

To party, as in Little Richards “Good Golly Miss Molly, Sho Like To Ball”.
Later, it meant having intercourse.

 

Bean Wagon

A lowered-all-the-way-around, usually Hispanic-owned Chevy, but could be anything (derogatory).

 

Beat Feet

Leave the scene in a hurry.

 

BHS

Burlingame High School

 

Birth Control Seats

Bucket Seats

 

Bitchin(See also Twitchin’)

Good, Exciting, Awesome.

 

Blast

A Great Time. Example: “We had a blast at the Prom”.

 

Blew the doors off

Easily beat the other car in a race.

 

Blingum

Slang for Burlingame High School

 

Blitzed

Drunk

 

Blown

A car engine that has a blower (supercharger) installed. Goes between the intake manifold and the carburetors/injectors. The blower made it go faster, which was always good.

 

Blue Flamer

Take a B.A. ( also in the slang section ) and add a big fart…then ignite it with a match..

 

Bogart

To “hog” something.

 

Bone Yard

Auto wrecking yard; Junk yard.

 

Boogie

See Cut Out

 

Book

Leave the area.

 

Bookin’

Going real fast, usually in a car.

 

Boss

A great or cool thing. Example: “The Beach Boys new record is really boss”.

 

Bread

Money

 

Brew (Brewski)

Beer

 

Brody

Also, Brody Out; To skid in a half circle with the brakes locked up.

 

Brody Knob

See “Suicide Knob”

 

Bucks

(See Saddle Bucks)

 

Bug

A Volkswagen Beetle

 

Bug out

Leave the premises

 

Bummed out

Depressed

 

Bummer, What a

How depressing

 

Burn Rubber

To accelerate hard spinning the tires, making noise, and billows of smoke come from the rear of the vehicle.

 

Candyass

A real wimp or an uncool thing.

 

Cat

A guy.

 

Cherry

Pristine, Totally Clean. Example: “That rod is cherry”!

 

Chick

A girl or a woman.

 

Chicken, To play

Two cars race toward each other; the first to pull to the side is the chicken (coward)

 

Chinese Fire Drill

Stop at a Red Light. Everyone on the Driver’s side would run around and get in on the Passenger’s side. Everyone on the Passenger’s side would run around and get in on the Driver’s side.

 

Choice

Really cool or bitchin. Example: “That girl with the tight sweater is really choice.”

 

Choose Off

To pick a fight or a race; as in, “John is going to choose-off Bob in a race for pinks”. Or, “Ralph chose-off Bertha after school and she kicked his butt.”

 

Chop

To cut down verbally.
Example: “Man, you’re so ugly, you gotta slip up on a glass to get a drink of water.” (Now that was a “chop”.)

 

Chopped

A section is cut out horizontally through the roof pillars of a car to lower the roof.

 

Chrome Dome

A bald guy (derogatory).

 

Church Key

Before poptops, a Beer or Soda can was opened with one of these.

 

Circus Wagon

A car, usually lowered, with an outlandish paint job, but in lousy shape, mechanically.

 

“Climb it, Tarzan”

An act of defiance. Said while giving someone “the bird”.

 

Coke, 1, 2, 3…

What you shout when you and someone else says the exact same thing at the exact same moment, then you begin counting until the other person says, “stop!”   The number you reach is the number of Cokes the other person owes you, only no one ever paid up.

 

Cool

Nice.

 

Cool Head

Nice Guy

 

Cooties

Someone who wasn’t cool had them. No one ever saw them, but you knew who had them.  “He gives me the cooties,” means he makes me uncomfortable.  “Get your cooties off me,” means leave me alone.  One of the beauties of “cooties” was that it was so versatile an expression of revulsion.

 

Cop a Feel

Touch a girl’s “breasts”, sometimes pretending it was an accident

 

Copasetic

Very good; all right, as in no problems. Example: Everything is copasetic.

 

Crash

Go to bed; go to sleep.

 

Crop Duster

A car with loud glass packs.

 

Cruising

Driving up and down the same street looking for races, girls, guys, etc.

 

Cut Offs

Blue jeans that were made into shorts (usually after the knees gave out) by cutting off the pant legs above the knees.

 

Cut Out

To leave without ceremony. As in, “Bob, this party is a drag. I’m gonna cut out.”

 

Cut Outs

Additions to the exhaust system that would let you open the exhaust pipe in front of the muffler to let the engine breathe easier, thus adding horsepower and a whole lot of noise.

 

Daddy-O

A ’50s term for a male acquaintance.   It was definitely passé by the ’60s.

 

Daddy’s Car

A car that was very conservative looking; that might be owned by your parents.

 

Dagoed

To lower a car in the front (derogatory). (See Rake)

 

Decked

A term used to indicate that the trunk handle had been removed, the holes filled, sanded smooth and primed. (See Nosed)

 

Decked Out

Dressed up.

 

Deuce

A 1932 Ford. As in, “She’s my Little Deuce Coupe, you don’t know what I got”.

 

Dibs

Most always used with “Got”. Example: I “got dibs” on that Coke bottle. Meaning you owned that Coke bottle.

 

Dig

Do you understand?

 

Ditz

An Idiot

 

Don’t Flip Your Wig

See “Don’t have a Cow”.

 

Don’t have a Cow

Used when someone was “going ape” or perhaps being a “spaz.” Example: “I took your book by mistake, so don’t have a cow about it!”  (Considered to be offensive by our parents’ generation, but which of these terms weren’t?).

 

Don’t Sweat It

Don’t worry about it; stop bothering me

 

Drag

To race another car a short distance (sometimes one block, sometimes two or three blocks) from a standing start at a stoplight when the light turned green. The term originally comes from the phrase “main drag”, a combination of “main” or main street in town, and “drag” which referred to a car that was lowered in the back and dragged the ground if it hit a bump while racing or was just so low that it touched the ground if the street was not perfectly level.

 

A Drag

Someone or something that’s boring or un-enlightening.

 

Drawing Designs

Usually some guy looking a girl over REAL good. Example: Ron was really drawing designs on Carolyn at the party last night.

 

Duck Butt, Duck Tail or DA

A way of combing your hair in the back. Instead of combing your hair straight down in the back, you would comb both sides in towards the middle and then, with the end of the comb, part it down the middle.

 

Dude

In the ’60s, a dude was a geek or a panty waist.

 

Dweeb

An acronym for a “dick with eyebrows,” meaning an awkward, ineffectual loser.

 

Easy

Another way of saying Goodbye. Example: “Easy, Man!!”. Also a girl who was a sure thing, sexually. Example: That girl Bob took out last night was “Easy”.

El Stinko

Southern California slang for El Segundo, a city that stunk because of its refinery.  It referred to any low-class place with a bad smell. The phrase migrated north to be used as a general insult for anything offensive.

Fab

Great, fantastic, fabulous.

 

Far Out

Excellent, cool.

 

Fink

A tattletale. Example: “You’re such a fink. Why do you always tell mom everything I do?” (see Rat Fink)

 

Five Finger Discount

Anything obtained by theft.

 

Five-Oh-Two

Drunk Driving (502 was the State penal code number for the drunk driving infraction at that time)

 

Flake

A useless person. Someone who can’t be counted upon to perform as expected.

 

Flake Off

Leave me alone.  Alt., Get outta here.

 

Flat Top

A short hair cut, flat on top like an aircraft carrier.

 

Flat Top with Fenders

A flat top with long sides.

 

Flee the Scene

See Bug Out

 

Flip Flops

Thongs (that went on your feet).  Also called zories.

 

Flippers

Dodge Lancers or Olds Fiesta Hub Caps.

 

Four Eyes

Derogatory reference to someone who wears glasses

 

Flower Child

A hippie, usually female

 

Fox

An outstanding looking girl or woman.

 

Freak Out

Temporary loss of control due to an unpleasant event.

 

Fruit Loop

A loop attached to the back of a shirt, usually a button-down collared shirt (derogatory).

 

Funky

Neat, Cool; also gone bad. Example: I think that milk is funky.

 

“F**kin’ A”

The vulgar form of, “I concur”.

 

Fuzz

The Police

 

Get or Lay Rubber

To leave some rubber on the street while accelerating in a vehicle. A term used usually with first, second, third, or fourth gear.
Example: “Bob’s ’49 Ford is pretty fast. He can get second gear rubber.”

 

Gimme some skin

Shake hands

 

Ginchy

Sexually attractive.  Made famous by Ed Kookie Byrnes in the song, “Kookie, Kookie, lend me you comb”.  Usage: “Baby, you’re the Ginchiest!”

 

Go All The Way

Have sex with.

 

Going Steady

If you were “Going Steady”, you were dating only one special person.

 

Golden

See Cherry.

 

Gone

Cool, groovy, neat, neato; said of a person, as in He’s a real gone cat. Or you could say, I’m gone over him. (wowed, infatuated, totally sold on).

 

Gnarly

Originally a difficult or large wave (He wiped out on a gnarly wave),later anything big or difficult (The Chemistry test was gnarly.), then later an expletive of approval (That custom paint job is gnarly!)

 

Greaser

A guy that used too much grease in his hair. Usually “LB Butch Wax” or “Pomade”.  Greasers usually dressed like motorcycle gang members of the time: tight-legged jeans (black or dark blue, leather jackets, upturned collars).

 

Gremmie

A pre-teen surfer, usually inexperienced and stoked.

 

Groovy

Nice, “Cool” or Neat. Used commonly among hippies in the 60’s.

 

Groady (grow-dee):

A shortened version of grotesque. When we went to wash the car (by hand at the park) we wore our grotees. Also, someone’s dorm room if it was “trashed” out would be called groady.

 

Glasspacks

Mufflers that are packed with fiberglass to muffle the sound. They came in different lengths. The shorter the glasspacks, the louder the car.

 

Gutt Waddin’

Any type of cheap fast food, to fill you up and take the hunger away. Example:”I’m going to the Hasty Tasty to get some Gut Waddin.”

 

Hacked

Angry, disgusted, mad, ticked off, etc. Sometimes used in reference to parents. “My Old Man is really hacked at me about my grades….”

 

Hairy

Large; out of control. Example: “Check out the hairy slicks on that Chevy.

 

Hangin’

Awesome, Cool.

 

Hangin’ a B.A.

A car full of guys pulls up to another car (usually full of girls) and one of the guys pulls down his pants, bends over, and sticks his “bare ass” out the window.

 

Hang Loose

Relax; Take it easy.

 

Haulin (Ass)

See Bookin’

 

Hauls Ass

A car that really moves.
Example: “Since Ron put the new engine in his car, it really hauls ass!”

 

Heat

The Cops

 

Heavy

Deep, Cool, Chaotic, Sad, Controversial

 

Hep

With it. A person who understands the situation.

 

Hip

Very good,cool.

 

Hodad

A non-surfer, usually someone who just hangs around the beach.

 

Hog

A motorcycle (powerful); alt.: to not let anyone use something of yours

 

Hook

Steal

 

Hopped Up

See Souped Up

 

Hunk

What a girl would call a good looking guy

 

Hush Puppies

Popular, preppie suede shoes

 

Ivy Leaguers

A type of men’s chinos with no pleats, made of polished cotton, and with a buckle in the back. The pants were created by H.I.S. in 1955 and branded Ivy-Alls, a reference to Ivy Halls.

 

Jacked Up

To Raise the front end of a car. Done to transfer weight to the rear wheels for drag racing or just to make your car look cool.
Car shown with Collector Headers.

 

Jam

To leave the area, (See “Cut Out”)
Example: “Hey John, this party is going to get busted. I’m going to jam!”

 

Jazzed

Elated, Excited; “This is going to be a great reunion. I’m really jazzed about going.”

 

Jelly Roll

Another way of combing your hair. You comb it up and forward on both sides and bring it together in the middle of the forehead.

 

Jinx!  You Owe Me A Coke!

When two people said the same thing at the same time, one would slug the other on the shoulder and say “Jinx,” then, “You owe me a Coke.”  No one is ever known to have paid up.

 

Jump Bad

Looking for a fight – acting tough. As in “I think Jim was drunk last night, he tried to jump bad with everybody!”

 

Keen or Keen-o

Someone or something that was Cool.

 

Kibosh

To quickly put a stop to; Put the Kibosh on

 

Kipe

To steal.

 

Kissee

A cross between kiss-ass and sissy.

 

Kiss-up

The proverbial “Teachers Pet”. This person who would do anything to please the teacher.

 

Knocked Up

Pregnant

 

Kybo

The bathroom. Stood for Keep Your Bowels Open.

 

Later

Goodbye; See you later

 

Lay A Patch/Strip

To accelerate leaving a strip or patch of rubber behind on the road.  See “Lay Some Scratch.”

 

Lay it on me

Speak your piece.

 

Lay some scratch

To burn rubber in a vehicle. Also, Lay some rubber.  Example: That car is so powerful it can get second gear scratch.

 

Lead Sled

Lead was used prior to Bondo to fill in the holes and to do body work. A lead sled was a car that had extensive body fill work done with lead.

 

Light’em Up

See Burn rubber

 

Lip Flappin’

Talking about things of little importance.

 

Loaded

Intoxicated

 

Lowered

To drop a car all the way around. Car shown with Lake Pipes

Make Out

Usually a kissing session in a parked car at a Drive In or other secluded place.

 

Mangini Cut

A haircut, bald on top and trimmed all around.  Invented after a number of boys who let their hair grow too long in the fashion of the Beatles, were instructed by balding Vice Principle Vic Mangini to get their hair cut no longer than his.  The result was an uproarius day of laughter by students and faculty alike and a bunch of guys who were shaved bald, soon after.

 

Meanwhile Back At The Ranch

Used when someone who was telling a story would ramble off to another subject. So, the term was used by the listener to get the storyteller back on track. The term itself was no doubt linked to “the Western,” which was TV’s dominant genre in the late ’50s and early ’60s. Bonanza, Have Gun Will Travel, Rawhide, The Virginian and many more shows.

 

Meat

As in, “Hey, meat!”; A jocks term for “Guy” or “Man”

 

Melvin

See Wedgie; Example: “Jimmy the Fink was smarting off to Billy, so I sneaked up behind him and gave him a Melvin.”

 

Midnight Auto Supply

Car parts obtained through theft.

 

Mirror Warmer

Usually, a piece of pastel blue or pink cashmere that was attached to elastic and was placed around the perimeter of your inside rear view mirror. It was usually your girl friends idea.

 

Moon

To drop your pants, bend over, and show your bare butt. (See “Hangin a B.A.”)

 

Moons (Baby Moons)

Chrome hubcaps that were smooth and domed. They fit the inner part of the wheel, leaving room for beauty rings.

 

Neat (Neato)

Nice; Sharp

 

Nifty

Meaning “Cool” but usually said by someone who wasn’t.

 

Nosed

A term used to indicate that the hood ornament had been removed and the holes filled with bondo. The spot was sanded smooth and at least primed. (See Decked)

 

No Sweat

This poses no problem.

 

Old Lady

Your Mother.  It later came to mean your steady girl or wife.

 

Old Man

Your Father.

 

On the Make

Usually after a break up of steadies, a guy or girl who was “on the make” was looking very hard for a new mate.  Also, someone who’s looking for another someone, sexually.

 

Outta Sight

Fantastic, Awesome. Example: Hey Kathleen, that tie dyed top your wearing is “outta sight”.

 

Pad

Someone’s house. Example: There wasn’t much to do so we all hung out at John’s pad, drank Cokes and listened to records.

 

Perdiddle

A word “called” by someone that has just seen a car with one headlight. The caller then receives a kiss from the person of their choice.

 

Periwinkle

Same as a Perdiddle only it refers to a car with one tail light.

 

Pants

An activity where usually two or more boys physically remove the pants from another boy so as to cause him embarrassment in a group setting.

 

Panty Waist

A mama’s boy, wimp or geek.

 

Paper Shaker

Pom Pom Girl

 

Passion Pit

Drive-in Theater

 

Peel Out

(See Lay A Patch/Strip)

 

Peepers

Glasses

 

Peggers

A type of men’s pants, very similar to today’s dockers, but with a cuff.

 

Peg-leg Jeans

Blue jeans with very narrow cuffs, sometimes zippered so you can get your feet through the opening. As in, those jeans are pegged.

 

Penny Loafers

Low, step-in shoes without laces.  A penny would often be inserted in a flap above the arch. Boys would wear them without socks; girls, with knee socks.

 

PG

Pregnant

 

Pig

Cop

 

Pig Out

Over eat

 

Pin

To look hard at someone. Example: Hey Bob, That guy over there is really pinning you.  Also, to pin a girl was to give her a fraternity or club pin, indicating you were going steady.

 

Port Holer

’57 T-bird

 

Pound

If someone was going to beat up someone else you said he was going to “pound” the other person. For an example, Joe caught Jim with the hubcaps that he stole from Joe’s ’50 Merc last night. He’ll probably pound him after school.

 

Primo

First class.

 

Rake

Also “On a Rake”. To lower the front end of a car. (Shown with Scavenger pipes) Example: “Carl’s short has a bitchin’ rake.”

 

Race for Pinks

Also race for pink slips. Meaning two people race and the winner gets the others car.

 

Rags

Clothes

 

Rap

Talk

 

Rat Fink

Both a noun and a verb, to rat fink was to inform on someone and a rat fink was the worst kind of fink. (See Fink)

 

Raunchy

Raw, Rank, Disgusting

 

Real Gone Cat

Someone who marches to his own drummer. Example: The Fonz is a real gone cat.

 

Right On

I agree; I concur

 

Righteous

Extremely fine, beautiful. For us guys it was generally used when talking about the most important areas of our lives; cars and women.  Examples: “John’s got a righteous new paint job on his ’58 Chevy”. “Ron met this righteous babe down at 26th St.”.

 

Ripped Off

To have something stolen, or to have stolen something

 

Rule

As in, “Hodads Rule”; To take ownership of

 

Sad

An expression of disapproval. Example: “That cat is really sad.”

 

Saddle Bucks

Popular shoes (also called bucks) in which the toe and heel were a different color or material than the sides.

 

Sanitary

See Sano

 

Sano

Usually referring to someone’s car, or part of one’s car, as being pristine: “Ron did a sano job on his ’56 Chevy”.  Also, “Super Sano” (Very Pristine)

 

Scarf

To eat very fast. Example:”I’m going to scarf this hot dog”.

 

Scheming

When someone is really interested in the opposite sex. Example: “Jim is really scheming on Jill”

 

Score

To obtain something valuable or necessary; (Let’s go score some pizza.); Also to go all the way with a girl.

 

Scratch

Money

 

Screwed, Got

Cheated out of something

 

Screwed up

Made a mistake; messed up in the head; intoxicated

 

Sectioned

A section is cut out horizontally through the body of a car to give it a lower sleeker look.

 

Sex Pot

A sexy or seductive woman.

 

Shades

Sunglasses

 

Shag Ass

Let’s get out of here. Example: “Let’s shag ass before the cops get here.”

 

Shake it, Don’t Break it!

Said to a girl who had an awesome wiggle in her walk.

 

Short

Car.

 

Shotgun

A place of honor in the front seat of a car nearest the door. Usually reserved for the coolest guy in the group besides the driver of the car. If there is a doubt, before entering the car someone will call shotgun and then everyone will argue as to who actually will ride shotgun.

 

Skag

An ugly girl.

 

Skank

A slutty girl, usually a skag

 

Skanky

Gross, Disgusting

 

Skirt

Girl

 

Skuzz (scuzzy or skuzzy)

Lowdown; undesirable

 

Skuzz Bucket

An ugly car

 

Slut

A promiscuous girl

 

So Fine

Another cool or bitchin’ thing. “That girl in my science class is so fine”. Used in a variety of early rock and roll songs usually as follows:
“She’s so fine, she makes me want to blow my mind”.

 

Smoke ’em

“Let’s see you burn rubber”

 

Solid

Something that is ok or all right.

 

Sosh

Meaning a person who is stuck-up, snooty, and thinks they are better than everyone else.  Example: “That girl wearing those fuzzy bobby-sox is a real sosh!”
(Now, today, we know of course, that fuzzy bobby-sox DO indicate superiority.)

 

So Tough

See Tough

 

Souped Up

A car that’s had the engine modified to go fast. Example: “Bob really souped up his car. It did the quarter in 14.5 seconds!”

 

Spaz

Used as a put down, or to describe someone who was acting retarded or spasdic.

 

Specs

An abbreviation of “spectacles” (eyeglasses)

 

Split

See Cut Out

 

Sponge

One big need. Everything you get comes from those around you. AKA; bum. Also practiced by those who are so stingy as not to spend their own money. Someone who is always borrowing money or is always broke. A spongy person

 

Square

Someone who was not “Cool”. Example: “Jerry’s so square, all he does is his homework, watch TV, and he doesn’t even like Elvis!”   In previous generations, square meant honest, even-handed, fair.

 

Stacked

Being well endowed, “Upstairs” Example: “Wow, that girl is really stacked!!”

 

Steady

Dating only one boyfriend or girlfriend, as in “I’m going steady with Sally” (which means that while committed to Sally, you’re not engaged to be married, though probably heading that direction, at least in Sally’s mind)

 

Stoked (as in I’m stoked)

Excited

 

Stone

A car that’s pretty slow.

 

Stoned

Intoxicated

 

Stood Up

When a guy (or girl) didn’t show up for a date

 

Stuck Up

Conceited

 

Stud

See Hunk

 

Submarine Races

A place to park and make out.  Originated in So. Cal where teens would park facing the ocean and wait for the Submarines to start racing. Of course they couldn’t see submarines race, so while waiting, they’d make out…. until the insides of their lips were raw.

 

Suicide Knob

A knob placed on your steering wheel allowing you to drive with one hand, leaving the other free to put around your date.

 

 

Swamp Water

Half A&W Root Beer and half Orange Drink.

 

Swapping Spit

Those passionate, “get down and really into it”, French Kisses.

Swordfish Fights

See Submarine Races

 

Swear to Buddha

I guess we thought it was less irreverent than saying “I swear to God.”

 

Sweat Hog

A fat chick.

 

Sweat Parties

Intense physical exercise after school to make up a non suit (strip) .

 

Taco Wagon

See Bean Wagon (derogatory)

 

T Bucket

A hot rod made from a Model T Ford. A two seater, with lots of go. Norm Grabowski, Tommy Ivo, and Edd “Kookie” Burns made them famous on TV. They are still popular.

 

Teach

A Teacher

 

The B

The Burlingame B (school newspaper)

The Bird

The Finger

 

The Digs

The Drags

 

The Finger

An obscene gesture made with the middle finger extended and index and ring fingers bent to resemble an erect… well, if you don’t know where we’re going here, you’re a candyass dweeb.

 

The Most

Something that is the best or the greatest (Superbitchin’)

 

The Man

Police

 

Thicker than a five-dollar malt

Someone that’s not too bright. Back then, malts were only 30 cents!

 

Think Fast

It usually was used to tell you to get ready because someone was tossing you something.

 

Thongs

In the ’60s, thongs were beach sandals. Also called zories. (See Flip Flops)

 

Threads

Clothes

 

Three On The Tree

A car with a three speed manual transmission and the shifter on the steering column.

 

Tooling

To cruise or drive around without aim. As in: “There was nothing to do last night, so we just went tooling around.”

 

Tough or Tuff

Neat, cherry, great, bitchin’. – as in “Wow, she’s really a tuff chic!”

 

Trollin’

Cruising the El Caminio looking for girls. As in “Let’s go trollin’ for some chicks.”

 

Truckin

As in we’re “Truckin” over to Joe’s house to party, or Let’s “Truck” on over to Holly’s and scarf.

 

Twice Pipes

Dual Exhaust

 

Twitchin’

The word used instead of Bitchin’, around your parents

 

Uncorked

Running your car with the “Cut Outs” open.

 

Vic Stick

A disciplinary device employed by Vice Principal “Vic” Mangini. (Post comments in Bulletin Board)

 

Wedgees

A shoe style. The sole and heel were one piece and on the same plane.

 

Wedgie

When someone pulls your underwear up from the back and it ends up in the crack all on it’s own. Now they call it a thong and wear them on purpose.

 

Wet Willie

A trick played when someone wets their finger and puts it in your ear.

 

What’s Your Bag, Man?

What’s your problem; where are you coming from?

 

White Walls

White-walled tires.

 

Wicked

Term of Admiration. Example: “That Chevy is one wicked ride.”

 

Wiggin’ out

Going crazy

 

Wienie

An acceptable word for penis.  This was a word with multiple uses and meanings, each understandable in spoken context.  A chick might say, “He showed me his wienie.”  Clearly, his penis.  But, if she said, “He gave me the wienie,” the sentence’s meaning would change to mean her gave her a bad experience.  Here are others of its uses: “I got the wienie (similar to I got the shaft).” “The big wienie (jerk) didn’t show up for our date last night!” “I got grounded for coming in late!  Then things really got bad, it was the big wienie! (a negative experience or ‘bad scene’).” 

 

Wienie, Green

The “Green Wienie” was a really bad outcome, as in, “I got the green wienie.”  or “Let’s give him the green wienie.”  Both mean a bad experience, but in a lighthearted way.  There was a hint of humor in its use… an odd contradiction.

 

Wipe(d) out

Originally, to fall off a wave while surfing, later to crash one’s vehicle and severely damage it (He wiped his coupe out at the drags.), then later a term for extreme fatigue (I’m wiped out, I’m gonna crash.)

 

Wiz, Take a

Urinate

 

Woody

An erection.  Also, a wood-paneled station wagon (woody wagon) used to transport surfboards and surfers to and from the beach.

 

Zits

Pimples.

 

Zories

Flip flop sandals.

 

Copyright © 1997-2005 – John Baker – All Rights Reserved  Our thanks are expressed to the Hawthorne High School class of ’62, from which this list was expanded to include BHS expressions.