<p>There are always going to be trendy expressions. I admit that the words “cool” and “neat” still slip out of my mouth as an expression of positive affirmation. Seems today’s words are “awesome” and “amazing”. Fine by me. Other current expressions are things like “wicked”, “gnarly”, “no worries” or “thats tight” . It is what it is.</p>
<p>That said, I find that people get standing ovations for nothing special. Now THAT is overdone.</p>
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<p>I’ve only heard “wicked” from some older cousins from the New England suburbs so it sounds a bit old-fashioned to my ears. “Gnarly” sounds like your stereotypical Californian expression. </p>
<p>One expression which really puzzled me is “cool beans” which one undergrad friend of a friend at Columbia U kept using.</p>
<p>My college freshman daughter’s new group of friends call themselves the “awesomes” I am ok with the word!!</p>
<p>“Wicked” is a term used by teens and younger adults to refer to something that is exceptionally good, as in “wicked good” or “wicked cool” or “wicked awesome”, as a mens of emphasis. Some older relatives use is probably different, They may be old fashioned, but the term as used today is trendy.</p>
<p>“Wicked” was an almost antiquated northern New England usage. It has apparently been taken up by others recently. </p>
<p>“Sick,” anyone?</p>
<p>“Stellar”? Overused on CC, IMHO. :)</p>
<p>In the late 70s, returning to live in England after a gap of almost 10 years, I noticed that EVERYONE was using the phrase “over the moon.” Never heard it during my school days.</p>
<p>I have seen/heard 20 year olds resurrecting the word “rad”. I believe this is a hipster thing. And I can’t believe that I just typed this.</p>
<p>Oh my god! Like seriously? Really? </p>
<p>As if we dont have enough crap going on in this world now dudes are even dissing freakin positive thingies. The complaint is an epic fail.</p>
<p>At the end of the day there are more serious issues to tackle, like, you know starving children in Africa and umm the London whale. Just saying.</p>
<p>Going forward, its better to be so stoked about stuff cuz what you are saying is so uncool dude.</p>
<p>My bad if I totally seem gay to you. But whatever .</p>
<p>Krlilies, that was awesome.</p>
<p>That was the bee’s knees, Krillies.</p>
<p>I don’t mind these words and use them myself.</p>
<p>Your showing your age. </p>
<p>The deffinitions to the word awesome changed about 10 years ago. “Totally Awesome” is more of a cliche that means “fun”.</p>
<p>There are many regional variations. In northern, but not southern, California kids say “hella.” When I was a kid and visited Utah I noticed the kids there said “choice” a lot. I don’t know whether they still do. </p>
<p>I’m sure there are many more variations and all mean various degrees of the same thing: Good.</p>
<p>My twenty something S’s sometimes refer to something that they like or admire as “sweet”.</p>
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“Gifted” is also over-used on CC.</p>
<p>Awesome drives me nuts. Most people around here really draw out the first syllable. Ick.</p>
<p>It’s interesting how our own superlatives are just fine, but new iterations are “awful”.
I mean, when we say “that’s great” do we really mean great? Or just pretty good? or is that the language has changed, as language does, so that great isn’t as great as it used to be?:)</p>
<p>If we say that’s “neat” do we mean it’s not sloppy? Are cool things not warm? </p>
<p>Language changes. Words have more than one meaning–lots of them, in fact.</p>
<p>(Related case–people getting their knickers in a twist over “no problem.” Ubiquitous complaint is always–“why should it have been a problem???” Those same people have “no problem” with “you’re welcome” even though it could engender an equivalent retort–“why wouldn’t I have been welcome???”)</p>
<p>We like the familiar.</p>
<p>I used to be driven nuts by use of the term “tragedy” to describe every unpleasant event. To me, tragedy has a very specific meaning. Over the years, I guess I have been beaten into submission, since now my reaction is now more on the level of mild irritation. :)</p>
<p>One that still irritates the hell out of me is “decimate.” It means to kill one in ten, people, not to kill “a lot.” (My S is also annoyed by this one. Maybe it’s genetic. 
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<p>Dictionary gives the “a lot” meaning first. One in ten is now secondary, verging on obsolete; the other meaning having become prevalent in the 19th century. I guess if I were an ancient Roman soldier I’d still maneuver to not be the tenth in line…</p>
<p>I guess I’m just a throwback to the MDCC century. :)</p>
<p>I’ve been trying to bring back “swell,” so far no success.</p>