In the gnarly world of far-out slang, only 'cool' is still groovy

Post Star ^ | 1/30/2006 | Larry Neumeister

[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."

[JusticeTalion]

God bless our troops wherever they may be.

[kjo]

Kool.

[cowboyway]

Kuel.

[XR7]

Sweet.

[McBuff]

"Dude" has also had an impressive run

[WIladyconservative]

Kewl.

[bvw]

Steve McQueen.

[P-Marlowe]

Quewl.

[8mmMauser]

Real cool daddy-o

[humblegunner]

Tender.

[Kurt_Hectic]

Über-cool...

[IronJack]

"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 ...

[Tench_Coxe]

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

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

[finnman69]

Word.

[cloud8]

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.

[drlevy88]

Then LHe will come out to outcool him.

[drlevy88]

Hawt.

[taxed2death]

"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.

[P-Marlowe]

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.

[Mrs. Shawnlaw]

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!