The Things These Kids Say

[+ PhileasFogg]

My weekend encounter in New Orleans was with a long time - younger - friend (our first following a mutual “coming out”)

At Oz last night, he said something about “Ohio Skibidi Toilet” and I had to look this one up!

Other terms learned in my encounters with 20 somethings this week:

- heard = I understand you

- word = I agree

- dipped = Left Abruptly

What are some of the other words/phrases you hear??

 

[+ Pensant]

Mogged: being totally hotter than anyone in the room

[56harrisond]

Bet = agree, sure, that's fine, acknowledge 

[+ poolboy48220]

2 hours ago, PhileasFogg said:

- heard = I understand you

I first learned this watching "The Bear".

[wsc]

Does this mean the new generation is polysyllabically challenged? How inconsolably disconsolate. Or as they might grunt, Sad.

[caramelsub]

I hate the phrase “low key”. Gen Z, uses it too often. 

[+ azdr0710]

3 hours ago, caramelsub said:

I hate the phrase “low key”. Gen Z, uses it too often. 

does it mean something different these days as used by Gen Zers??......I use it fairly often to describe something that is...well....low-key

EDIT......checked urbandictionary

"Low key" (or "lowkey") in Urban Dictionary slang means subtly, secretly, or moderately, often describing a hidden preference or mild feeling, like "I lowkey love that cheesy song," contrasting with its original meaning of quiet or simple. It acts as an adverb, similar to "kinda" or "sort of," expressing something you enjoy but aren't shouting about, or a mild annoyance,

Edited December 28, 2025 by azdr0710

[ShortCutie7]

3 minutes ago, azdr0710 said:

does it mean something different these days as used by Gen Zers??......I use it fairly often to describe something that is...well....low-key

It means “kinda/sorta.”

 

7 hours ago, 56harrisond said:

Bet = agree, sure, that's fine, acknowledge 

Thanks, I hear this one all the time and couldn’t figure it out lol.

[samhexum]

I find it simpler just to avoid anyone under 45 other than my nephew at thanksgiving and Christmas.

[+ PhileasFogg]

1 hour ago, samhexum said:

I find it simpler just to avoid anyone under 45 other than my nephew at thanksgiving and Christmas.

My weekend companion is 42.  He knows them all

[samhexum]

2 hours ago, PhileasFogg said:

My weekend companion is 42.  He knows them all

Groovy.  Gnarly.  Rad.  Far Out.  Bitchin'

(I can be a hep cat if I need to communicate with the "in" crowd.)

[+ PhileasFogg]

10 hours ago, samhexum said:

Groovy.  Gnarly.  Rad.  Far Out.  Bitchin'

(I can be a hep cat if I need to communicate with the "in" crowd.)

Oh Sam….Sam, Sam, Sam…those are the words of MY youth! 🤣🤣

Welcome to the 80’s

[+ PhileasFogg]

Thanks to @samhexum, I have an earworm of Moon Unit Zappa singing “Valley Girl”.  🥸🥸🤣😅

[marylander1940]

On 12/28/2025 at 6:50 AM, PhileasFogg said:

My weekend encounter in New Orleans was with a long time - younger - friend (our first following a mutual “coming out”)

At Oz last night, he said something about “Ohio Skibidi Toilet” and I had to look this one up!

Other terms learned in my encounters with 20 somethings this week:

- heard = I understand you

- word = I agree

- dipped = Left Abruptly

What are some of the other words/phrases you hear??

 

"you're a mess" = you're fun / entertaining 

[caramelsub]

2 hours ago, marylander1940 said:

"you're a mess" = you're fun / entertaining 

That phrase is used commonly in the southern United States. I actually hear it more used by older country folks. I don’t often hear many young people using that phrase. It’s used as a term of endearment. Like saying “bless your heart”. With the younger folks I hear people saying “hot mess”, or “I look like a hot mess”.

[+ PhileasFogg]

5 hours ago, caramelsub said:

That phrase is used commonly in the southern United States. I actually hear it more used by older country folks. I don’t often hear many young people using that phrase. It’s used as a term of endearment. Like saying “bless your heart”. With the younger folks I hear people saying “hot mess”, or “I look like a hot mess”.

“Bless your heart” ain’t no term of endearment darlin’ 😅😉🤣

[caramelsub]

32 minutes ago, PhileasFogg said:

“Bless your heart” ain’t no term of endearment darlin’ 😅😉🤣

True. It’s passive aggressive. 😉 

[corndog]

16 hours ago, caramelsub said:

With the younger folks I hear people saying “hot mess”, or “I look like a hot mess”.

A "hot mess" is a "pile of shit." So, "I look like a hot mess" = "I look like shit."

[+ Pensant]

“mess” has been around for a while. An old bf, who was a gossip, would point to chubby boys at the gay beach in Laguna and say things like “she’s a mess”.

[caramelsub]

But the southern slang for mess can be used positively as a form of endearment, as I mentioned earlier. If someone is being funny, silly, or makes a playful or witty joke, you would say “you’re a mess”. Or the even more southern “you a mess”.
As for calling yourself a “hot mess” that means you might be having a bad hair day, or the outfit you are wearing or clothes you have on look bad. 

Edited December 30, 2025 by caramelsub

[+ PhileasFogg]

28 minutes ago, caramelsub said:

But the southern slang for mess can be used positively as a form of endearment, as I mentioned earlier. If someone is being funny, silly, or makes a playful or witty joke, you would say “you’re a mess.” Or the even more southern “you a mess”.
As for calling yourself a “hot mess” that means you might be having a bad hair day, or the outfit you are wearing or clothes you have on look bad. 

It’s all in the tone and inflection.   But if the f word precedes, it ain’t a compliment 😅😅

Edited December 30, 2025 by PhileasFogg

[Nue2thegame]

36 minutes ago, caramelsub said:

As for calling yourself a “hot mess” that means you might be having a bad hair day, or the outfit you are wearing or clothes you have on look bad. 

It also may mean that you are imminently fuckable.