The oldest baby boomers — once the vanguard of an American youth that revolutionized U.S. culture and politics — turn 80 in 2026.
Diane West sits with her grandson Paul Quirk during an interview Dec. 2 in Marietta, Ga.
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Paul Quirk, 21, lives with his grandmother Diane West in Marietta, Ga.
17 baby boomer phrases that kids these days just don't understand
OK, boomers
Before millennials were busy staying on fleek and Gen-Zers were clapping back with "OK boomer," baby boomers had their own way of communicating.
Although there's no official definition, baby boomers are generally considered to be those born between 1946-1964 (but some definitions start and end a little earlier). According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are some 76 million boomers in the U.S., which means there are a lot of people going around having a gas and getting hacked off. But what does it mean?
Here's a look at some popular words and phrases that are mostly no longer in use. Definitions are from language site Babbel.com Merriam-Webster, and Dictionary.com.
Threads
Meaning: Another name for clothes.
A gas (having a gas, it's a gas)
Meaning: Someone or something that's fun or fine.
Hacked off
Meaning: Angry. Mad. Upset.
Flip a wig
Meaning: To get very angry (or really hacked off?).
Cat
Meaning: A cool guy.
Groovy
Meaning: Cool.
This one's fairly obvious, but it's likely that no one under 55 has ever used it seriously.
Lay a patch
Meaning: Burnouts, black marks with tires.
Square
Meaning: Uncool.
What's your bag?
Meaning: What's your problem?
"Bag" can also simply refer to something a person is interested in. Example: "Using baby boomer slang isn't really my bag."
Padiddle
Meaning: Game counting burned out headlights.
Dropped a dime
Meaning: Made a phone call.
Moo juice
Meaning: Milk.
Boob tube
Meaning: TV.
Drag
Meaning: Boring.
Kicks
Meaning: Something done for pleasure.
Chrome dome
Meaning: A bald person.
Scratch
Meaning: Money.
