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9 Words That Mean Something Totally Different Than What They Used To

You're sick? Do you need to see a doctor? No? Oh, you mean the other kind of sick...

Gabrielle Ciancio

Mar 26, 2019

Seton Hall University

169

9 Words That Mean Something Totally Different Than What They Used To

Letters

Ever tell a story to your parents or grandparents and use words like "hook up", "sick", or "catfish" and they think you mean something completely different? Well, here's a list of words and their previous definitions so you can never have this language barrier problem again.

1. Hook up

Minion Kiss

"Hook up" used to mean getting a device, service, or appliance up and running. A common phrase that I'm sure we've all heard is "hook up the cable television." Today, "hooking up" with someone means to kiss someone, have sex with someone, or just meetup with someone. It's a shame we had to over-complicate this phrase, because it's far more confusing to use now.

2. Thongs

Minion in Thong

If you told someone older you went to Victoria Secret to buy thongs, you may get some weird looks. And if you ask for thongs for Christmas, don't be surprised if you get some flip-flops. I know what you may be thinking, "Flip-flops?" Yes, flip-flops; years ago, this modern day term for underwear actually meant beach footwear, better known as a "toe thong".

3. Gay

Merry Minion

We've all heard the song "Deck The Halls", so we all know the part that goes "Don we now our gay apparel". This may throw the younger generation for loop, but the word "gay" means happy, or merry, and in the past was not commonly used as an insult. Actually, it had quite the opposite connotation.

4. Sick

Sick Minion

This one is self explanatory. Obviously if you say "That's sick!" while speaking to one of your grandparents, they'll 100% question who's sick and be very confused. To today's youth, the word "sick" means "rad", "cool", and "awesome", but back in the day, the only definition for "sick" was having an illness or not feeling well.

5. Cell

Minion on Cellphone

"Call me on my cell" is a super common phrase of today's time. When we use the word "cell", nine times out of ten it is referring to a cellphone. Way back in the day, the term "cell" referred to a jail cell. Depressing, right?

6. Awful

Minions in Awe

"Awful" used to mean something that inspired awe. Completely different from today, right? Today, the term "awful" can mean something is bad or that someone looks terrible. It can also mean exceedingly great, as in "an awful lot of money."

7. Catfish

Catfish Minion

To all adults (and all fish enthusiasts), a "catfish" is "A freshwater or marine fish with whisker-like barbels around the mouth, typically bottom-dwelling." Now, when a teen uses the term "catfish", it always means "A person who sets up a false personal profile on a social networking site for fraudulent or deceptive purposes." Oh how times have changed, and boy does our generation sound like a bunch of degenerates.

8. Naughty

Naughty Minion

"Santa will know if you've been Naughty or Nice". Terrifying saying, but in today's time, true. All little kids are told Santa will determine whether they were naughty (bad, evil, or misbehaved) or nice (good, well-behaved, or obedient). This is a sentence completely foreign to people of older generations. Back in the day, if you were "naughty", you had naught or nothing.

9. Flirt

Flirty Minion

"You're such a flirt!", "He was so flirting with you.", "Should I flirt back?", these are all sentences we've said at least once in our life. Today, the word "flirt" means to show an attraction to someone, to be a little intimate, and a way of getting someone's attention. In olden times, flirt meant flicking something away, flicking open a fan, or otherwise making a brisk or jerky motion.

I hope this cleared up some things for you. Hopefully you brush up on your vocabulary and can avoid those awkward conversations with your family; no more misunderstandings.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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9 Words That Mean Something Totally Different Than What They Used To

You're sick? Do you need to see a doctor? No? Oh, you mean the other kind of sick...

1. Hook up

2. Thongs

3. Gay

4. Sick

5. Cell

6. Awful

7. Catfish

8. Naughty

9. Flirt

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The Best Lines from the Fab Four

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you'll love me too. I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you. I don't care too much for money. Money can't buy me love

All you need is love, love is all you need

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

Obviously the best superpower.

There have been many lessons learned.

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2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

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6. The consequences of making bad choices.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

10. How to work for what I want.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

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