1. Weird
   Beyond difficult
2. Easy
   Old school

The original use of the word “gnarly” was to describe branches or roots that had many bumps, twists and turns. The word was picked up by the surfer culture and came to mean “beyond difficult or extreme,” and eventually it was picked up by Gen X in general.

1. Ugly
   Corny
2. Attractive
   Forgettable

"Bodacious" means attractive or pleasing in some way. The root words are “bold” and “audacious,” which initially meant that a person is admirable.

1. Wear clothes that are respectable and neat.
   Dress as if you're lounging at home.
2. Appear street-wise.
   Wear clothes from a thrift shop.

The “preppy” fashion style was based on how people from exclusively upper-class prep schools dressed. It eventually described young people who wore the equivalent of casual, but neat and traditional, clothing.

1. Worrying
   Eating
2. Making out
   Relaxing

“Chilling out” basically means to relax and keep a cool attitude. The phrase itself was probably coined as early as the Baby Boomer generation’s era, but only became increasingly popular with the Gen X crowd in terms of daily usage.

1. You were slow.
   You had no skill at all.
2. You were very good.
   You never followed all the rules.

The term “wicked” used to be a negative term, primarily and popularly linked to witches. However, it became popular with Generation X for emphasizing how good a person was at something. It was a negative word that was positively reclaimed.

1. Smart
   Boring
2. Fun
   Flighty

Some sources say that “dweeb” is actually an acronym that stands for “Dim-Witted Eastern-Educated Boor.” When used, it usually means a person is socially boring or awkward - hence, you’re not really the life of the party.

1. Being shallow and materialistic
   Being stupid and out of touch
2. Being socially inept
   Being too smart

"Yuppies," or "Young Urban Professionals," were people who kept lucrative 9-to-5 jobs, usually in a corporation. They were considered to be overly career-driven, money-obsessed and unable to understand people who were not like them. Therefore, they came across as shallow and materialistic.

1. He’s a coward.
   He’s not fashionable.
2. He looks cool.
   He’s a messenger.

The key word in the phrase is “fly.” It’s taken from an old British term that means a person is well-dressed and probably also attractive. Generation X incorporated it into their street lingo.

1. Praise
   Insults
2. Mentions
   Making a cameo

“Diss” is actually a shortened version of “disrespect.” Dissing involves one person insulting another, and the term was used in daily life, not just in music.

1. I’m keeping quiet.
   You make me laugh.
2. Let’s have dinner.
   Disgusting!

“Gag me with a spoon” actually refers to the gag reflex, like sticking a finger down your throat. The term is used to say that whatever was talked about is that bad or really disgusting.

1. Dancing
   Talking
2. Laughing
   Eating

“Getting jiggy with it” is more famous as a term that means “having fun dancing,” thanks to Will Smith and his 1997 song. Before that, people in Harlem used it as a term to mean having a good time or having sex.

1. Bodyguard
   Sports buddy
2. A friend from the same neighborhood
   Housemate

A person’s “homeboy” is a friend from the old neighborhood, or maybe even his best friend. A more gender-neutral version of this term is “homie.”

1. When you want to tell a joke
   When you make a mistake
2. When you have nothing to say
   When you want to end the conversation

“My bad” is a shortened phrase that means “my mistake.” However, some Generation Xers have also used it with the additional meaning that “There’s nothing to be done about it, sorry.”

1. No
   Ask him to clarify
2. Yes
   Yes and no

"Phat" has been used since at least the 1950s, but it was Generation X that made it a part of pop culture. It is supposedly a shortened term for "Pretty Hot and Thick," but there are other vulgar variations on what the letters mean – and we’ll leave that up to you to discover.

1. They disagree with you.
   They agree with you.
2. They did not understand.
   Let’s talk another time.

“Word” has come to mean either agreement, because the word is the truth, or, if used as a question, to ask if something is the truth. “Word” is more commonly used within the African-American culture, but it has been picked up outside of that culture from time to time.

1. Pointy-headed
   Pinhead
2. Fly
   Old school

“Old school” rocketed in use when Generation X used it to describe people or actions that were rather traditional in nature. Depending on how it’s used, it can have a good or bad connotation.

1. How is life?
   Are you aroused?
2. Are you ready to do something?
   Are you a guy?

“How’s it hanging?” has been traced back to the 1920s, when it was originally a vulgar greeting linked to a man’s genitalia. Generation X usage is more of a general greeting, asking about your state of being or how your day is going - more wholesome than its original usage.

1. Having a dream
   Enjoying life
2. Doing something stupid
   Getting very mad

“Going postal” was coined due to the apparent stress and violence linked to employees of the U.S. Postal Service. Generation X has made it a general term for extreme anger that can lead to violence.

1. No
   Yes
2. Maybe
   He or she is not saying anything.

The word “aight” is a shortened term of “all right.” By making it one syllable only, it’s easier to say or use. Gen X is genius at reinvention.

1. It’s the best.
   It’s a failure.
2. It’s a surprise.
   It’s smelly.

Though the phrase “to bomb” generally means failure, “the bomb” means that something’s excellent or the best. The origin of the phrase isn’t clear, but it may come from jazz and African-American culture.

1. You made a mistake.
   It’s a victory shout.
2. You took a bad risk.
   Your friend wanted to date the person.

“Booyah” is an expression of victory. Some people say it started in sports or the military. If you’re a millennial or younger, you might use this Generation X term sarcastically.

1. I’m listening.
   You have five minutes.
2. I’m ignoring you.
   Say please.

“Talk to the hand” means that you’re not listening. It’s usually used with a “stop” gesture, wherein a full hand is extended, facing the person you’re talking to. But in some versions, the hand does talking motions with the fingers.

1. Don’t talk to me now.
   Go away.
2. It's a sarcastic comeback.
   It's encouragement.

“You go, girl” is a gender-specific Generation X phrase. It usually means to encourage a woman to do something, but it can also be a form of congratulations.

1. Go through with it.
   Think again.
2. Invite your friend for a drink.
   Tell a story.

The phrase “as if” means that whatever the other person is asking or proposing is not going to happen. It’s the Generation X way to say, “It will be a cold day in hell before that happens.”

1. It’s okay.
   It’s great.
2. It’s unfair.
   It’s approved.

In the past, “bogus” always meant something fake. The Generation X twist was to add the meaning of something being unfair, or something that shouldn’t happen.

1. Cheat
   Steal
2. Keep quiet
   Lie

“Psych” originated as a 1930s term meaning to outsmart others. The Generation X twist is more about lying to a person, then telling them in a mean way that you lied to them.

1. Uptight
   Cool
2. Dumb
   Sleepy

Advice to “take a chill pill” means that a person should calm down or relax, because they are perceived to be too anxious, uptight or very much preoccupied. The second meaning for Generation X people is to just go with the flow of events.

1. They said they couldn't hear you.
   They agreed with you.
2. They ignored or disagreed with what you said.
   They said they want to talk to you.

If a Generation X person says “whatever” as the last word, they could be ignoring you. They may also be telling you that what you said sucks.

1. A jock
   A big man on campus
2. A senior
   The buzzkill

The "buzzkill" is a person who takes the energy or fun out of an activity or even something like a conversation. The “buzz” refers to positive energy, which the person is killing.

1. Go out somewhere or leave
   Have fun at home
2. Take a rain check
   Have a snack in the kitchen

“Let’s bounce” means that it’s time to go somewhere else. The term may have started in sports, with Generation Xers adding a feeling that means “I’m bored.”

1. Honky-tonk!
   Cha-ching!
2. P.U.!
   Meep-meep!

“Cha-ching” means that a person has money. The phrase is taken from the sound of a cash register, so it's a sound effects kind of expression.

1. Club
   Coffee shop
2. Their home
   Department store

“Crib” is shorthand for a person’s home, which was popularly used during the '90s and still saw some usage after that, even up to today. Generation Xers also mix in some pride when they use it, like they're displaying their home for people to see.

1. Let’s get a room.
   Let’s have a drink.
2. I’m hungry.
   I don’t care.

“Eat my shorts” became a famous phrase when it was used by Bart Simpson in the TV show "The Simpsons." It is simply a way of telling the other person you don’t care – at all. It sounds like an insult.

1. A great one
   Needs some improvement
2. A disaster
   Canceled

“Totally tubular” is surf speak, used by Generation X people to mean something is really good or excellent. The term describes how a good wave has a “tube” of water for surfers to go through. Since some Gen Xers are also surfers, the usage became interchangeable between these communities.

1. They’re hungry.
   Is it worth it?
2. When does it happen?
   Where do we go?

“Where’s the beef?” actually started as a Wendy’s advertising campaign slogan. Generation X people used it to ask if something was worth it, implying that it wasn’t.