Far Out! 1970s Slang Quiz
Instructions: Take a groovy trip back to the Me Decade and test your knowledge of the colorful slang that filled everyday conversations in the 1970s — from the disco floor to the living room couch.
- 1.
In 1970s American slang, what did the phrase 'far out' mean?
AA great distance awayBExcellent or amazingCLost or completely confusedDWay too expensive - 2.
On the TV show 'Sanford and Son,' when a character said he needed some 'bread,' what was he talking about?
AA loaf from the grocery storeBA hot meal or dinnerCMoneyDA place to sleep for the night - 3.
Fred Sanford on 'Sanford and Son' loved calling people a 'jive turkey.' What did this 1970s expression mean?
AA foolish or dishonest personBA talented dancer at the discoCSomeone who never stops talkingDA lazy, slow-moving person - 4.
In 1970s slang, if someone called you 'foxy,' what were they saying about you?
AThat you were cunning and slyBThat you were sneaky and untrustworthyCThat you were bold and outspokenDThat you were very attractive - 5.
When a 1970s speaker called a conversation or piece of news 'heavy,' what did they mean?
AVery expensive or financially burdensomeBExtremely popular with everyoneCSerious, deep, or emotionally profoundDDifficult or confusing to follow - 6.
What were you expressing when you said 'right on' in the 1970s?
ADirections for someone to followBEnthusiastic agreement or approvalCA request for someone to keep talkingDSurprise at something unexpected - 7.
At a 1970s disco, what were you doing when you said it was time to 'boogie'?
AGetting something to eat before the crowd arrivedBFinding a quiet spot to rest your feetCDancing to the musicDOrdering a round of drinks at the bar - 8.
In the 1970s, if a friend told you to 'mellow out,' what were they suggesting you do?
ARelax and calm downBTurn down the musicCSpeak more quietlyDGo home and get some rest - 9.
In 1970s slang, if someone described a situation as a 'hassle,' what was it?
AA loud and crowded partyBA bad financial deal or purchaseCA long, boring wait in lineDA difficulty, annoyance, or bother - 10.
If someone at a 1970s party said 'let's split,' what did they mean?
ALet's divide up the billBLet's leaveCLet's separate into two groupsDLet's order more food - 11.
When a 1970s teenager bragged about finally getting some 'wheels,' what did they have?
AA carBA new bicycleCA pair of roller skatesDBrand-new high-top sneakers - 12.
In 1970s slang, what was a 'bummer'?
AA hilarious joke or clever prankBAn exciting but risky adventureCA slow, boring, uninteresting personDA disappointment or unpleasant experience - 13.
In 1970s funk and soul culture, what did it mean when someone said 'get down'?
ATo lower your voice in a crowded roomBTo stop arguing and calm downCTo dance freely and expressivelyDTo sit on the floor - 14.
When someone told you to 'hang loose' in the 1970s, what were they telling you to do?
AWait patiently for something to happenBStay relaxed and easygoingCWear comfortable, casual clothesDStop spending so much money - 15.
In 1970s slang, describing music or a person's style as 'funky' meant it had what quality?
AA cheerful, bouncy, lighthearted feelBA smooth, polished, mainstream soundCAn old-fashioned or outdated styleDA strong, earthy, soulful quality
Answer Key
'Far out' was a top 1970s expression meaning something was excellent, extraordinary, or beyond the ordinary — it carried over from 1960s counterculture and became a mainstream way to praise anything impressive during the disco era.
'Bread' was widely used 1970s slang for money — as in 'I don't have the bread for that' — a term heard regularly in urban street culture and on 1970s television.
A 'jive turkey' was 1970s slang for someone who was phony, foolish, or insincere — a colorful mild insult made famous by the era's television programs and street vernacular.
'Foxy' was 1970s slang for attractive or good-looking — it captured the confident, stylish energy of the disco era and was a genuine compliment.
'Heavy' in 1970s slang described something emotionally weighty or deeply serious — as in 'Man, that's heavy' — a term that crossed from counterculture into everyday American speech.
'Right on' was a spirited 1970s expression of enthusiastic agreement or approval — it originated in African American vernacular and spread widely through 1970s American culture, television, and street life.
'Boogie' meant to dance — especially to the driving beat of disco or funk music — and was practically the rallying cry of 1970s nightlife across America.
'Mellow out' meant to relax, unwind, and take it easy — a perfect expression for the laid-back Me Decade spirit that defined much of 1970s American life.
A 'hassle' was anything causing inconvenience or aggravation — 'Don't hassle me, man' was a line heard throughout 1970s television and in everyday conversation.
'Split' was casual 1970s slang for leaving a place — as in 'This party is a drag, let's split' — quick, breezy, and very much part of the decade's everyday vocabulary.
'Wheels' was common 1970s slang for a car or automobile — having your own wheels was a major milestone for teenagers of the era, and the word showed up everywhere from song lyrics to sitcoms.
A 'bummer' was anything disappointing or unpleasant — 'That concert got rained out? What a bummer!' — one of the most recognizable and widely used expressions of the 1970s.
'Get down' meant to dance with energy and soul — James Brown's influence made the phrase a cornerstone of funk culture before it spread into 1970s mainstream speech and television.
'Hang loose' meant to stay carefree and relaxed — especially popular in surf and beach culture, the phrase spread widely through 1970s America as a motto for the easy-living decade.
'Funky' in 1970s slang described something with a strong, earthy, rhythmic soul — the word came from African American music culture and became central to the funk and disco sound that defined the decade.