Totally Radical! 1980s Slang Quiz

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Instructions: Test your memory of the awesome words and phrases that defined the totally tubular 1980s — from Valley Girl vocabulary to MTV lingo and beyond.

1.
What did 1980s skaters and surfers mean when they called a stunt or situation "gnarly"?
A
Easy and unchallenging
B
Dangerous or impressively extreme (meaning depended on context)
C
Old-fashioned or behind the times
D
Neat and tidy
2.
In 1980s slang, calling something "rad" meant it was what?
A
Impressive, excellent, or cool
B
Broken or damaged beyond repair
C
Expensive and hard to find
D
Strange or confusing
3.
If a 1980s teenager called a rule or situation "bogus," what did they mean?
A
Exciting and full of thrills
B
Old-fashioned and out of date
C
Unfair, fake, or just plain lame
D
Complicated and hard to understand
4.
If someone in the 1980s said they were "totally psyched" about a concert, they were feeling what?
A
Scared and a little nervous
B
Confused and surprised
C
Bored and uninterested
D
Very excited and enthusiastic
5.
The 1980s Valley Girl word "grody" meant something was what?
A
Impressive and flashy
B
Disgusting or gross
C
Old and worn out
D
Loud and attention-grabbing
6.
What was the 1980s expression "gag me with a spoon" used to convey?
A
Extreme disgust or revulsion
B
Great hunger and a desire to eat
C
Intense excitement or enthusiasm
D
Deep boredom and sleepiness
7.
In 1980s teen slang, what was a "dweeb"?
A
A popular and well-liked student
B
A talented and gifted athlete
C
A daring and adventurous risk-taker
D
A socially awkward or inept person
8.
By the end of the 1980s, how had the meaning of the word "nerd" begun to shift?
A
It had nearly vanished from American speech
B
It became a word for someone who was athletic and popular
C
It moved from pure put-down toward a badge of identity for tech-savvy people
D
It became a compliment for someone with great fashion sense
9.
In 1980s slang, calling someone an "airhead" meant they were what?
A
Very athletic and physically fit
B
Scatterbrained, foolish, or empty-headed
C
Quick-witted and remarkably clever
D
Hot-tempered and easily angered
10.
What did it mean to "max out" in 1980s slang?
A
To reach one's absolute limit or capacity
B
To leave a place in a big hurry
C
To show off or boast loudly
D
To fall asleep from boredom
11.
When 1980s students said they were going to "ace" an exam, what did they mean?
A
Fail it completely and dramatically
B
Skip it and deal with the consequences later
C
Work through it very slowly and carefully
D
Score brilliantly and do an excellent job
12.
"Awesome" reached peak cultural saturation in the 1980s. What did it mean in everyday teen usage?
A
Terrifying or deeply frightening
B
Extremely ancient or very old
C
Wonderful, impressive, or very cool
D
Enormous in physical size
13.
In 1980s slang, "dude" was used mainly as what?
A
A casual, friendly address for any person
B
A formal title showing respect for an elder
C
A word for a stranger or rival
D
A term for someone old-fashioned and square
14.
If someone called you a "wimp" in the 1980s, they were saying you were what?
A
Extremely intelligent and bookish
B
Weak, cowardly, or spineless
C
Loud, boastful, and full of yourself
D
Stylish and very fashion-forward
15.
When a 1980s friend told you to "chill out," what were they asking you to do?
A
Go somewhere cold to cool off
B
Eat something cold like ice cream
C
Hurry up and get moving
D
Calm down and stop being so wound up

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