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From "Bad" to "Sick": The History of Slang Words That Flipped Their Meanings
Slang is a cultural mood ring. It reflects who has influence, what media we are consuming, and how communities adapt language to make it their own. Sometimes slang is born and dies in the same year, but other times it sticks around, only to morph into something completely different. This is called semantic drift, and it is one of the most fascinating things about language.
When I was a kid, my uncle used the word “wicked” as a compliment. To my literal brain, that meant something evil. It was not until I heard it in a Green Day interview that I realized, oh, this is actually about being cool. That is the magic of slang flips. They make you stop and decode, like a cultural puzzle.
Here is a look at some of the most famous slang words that have done a complete 180, along with their historical roots and cultural glow-ups.
1. Bad
Original meaning: Negative, poor quality, undesirable
Current slang meaning: Impressive, confident, attractive, or powerful
The idea of “bad” meaning “good” comes largely from African American Vernacular English (AAVE), where ironic inversion has long been a creative linguistic tool. It became mainstream in the late 1970s and 1980s through funk, soul, and hip-hop music. Michael Jackson’s 1987 hit album “Bad” cemented the usage for mainstream audiences. In the video, Jackson does not look sick or evil; he looks cool, dangerous, and magnetic.
Pop culture push: MJ’s “Bad” and LL Cool J’s “Bad” in 1987 both reinforced the idea.
Today: Saying “She is a bad boss” is now pure admiration. Context is everything. If your grandma says “bad” without the slang inflection, she probably means it literally.
2. Sick
Original meaning: Physically ill
Current slang meaning: Extremely impressive or cool
“Wicked” and “sick” both got their slang edge from skate and surf culture in the 1970s and 80s. Skateboarding zines and VHS tapes spread the language globally. Calling something “sick” in those circles was the highest praise, especially if it defied danger. By the 2000s, snowboarding, BMX, and extreme sports events like the X Games blasted “sick” into mainstream youth culture.
Pop culture push: Tony Hawk Pro Skater video games in the late 90s and early 2000s helped lock in the meaning for an entire generation.
Today: “That trick was sick” means applause, not a trip to urgent care.
3. Savage
Original meaning: Historically used as a derogatory term, often in colonial contexts, to dehumanize indigenous peoples or describe something brutal
Current slang meaning: Fearlessly honest, bold, ruthless in a socially admired way
This flip is rooted in reclamation. Marginalized communities, particularly in online spaces, began using “savage” as a term of empowerment. It exploded in 2016 when rapper Megan Thee Stallion released “Savage,” where the word described unapologetic confidence. Memes and TikTok dances took it further, turning “savage moments” into a category of internet clips.
Pop culture push: Megan Thee Stallion’s “Savage” remix with Beyoncé in 2020 took the word global.
Today: “That clapback was savage” means it was brutally perfect.
4. Salty
Original meaning: Simply tasting of salt, or in early 20th-century slang, a sailor’s rough personality
Current slang meaning: Bitter, resentful, annoyed
The modern use took root in African American slang and competitive gaming culture. In arcade fighting games and later eSports, “salty” described players who were overly bitter about losing. Memes in the late 2000s (“Stay salty”) helped spread it beyond gaming into general internet use.
Pop culture push: The fighting game community’s “Evo Moment #37” memes and Twitch culture in the 2010s kept the word alive.
Today: “He is salty about losing” is more shade than culinary critique.
5. Ghost
Original meaning: A supernatural entity or to haunt
Current slang meaning: To disappear from communication without warning
“Ghost” took on its modern meaning in the mid-2010s through online dating culture. Apps like Tinder made casual connections easy to start and easier to end abruptly. Instead of explaining, people would simply vanish from chats. “Ghosting” became a common phrase by 2015 and has since moved beyond dating into friendships, work, and even politics.
Pop culture push: Articles on dating trends and meme accounts made “ghost” part of the emotional vocabulary.
Today: “She ghosted me after the interview” is workplace slang too.
6. Thirsty
Original meaning: Needing water
Current slang meaning: Desperate for attention or validation
Hip-hop culture in the early 2010s pushed this one into common speech. Rappers like The-Dream and Tyga used “thirsty” to describe people coming on too strong romantically or seeking clout. Twitter and Instagram amplified the meaning as people called out obvious attention-seeking behavior.
Pop culture push: Meme pages like @Daquan and early viral tweets made “thirst traps” part of the internet dictionary.
Today: “Liking all her pics in one night is thirsty” works whether talking romance or social clout.
7. Extra
Original meaning: More than necessary
Current slang meaning: Over-the-top in a way that can be both fun and exhausting
Black and queer communities popularized “extra” as a playful critique in the late 2000s. The word was common in theater and performance spaces where “doing the most” was both an insult and a compliment depending on delivery. Memes in the mid-2010s took it mainstream.
Pop culture push: The phrase “You are being so extra” in Vine compilations made it a Gen Z staple.
Today: “Wearing a gown to brunch is extra” might be said with admiration or side-eye.
8. Goat
Original meaning: The animal
Current slang meaning: Greatest Of All Time
This acronym originated in sports journalism, with Muhammad Ali often referred to as “The Greatest.” LL Cool J’s 2000 album “G.O.A.T.” helped bring the acronym into music culture. Social media memes then made it shorthand for anyone at the top of their field.
Pop culture push: Sports debate shows like ESPN’s “First Take” and internet sports memes solidified it.
Today: “Messi is the GOAT” needs no explanation.
Why Meanings Flip
Meaning shifts can happen for a few reasons:
- Reclamation: Marginalized groups take ownership of a negative word and give it pride and power.
- Irony: Subcultures flip meanings to create in-group language outsiders do not understand.
- Pop Culture Influence: A single hit song or viral video can redefine a word overnight.
- Technology: Social media collapses timeframes, letting slang evolve globally in months instead of decades.
How to Keep Up Without Sounding Outdated
Slang is a moving target. To stay current:
- Watch how a word is used in context before adopting it.
- Accept that some slang is generational and might not hit the same if you are not in that group.
- Know when to let go. Overusing a dead meme or word can make it cringe fast.
Language is cultural currency. Spend it wisely and it will connect you. Use it wrong and you will sound like you are trying too hard.
Slang is living history. It tells the story of who influenced culture, who reclaimed their voice, and how fast ideas travel. From “bad” to “GOAT,” each flip reflects a moment when communities decided to rewrite the rules. And with Gen Z driving trends faster than ever, the next big slang shift is already on the way.
Stay connected for more deep dives into how Gen Z is reshaping language, culture, and connection at Woke Waves Magazine.
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