When was the last time you used the word “tacky”? Depending on your age, the answer could be “Never.” Even I, a person of advanced years, have dropped tacky from my vocabulary in favor of such modern equivalents as tasteless, cheesy and just plain crappy. The realization came about recently while cleaning out my cedar closet.
As I reviewed my out of date fashion treasures, which include a long fuchsia felt skirt adorned with a black poodle on a leash, I shouted “tacky” and realized that I had neither used the word, nor heard anyone say it, in years. It’s an accepted fact that the American language (referred to as the English language and taught in schools under the dismissive subject title, “English”) is an evolving means of expression dependent on usage, user and age. I had complacently overlooked that fact and had some serious catching up to do.
In other words, if you’re really “cool” (a “hip” word dating back to the 1940s) you keep up with and adapt the language to your personal wordlist, a conclusion that may or may not be redundant. And if you have no idea what I mean, you’re not alone. Neither do I, but it definitely is something to consider.
I did a bit of research and learned that in 2016, you no longer wear a garment or a piece of jewelry, you “rock” it. If you look really good in said garment or piece of jewelry, you’re on fleek, a term that originally referred to eyebrows only, but has since tweezed, I mean teased its way into broader meaning.
I hope you’ll accept my sincere apologies for sounding like a doink or a dough head –and please don’t think I’m spurriering, but I think I’ve had my fill of this new slang. (You’ll have to look those up yourself.)
It’s enough to make a person cray cray. So at the risk of acting like a 1960s dork, I’m putting on my glad rags and heading out to catch some rays. But before I go, I want to leave you with these parting words of wisdom. Whatever you do or don’t do in life, keep on groovin’.
Copyright 2016 Harriet Posnak Lesser
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Harriet Posnak Lesser is an award-winning journalist and social satirist whose articles have appeared in Long Island’s The South Shore Record and Nassau Herald, The New York Times, Cracked Magazine and others.