Gnarly comes from surfer slang of the 1960s, to describe a wave that was difficult, dangerous, and awesome. The water in the wave would literally appear gnarled, curled, and messy.
What does the slang term gnarly mean?
very bad
2 slang : very bad: such as. a : very difficult or challenging to deal with a gnarly [=thorny, knotty] problem gnarly conditions Having … skidded around gnarly hairpin turns … , the two bikers pedaled furiously for the finish.— Austin Murphy.
When was the word gnarly created?
gnarly (adj.)
1600, from gnarl (see gnarled) + -y (2). Picked up 1970s as surfer slang to describe a dangerous wave; it had spread to teen slang by 1982, where it meant both “excellent” and “disgusting.”
Is gnarly California slang?
Gnarly started out in the 1970 surfer scene and is probably about as Californian as it gets. It actually means “twisted”, but it can be used to replace anything from “difficult”, to “challenging”, “cool”, “interesting” and “serious”.
Is gnarly an 80s term?
The word “gnarly,” for example, was used in the 1970s to refer to waves that were particularly difficult to surf, and it spread to non-surfing teenagers by the mid-1980s. It can be difficult to really separate Val-speak and surf slang, because they closely intermingled.
Is gnarly an 80s word?
Gnarly. When surfers describe something as gnarly, they mean that it is especially difficult or even dangerous. However, in the ’80s, “gnarly” became a shorthand for anything and everything considered cool and/or exciting. Example: “That Bill Murray movie was so gnarly!”
Who first said gnarly?
According to historians, California surf culture adopted the term in the 1960s and 1970s, and it spread throughout other anglophone nations such as Australia, the United Kingdom, and South Africa. Some say it was uttered for the first time at a California surf break where Monterey cypress and Torrey pine grew.
Who made the word gnarly popular?
surfers
The slang version of gnarly can be traced back to the 1970s, when surfers used it to describe a dangerous wave. By the 1980s, it spread, as teens used gnarly to mean both “excellent” and “disgusting.”
How do you use gnarly slang?
The second most common use of gnarly is to mean “very difficult or bad.” It is used as slang. The context around the word will often show that it’s about something bad, as in this example about an accident: It looks like somebody had a gnarly accident.
What did the Mexicans call California?
Alta California
Following the Mexican War of Independence, it became a territory of Mexico in April 1822 and was renamed Alta California in 1824. The territory included all of the modern U.S. states of California, Nevada, and Utah, and parts of Arizona, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico.
What do locals call Southern California?
3. “SoCal” Growing up in Southern California, I rarely if ever heard people refer to the region we live in as “SoCal.” Instead we’d just say “California,” and clarify with “in the south” or “near LA” when asked. When I moved up North, I heard the term “SoCal” used far more often, which is a little bit ironic.
What do Californians call themselves?
People who live in California are called Californians and Californiacs.
What is a 70’s slang term?
70s Slang for Activities
The vernacular of the 1970s also included quite a few slang words to describe activities that people might commonly engage in. boogie – dance. boogie down – to dance very enthusiastically. book it – to quickly run away. chill – relax.
What slang was used in the 70s?
List of 1970s Slang:
- Aww sooky sooky: Aww yeah, baby.
- Flower power: Choosing peace over war.
- Jeepers creepers: Oh my gosh.
- Are you jivin’ yet?: Are you more relaxed?
- Don’t be such a spaz: A klutz; silly.
- Dork: Nerd.
- The flip side: See you later.
- Psyche: To trick someone.
Did people say bitchin in the 80s?
The term “bitchin’” was actually first used in the 1960s; however, it rose to popularity again in the 80s, thanks to its use in popular culture, including the movie Back to the Future Part II. At any rate, this long-standing slang word means “cool” or “awesome.”
What was the most popular slang in 1985?
Cool Beans
1985: Cool Beans. Nowadays, you’re not exactly considered “cool” if you throw out the phrase cool beans in everyday conversations. However, when the term was adopted by Merriam-Webster in 1985, it was a pretty cool slang phrase used to “express agreement or approval.”
What was slang for cool in the 80s?
Rad & Radical
It’s clearly my favorite of these 80’s slang terms, and the one I say most commonly. ‘Radical’ and ‘Rad’ basically mean awesome, outrageous and cool (I don’t mean the temperature). If “cool” is sounding a bit tired and old, this word would be an excellent replacement.
What are some 90’s slang words?
Most Popular 90s Slang Phrases
- Aiight. Aiight is a modified version of the phrase all right.
- All That And a Bag of Chips. If something is better than the best, it’s all that and a bag of chips.
- As If! The 90s were full of fun sarcastic retorts.
- Bling.
- Booyah.
- Da Bomb.
- Don’t Go There.
- Eat My Shorts.
What’s a synonym for gnarly?
What is another word for gnarly?
| gnarled | knobbly |
|---|---|
| knotty | knobby |
| knotted | knurled |
| nodular | rugged |
| twisted | rough |
What does gnarly girl mean?
adj. 1 having gnarls. 2 (esp. of hands) rough, twisted, and weather-beaten in appearance. 3 perverse or ill-tempered.
What is the opposite of gnarly?
What is the opposite of gnarled?
| straight | unbent |
|---|---|
| uncurled | untwisted |
| relaxed | separate |
| loose | free |