35 Cringeworthy (But Hilarious) Things Millennials Say And The Coded Meanings Behind Them

Ok, Millennials, we know you get a lot of crap about killing things like department stores and light yogurt, so we’re not trying to pile on.

We all grew up in a time when certain things seemed funny, but eventually, we have to accept that all good things come to an end.

Here are 35 phrases whose times are up. Granted, a few of them have some life left if you use the right occasion, so we’re open to debate.

Sincerely, Your Elders (who have, admittedly, ruined some of this stuff by repeating it until it was uncool)

1. Shawty

Calling your girl “shawty” is past it’s prime, unless for some reason it’s a term of endearment she actually enjoys (or she’s ironically tall).

2. You got served

We’re over it. Unless you’re there when someone gets served with legal paperwork – but we doubt they’re going to find it funny in that situation.

3. That’s what she said

We’re actually really hesitant to let this one go. But maybe we can agree to tone it down.

4. That’s hot

Are you talking about the sun? A dish that just came out of the oven? Then let’s just rid ourselves of our whole Hilton vocabulary while we’re at it.

5. NOT

First of all, Borat didn’t invent this one. This is a Gen X throwback. Alas, that doesn’t make it cool or funny, it just makes it even older and more worn out.

6. Fo’ shizzle

We feel like this one rode off into the distance in a timely manner. But it’s still funny when Martha Stewart says it.

7. Da bomb

Maybe you’re great, but bombs aren’t, so let’s find a new way to appreciate someone’s awesomeness. (Note: calling someone “the bomb dot com” is also an eye-roller.)

8. Wazzuup

It was funny while it lasted, and we’re not going to try and pretend we don’t get a chuckle watching this gif, but it’s over man, let it go.

9. Wack

Is calling something wack the height of your roasting skills? Time to find some new material.

10. Word

Whether it’s to your mother or not, “word” is no longer a cool exclamation.

11. BFF

Friends are great, but how many really last forever?

12. Sick

“Sick” was the Millennial answer to Gen X’s “bad,” both of which meant good. Maybe we should just go back to using our words correctly.

13. Crunk

Let’s leave crunk where it was – as a word to describe a genre of Southern hip-hop. You are not “getting crunk.”

14. Cray

Just stay away from the drama and you won’t have to worry about using this tired insult.

15. Chillax

Some people really do need to chill, but no one ever felt calmer after being told to chillax.

16. Phat

No one assumes you’re using the “ph” anymore if you call something phat, so let’s just get back to using our f-words properly.

17. Peeps

Stick to the marshmallow kind and you’ll be ok.

18. Talk to the hand

A hand in the face is worth a thousand words, so there’s no need to use this phrase anymore.

19. Oh snap

This one only works if you’re trying to sound like a dork.

20. Off the chain

Off the chain, off the hook – it’s all off the mark.

21. Burn

Like bombs, burns have lost their place in current slang. And sick burns are twice as lame.

22. Fail

There are a lot of epic fails out there, but it’s time to find some new words to describe them.

23. Psych/sike

We can’t blame Millennials for this oldie. But let’s not revive it.

24. Buggin’

Buggin’, freaking out – do we have nothing but slang for this particular feeling? (To be fair, if Cher Horowitz said it, we can’t blame Millenials for inventing this one either, only for overusing it.)