90s Slang You Don't See Anywhere but TikTok Anymore

90s — Does home skillet here think she's da bomb? Word. Navistock / Shutterstock

The 1990s gave us flannel shirts, bucket hats and a tidal wave of new lingo. If you weren’t talking like a character from "Clueless" or quoting "Fresh Prince," were you even there?

These bits of 90s slang were everywhere—from TV and movies to hip-hop culture and high school hallways.

Some of these phrases are still fly. Others? Not so much. Let’s break down the sick slang words that defined the decade.

Contents

All That and a Bag of Chips
Talk to the Hand
Chill Pill
Totally Buggin'
Home Skillet
Word
Da Bomb
Gotta Bounce
Gettin' Jiggy With It

1. All That and a Bag of Chips

This phrase meant someone or something was not just good; it was even more than already high expectations.

It was used to describe the ultimate combo of awesome and impressive—as in, "That new car is all that and a bag of chips."

2. Talk to the Hand

You couldn't say this without a hand gesture and a big dose of attitude. It meant "I’m not listening to you" or "Your point doesn’t matter." Perfect for shutting down a fool mid-argument.

3. Chill Pill

"Take a chill pill" was a go-to for calming someone down. Thinks someone's freaking out? This phrase was the cue for them to relax. You might still hear this used ironically today when someone’s acting out.

4. Totally Buggin'

Straight from the movie "Clueless," this meant someone was this phrase meant someone was freaking out or losing their cool, or otherwise overwhelmed.

"You forgot the test? You must be totally buggin'."

5. Home Skillet

This describes a close friend or buddy. "What’s up, home skillet?" It gave your pal some street cred without getting too serious.

6. Word

Short, sweet and packed with meaning, this was the "bet" of the 90s. "Word" could express agreement, excitement, or disbelief, depending on the tone. It was like a verbal thumbs-up.

7. Da Bomb

Excited young man — Whatever this guy is excited about is clearly da bomb. Ground Picture / Shutterstock

If something was da bomb, it was extremely cool or hella good. Like, "That rad short film was da bomb."

8. Gotta Bounce

This meant it was time to leave. Maybe the scene got boring, or maybe you had somewhere better to be. Either way, "I gotta bounce" was a smooth exit line.

9. Gettin' Jiggy With It

Thanks to Will Smith, this dance-inspired phrase hit mainstream hard. It meant having fun, especially while dancing or enjoying life. If the vibe was right, you were gettin' jiggy with it.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.