Usually a good time for “psych!” or “not!” was when you were saying something nice about someone you didn’t actually like. “Dude, you’re so good at basketball! … Psych!” “Hey, I think you could be a model! … Not!” Pretty interchangeable, the psych and the not, but psych was usually the cooler thing to say. Or was it? Psych!
Really, just add “like” to anything, and you were a straight up authentic Valley Girl. Use it in your 7th grade English class, however, and get reprimanded by your teacher.
Forever immortalized by Cher in Clueless. “Whatever” was the go to catchphrase for any time you wanted to stop an argument. “I hate your shoes.” “Whatever!” “Maybe you should do your homework?” “Whatever!” Very versatile, you see.
Gag me with a spoon!
Valley Girls dominated in the ‘80s, right? Not only did they popularize adding “like” to any and everything, but they also brought this gem into the American lexicon. Instead of saying something’s gross, just scream out “ugh, like, gag me with a spoon!”
I know you are, but what am I?
You can thank Pee Wee Herman for the popularity of this phrase. The popularity and the annoyingness, as anyone with a little brother can attest. You try calling him a dumb butt and he just returns with “I know you are, but what am I?”
That’s Rad
Calling something rad was the ultimate compliment. You got rollerblades?! That’s so rad! I mean, come on, rollerblades really were pretty rad.
Talk to the Hand
Who first said talk to the hand? It’s a mystery, but it became super popular in the ‘90s. A shortened version of “talk to the hand, because the face isn’t listening” or any variations thereof. You saying something dumb to me? Talk to the hand!
Take a Chill Pill
Someone annoying you? Getting a little too worked up over something? Tell them to take a chill pill. Interesting fact: chill pill was a reference to the pills kids with ADD would have to take. Did anyone actually know that when they were saying it? Like, I’m so sure.
That’s da bomb, yo! Yeah, you were sooo cool, pretending to be some kind of gangsta. Not! Let’s be grateful most people have realized this is a stupid thing to say seriously.
Phat
Calling something phat was basically used to call something cool, though some people say it’s actually an acronym for something like “pretty hot and tempting.” True or not, everyone was saying it.
What were your favorite sayings?
“Talk to the finger, ’cause you ain’t worthy of the hand!”