Slang Shelf Life
How long a term has really been in use, whether it is still current or fading, and how its run compares with the whole dictionary. Recorded dates, not an estimate.
The median term in this 228-word dictionary has been in use for 5 years, 199 terms are still current and 29 have already passed their peak — so most slang outlives the panic about it.
Slang Shelf Life
Frequently asked
Why do some terms last decades?
Because they filled a gap nothing else covered. "Innit" and "beef" have run for more than twenty years each. Terms tied to one video or one game rarely outlive it.
Does a term ending mean children stopped saying it?
It means the term stopped being in general visible use. Some survive locally for years afterwards, and a few come back.
How is the dictionary dated?
Each entry carries the span over which the term was in common use, alongside its origin, tone and adult-use rating. 29 of the 228 entries are already past their peak.
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