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Author Topic: Cool.  (Read 1785 times)

Offline Roger Kettle

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Cool.
« on: February 12, 2009, 08:03:58 PM »
I'm rather confused by the word "cool" these days. Back in the sixties, saying "cool" was cool but by the seventies, it was absolutely uncool. Now that it's been back for a few years, it seems to be used for virtually anything. When I speak with my 19 year-old son and his friends, "cool" crops up continuously and randomly.
Son: What time is it?
Me: Ten past two.
Son: Cool.
I'm guessing that the meaning here is either "okay" or "thanks".
Me: How was your night out?
Son: Really cool.
Presumably, this means "great".
Me: If you're going to be late tonight, take your key.
Son: Cool.
I believe this is shorthand for "I understand".


I'm cool, me.
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Tom

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Re: Cool.
« Reply #1 on: February 12, 2009, 08:26:40 PM »
That's cool, dude.
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Malc

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Re: Cool.
« Reply #2 on: February 12, 2009, 09:35:04 PM »
"Dude" is another ubiquitous word these days. I'm not sure when it evolved out of the States this time round, but it was long before "Dude Where's My Car?"

When my dad was in the army in the mid seventies I remember an officer's son using the word "guy" to describe a bloke, when "bloke" was the only acceptable term. I remember thinking that "guy" was a pretentious, twonky Americanism which would never catch on.

"Dude" is early 90s, I reckon.

"Cool" is with us forever now. I think we will see a resurgence of the word "crazy" too.
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Offline Roger Kettle

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Re: Cool.
« Reply #3 on: February 12, 2009, 11:43:10 PM »
I remember being uncomfortable when "guys" started being used for both sexes. It seemed awkward and contrived to ask, say, my wife and daughter if "either of you guys want a drink". I use it all the time now and I hate myself for it.
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Offline Tarquin Thunderthighs lll

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Re: Cool.
« Reply #4 on: February 12, 2009, 11:56:28 PM »
Chill, Roger, it's cool.
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I apologise, in advance.

Zesty White

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Re: Cool.
« Reply #5 on: February 13, 2009, 10:08:42 AM »
My Dad worked in Saudi Arabia for a while. When I was a young scallywag using the term Dude (it was the early 90s as Malc has already pointed out), he told me that in Saudi it was a word meaning camel droppings.
The older I get, the more I think it was just his way of stopping me using twonky Americanisms....
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Offline Mince

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Re: Cool.
« Reply #6 on: February 13, 2009, 02:22:13 PM »
"Cool" isn't cool. It's "kl", k?
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Offline Tarquin Thunderthighs lll

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Re: Cool.
« Reply #7 on: February 13, 2009, 02:58:26 PM »
..|.
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Offline Mince

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Re: Cool.
« Reply #8 on: February 13, 2009, 03:41:06 PM »
!
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Tom

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Re: Cool.
« Reply #9 on: February 13, 2009, 07:58:29 PM »
Are you crazy guys using twonky Americanisms? Now, dudes, that's really cool...!
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Offline Mince

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Re: Cool.
« Reply #10 on: February 13, 2009, 08:32:21 PM »
Cosmic!
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peter

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Re: Cool.
« Reply #11 on: February 13, 2009, 10:01:40 PM »
Right on my other ego says.
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Fyodor

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Re: Cool.
« Reply #12 on: February 14, 2009, 12:10:37 PM »
Cool's multipurpose. It's like "Fogeddabowddit" in that Hugh Grant movie, Mickey somethingorother.
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Bren

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Re: Cool.
« Reply #13 on: February 16, 2009, 04:48:35 PM »
Cool's like "No Worries" in Australia.  It means everything and nothing.

I once had a conversation with an Australian in which he said nothing but "No Worries"  It was surreal, but it worked.
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