Cat’s Slang

People in the 18th Century used a very different style of vocabulary compared to the English we speak today. Find out what some of today’s most well known and used slang terms would translate as in an 18th Century setting.

Today’s Slang Terms

Cool
Miz ya (Miss you)
You rock
UR the best
UR da bomb
UR a star
Classy
Wicked
LOL (Laugh Out Loud)
Newbie
Awesome
Size zero
Totally gutted
He’s fit
Chilling out
He’s a hottie
BFF (Best Friends Forever)
Bling
Rock out Amuse oneself
You’re dumped
Mosh pit
Grunge girl
Sloane Ranger
‘It’ girl
Slobbing around
Lush
‘Fess up
WAGS
Rocking your socks off
ASBO
ROFL (Rolling On Floor with Laughter

The 18th Century Equivalent

Capital
Believe me, dear sir, your obliged and faithful humble servant
You are all the go
You are a swell gent
You are a diamond of the first water
You are exceedingly obliging
Haut ton
Topping
Extremely diverting
Debutante
Wondrous
Starved
Completely overthrown
He has a handsome phiz
Rusticating
He has at least ten thousand a year
Ben cove
Flash fawney
Amuse oneself
I am sensible of the honour of your proposals but I am afraid I must decline
The pit
Shabby-genteel lady
Flash mort
Leader of the Ton
Frittering one’s time on inessentials
First rate
Time to pay the piper
Arch-doxy
Having a very agreeable time
Send to the colonies
Extraordinary diverting