Ever casually flung a word into a conversation, only to later find out it is loaded with a seriously shady past? Uh-huh—cringeworthy. The language contains receipts, and certain common words we use with impunity actually have a dark and messy history.
From racial origins to classist slurs, these words did not stand the test of time—and nobody knows. Prepare to side-eye your vocabulary and say, “Wait… WHAT did I just say?”
“Hysterical”
“She’s being hysterical”— Ah yes, the go-to insult for women showing any emotion. It’s derived from the Greek word for uterus, “hysterikos.” The original theory was that a woman’s womb roamed around inside her and drove her crazy. Yes, that’s what constituted science. So to call a woman hysterical is, quite literally, to say, “You’re crazy because of your uterus.” Bye.
“Moron”
It may be an endearingly playful word, but it’s got eugenic roots. It was actually used as a serious medical diagnosis for individuals with intellectual disability (low IQ) by early 1900s psychologists—and was used to justify sterilizations and institutional abuse. Turns out that insult carries way more harm than sass.
“Rule of Thumb”
Subtle but gross. The term supposedly owes its origin to a historical British law allowing a man to beat his wife with a stick—so long as it was no thicker than his thumb. While this is legally questionable, still, the term gives off archaic patriarchal vibes.
“Peanut Gallery”
You thought this was just a cute way to shush the hecklers? Plot twist—it is not as innocent as you assume. The “peanut gallery” originally referred to the low-cost seats at segregated theatres, where Black patrons were forced to sit. So, with “no comments from the peanut gallery,” you’re throwing more shade than you realize.
“Sold Down the River”
This is a poetic-sounding but actually vicious phrase. It’s an old-timey term that originated during American slavery when enslaved individuals were literally sold down the Mississippi River to brutal plantations. When you say this to tell someone you’ve been traitorously doublecrossed, you’re accidentally invoking one of history’s darkest acts of betrayal. Big yikes.
“Grandfathered In”
Sounds harmless, right? Wrong. This term originated with racist post-Civil War laws meant to prevent Black Americans from voting. If your grandfather had voting privileges before emancipation, you qualified to vote—i.e., white men were the only ones who got the pass. These days, it’s used in policies and contracts, but its origin? Not cute.
“Gyp”
Ever heard a person say “I got gypped”? Yikes. It’s an “I got cheated” kind of slang, but its origin is rooted in racism against the Romani people—yes, the same folks commonly derisively called “gypsies.” Saying “gyp” perpetuates an ugly stereotype that Romani people are dishonest. Time to trade it in for something cleaner, such as “ripped off,” before you get called out.
“Lame”
Describing something as being lame, meaning boring or cringeworthy. Oof. Historically, this term referred to people with physical disabilities—those with mobility impairments (cripple). Time to retire this one and use literally any improved adjective.
“Cakewalk”
Something being “a cakewalk” sounds sugary and simple—but here’s the gross truth. Cakewalks began as racist minstrel performances, and enslaved individuals performed parodic dances ridiculing white slave owners… and the winners received a cake. White audiences later mimicked it for fun. Not so sweet anymore, huh?
“Uppity”
Ever been called “uppity“? Brace yourself. This word was used during segregation in the US to refer to Black people who “did not know their place“—i.e., had the audacity to want equality. It reeks of racist condescension, and to use it now hits far differently.
“Spirit Animal”
We all love saying Beyoncé is our spirit animal, but it is a cultural overstep. The term originated with Indigenous cultures, with which spirit animals are intimate and personal. Invoking it as a quirk or as a punchline erases its significance—and that’s cultural appropriation 101. Instead, just say “vibe match” or “soul twin.”
“Savage”
Labeling something or a person as “savage” comes with a history of colonizers labeling Indigenous individuals as wild, subhuman beings. It has a long track record of justifying violence and erasure. It may be “trendy” or “feisty” these days, but the term comes with centuries of harm.
“Hip Hip Hooray”
Bet you never thought this one was shady. During violent anti-Semitic riots in 19th-century Europe, perpetrators allegedly yelled “Hep! Hep!” (a Latin slogan used to target Jews). Our modern celebratory cheer may have evolved from that disturbing origin. Major side-eye.
“Basket Case”
This one’s just plain disturbing. “Basket case” started as a term for WWI soldiers who lost all four limbs and were carried around in baskets. It became slang for just being mentally disturbed at some point. So, yes, it’s traumatic and ableist. Try just saying “stressed” sometimes, okay?
“Barbarian”
Originally used by ancient Greeks to mock anyone who did not speak their language and sounded like “bar bar bar”, it morphed into a term implying “uncivilized” or “savage.” AKA: a classist, racist diss in disguise. Feeling like calling someone a barbarian anymore? Might wanna rethink that.
“Long Time No See”
This phrase seems cute and innocent, but it actually mimics stereotypical “broken” English from Chinese and Indigenous communities. It was used to mock the way they spoke English when it wasn’t their first language. What sounds like casual slang today has seriously xenophobic roots.
“No Can Do”
Used to be playful or colloquial, but like “long time, no see,” it’s got a history of mocking Chinese immigrants’ language. It is a throwback to a time when people made jokes out of broken grammar—and made racism into a joke.
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