New Street Vocab
It's very easy to feel very old and out of touch when it comes to "street vocab" -- you know those phrases that you hear people use for the first time that seem to come out of now where. So I try to stay up to date, not so much that I'm going to use the words myself but more so that I know what people are talking about!
So here's three new phrases that I've been hearing around town:
From the conference room: "Boil the Ocean."
I'd love a dime for every time I've heard this one in the past three months. It took me a few times to figure it out, but after a few too many "let's not boil the ocean" I finally got that it means "let's focus." Got it.
From the tweets: "Flawsome."
Admittedly I got this one right away, mostly because it was in context. But it quickly became one of those words that while I thought was a one-off, turns out it's becoming a "thing." "That which gives us flaws makes us awesome, Flawsome." Kinda dig it.
From the schools: "What's Gucci."
This one came from my son, while at his College Freshman Orientation. I sent a text to see if he was ok. His response, "What's Gucci?" My reply back, "What do you mean what's Gucci? It's an Italian brand that makes clothing and leather goods." I'm so out of touch! His very patient response, "Dad, it means what's up or what's making you happy right now." uuuuoooohhhh.
Gotta keep up on the streets, folks, where ever those streets may be!
What's your experience? Jim.
Jim Joseph
- President, Cohn & Wolfe NA
- Author, The Experience Effect series
- Professor, NYU
- Contributor, Entrepreneur
So here's three new phrases that I've been hearing around town:
From the conference room: "Boil the Ocean."
I'd love a dime for every time I've heard this one in the past three months. It took me a few times to figure it out, but after a few too many "let's not boil the ocean" I finally got that it means "let's focus." Got it.
From the tweets: "Flawsome."
Admittedly I got this one right away, mostly because it was in context. But it quickly became one of those words that while I thought was a one-off, turns out it's becoming a "thing." "That which gives us flaws makes us awesome, Flawsome." Kinda dig it.
From the schools: "What's Gucci."This one came from my son, while at his College Freshman Orientation. I sent a text to see if he was ok. His response, "What's Gucci?" My reply back, "What do you mean what's Gucci? It's an Italian brand that makes clothing and leather goods." I'm so out of touch! His very patient response, "Dad, it means what's up or what's making you happy right now." uuuuoooohhhh.
Gotta keep up on the streets, folks, where ever those streets may be!
What's your experience? Jim.
Jim Joseph
- President, Cohn & Wolfe NA
- Author, The Experience Effect series
- Professor, NYU
- Contributor, Entrepreneur