7 Phrases Millennials Left in the Past (And 7 That Are Still Around)

If you survived the era of LimeWire downloads, AIM away messages, and Hot Topic hoodies, then you know millennials had a very specific vocabulary.

We threw around catchphrases like confetti—some stuck around, but others aged about as well as your old MySpace selfies.

Whether it came from a meme, a movie, or just relentless group chat usage, each one had its moment in the sun.

1. “Talk to the hand.”

This sassy comeback ruled as the ultimate verbal shutdown in the early 2000s. These days, it feels as dated as a flip phone with a custom ringtone. Honestly, the hand doesn’t want to talk anymore either.

2. “That’s hot.”

Paris Hilton gave us this one, and we gave it right back after 2007. Today, it flickers only in ironic jest, its fire long extinguished. Now it’s more “lukewarm at best.”

3. “I’m Rick James, b**!”

Thanks, Chappelle’s Show, for giving us this chaotic gem. Unfortunately, quoting it in 2025 just makes you sound like you peaked in a dorm room circa 2004.

4. “Fo shizzle.”

Once a playful way to say “for sure,” now it’s mostly used in dad jokes or ironically by people who own three Snoop Dogg vinyls. You can keep it in the linguistic time capsule next to frosted tips.

5. “Epic fail!”

This quip dominated early meme culture and YouTube comments. Nowadays, it lands more cringe than clever—especially when your uncle drops it for his fantasy football picks.

6. “Cool beans!”

Once a quirky nod of approval, today it screams, “I peaked in middle school.” Say it in public, and someone might hand you a Capri Sun.

7. “All that and a bag of chips.”

This ‘90s staple was oddly specific and deeply satisfying—until it wasn’t. These days, it feels like something a sitcom character from 1998 would say before freeze-framing.

8. “It is what it is.”

This existential shrug of a phrase still hits. It’s our collective way of coping with everything from broken appliances to existential dread.

9. “Big mood.”

Millennials may not invent all the new slang anymore, but this one’s still in regular rotation. It’s short, relatable, and vague enough to fit any emotional state.

10. “No worries.”

Laid-back and stress-averse, just like us. This phrase has aged like a good meme and still works in casual convos, texts, and awkward email replies.

11. “Adulting.”

We still hate it, but we say it all the time—especially when we remember to schedule a dentist appointment or fold laundry the same day it comes out of the dryer.

12. “YOLO.”

Once a reckless battle cry, now it fuels quiet justifications for takeout and impulse vacations. The spirit of YOLO endures, just more responsibly.

13. “Sorry not sorry.”

Passive-aggressive perfection. Whether in captions or comments, it continues to thrive, mostly because we’ve all mastered the art of the faux apology.

14. “Bless this mess.”

Equal parts self-deprecating and Pinterest-ready. Millennials still hang it on signs, post it on stories, and live it daily—because life is chaos with throw pillows.