Language evolves quickly, and things we say as compliments today would have been shocking and insulting to people just 100 years ago.
“You’re so skinny.”
Skinny is now often used as a synonym for beautiful and fit. A century ago, it might’ve implied you were poor, diseased, underfed, or led a rough life.
During a time when food was scarce and sickness ran rampant, most people considered looking plump and healthy much more attractive.
“She’s very independent.”
Independence is now held up as a positive trait that means confidence and strength. To someone from 100 years ago, someone who was “too independent,” especially a woman, might be stubborn, hard to handle, or refuse to conform.
“That party was crazy.”
100 years ago, if someone told you something was “crazy,” it would have worried or offended you. Now you might say something was “crazy” as a compliment.
You’d say that your date took you to crazy places or that the concert was crazy awesome. A crazy party implies that everyone there had the time of their lives.
“You look really tanned.”
Getting a nice tan these days means vacation, good health, and sex appeal.
Back in the 1900s, pale white skin was considered classy and beautiful. It meant you were wealthy enough that you didn’t have to work outside in the sun all day.
“She makes a mean lasagna.”
Mean used to mean the complete opposite of skilled or talented. Saying someone was mean used to mean they were unpleasant or a bad person.
However, in modern slang, “mean” describes how good someone’s cooking, music, or talent is. Today, if someone says someone makes a mean lasagna, they are complimenting them.
“She’s ambitious.”
Ambition these days is empowering. A woman who was ambitious 100 years ago might’ve been considered aggressive or threatening.
During that time period, society often expected women to want marriage and family life more than ambition and career.
“He’s emotional and sensitive.”
These days, Emotional people are considered open and mature. The stereotype used to be that men should stay stoic, tough, and unemotional.
Back then, if a man confessed to being emotional or sensitive, it was practically the same as saying he was female.
“He helps raise the children.”
Hands-on dads are celebrated today. 100 years ago, it was thought that women did all the childcare with barely any help from their husbands.
If a man was just as big a caregiver as the mother, he was laughed at for being weak or not masculine enough.
“That outfit is wicked.”
If someone told you your outfit was “wicked” 100 years ago, you would have been offended. Why? Because “wicked” used to mean evil and immoral.
Now people flip words and use them to mean the complete opposite. If someone compliments your outfit by saying it’s wicked, they’re probably saying it’s really cool or awesome-looking.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.