The Lingo Lab: What the Kids Are Saying

Are You the Rizzler of Oz?

There’s no quicker fix to feeling old than learning the terms of the youth. This is a gift that we enjoy giving — and give we will. How to Be Less Old will regularly be boxing up some terms and dropping them off to your inbox like it’s birthday morning.

Because we have all been there. You are talking to a youth who slips something into conversation that has you wondering if you misunderstood them or if that’s brand new, hot-off-the-press lingo that just dropped.

But of course you play it cool cause you’re a fucking cucumber. 

We’ve all sung songs with lyrics that had meanings we didn’t understand. Please enjoy a throwback listen to when Deanna and Emily got schooled on the meaning of Truffle Butter:  

Listen to this 2015 NSFW HTBLO throwback ft. Jackie Schimmel

When we tell you that we did not have a clue what truffle butter meant. We did not. 

Or maybe we do understand, but Emily still lets her 6-year-old belt out “Watermelon Sugar High” anyway because Harry Styles is a close second to vaginas on the amazing-scale. 

But the truth remains, in order to be less old, we need to know. So here are three terms we are unpacking: “Entered the chat,” “Rizz” and “Main character.” 

As part of our commitment to this continuing education program we promise you we will stay on top of terms. What’s coming in, what’s going out and what the hell do they mean?

Introducing our youth correspondents 15-year-old Lilah and 12-year-old Louie who agreed to lend us all a hand. 

Entered The Chat

Louie (12): That’s from 5 years ago. 

Lilah (15): It’s not used very literally. Ex: if you’re talking about smoking or something you’d say “lung cancer has entered the chat.” 

WHAT WE’RE HEARING: Sounds like there is still room to enjoy the phrase “entered the chat” but be advised you probably only have about six months left. If you are willing to take that risk don’t play it safe. Get creative. The phrase was referencing the old chat room days. A new person would join and you’d get an alert that so-and-so has “entered the chat”.

BASIC APPLICATION: 

Emily looks over and sees that Deanna’s cup of coffee is low; she says “looks like a refill has entered the chat.” 

ADVANCED APPLICATION: 

Emily is attempting to read the comments on one of our Substack articles but the print is too small, she turns to Deanna and says “Readers have entered the chat.”  Nailed it! 

Rizz 

Louie (12): It’s basically your ability to attract people. I would use it like: “Blaise is the rizzler of Oz!” 

Lilah (15): I personally think it’s so stupid and yuck, but people use it a lot although I think it's dying down, short for “charisma,” basically like sweet talking someone sorta???

WHAT WE ARE HEARING:  Our hair is BLOWN BACK that RIZZ is short of CHARISMA! Love that - how clever!  We first saw the term riz in reference to Pete Davidson. It was around the time he was dating Kim K and someone on twitter wrote “Davidson has mad riz.” 

USE OR SKIP? Feels like this one may burn hot like the sun and then vanish before we get up the courage to take it for a spin.

*Big shout out to Blaise. To be the Rizzler of Oz at the tender age of twelve is huge. Stay humble lil’ man. 

Main Character

Louie (12): Someone who is really good at everything. 

Lilah (15): It’s for annoying people who think the world revolves around them. You would kind of ironically say “wow, main character moment” or “they’re the main character.” 

WHAT WE ARE HEARING: Seems like calling someone a “main character” can be a compliment but can also veer into a “pick me” area. (Pick Me - coming soon.) We are predicting that the phrase “main character” will be with us for a very, very long time. It just has that special, sticky, je ne sais quoi type of ring to it.

We are going to translate “main character” to what we know - The Real Housewives. Jenna Lyons, former executive creative director of J.Crew, said yes to being on the newest iteration of RHONY and oh my god she is giving us “main character” energy (the good kind). She eats up every scene in the most understated way. We can’t take our eyes off her. She is a total icon. Now Brynn, on the other hand, has been pushing over to the Lilah definition of a “main character.” She is very aware of the cameras and seems to have her snappy lines curated and ready to go (love her though, tbh). Truthfully, we hope you see us as main characters or at the very least a multi-season recurrings. 

Louie added in a BONUS TERM: He asked if we knew plot armor? 

BONUS TERM: Plot Armor

Louie (12) It’s like when your main character is supposed to die but they have a moment that saves them.

Leave us a comment with a term that has entered YOUR chat - see what we did there???? (p.s. what we did there has zero riz.)

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