Appendix:Grunge speak hoax
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In 1992, the New York Times published an article reporting on the grunge subculture which was then in vogue. The article included a "lexicon of grunge speak", provided by 25-year-old Seattlite Megan Jasper. It was later revealed that all of the terms had been invented by Jasper herself to test her interviewers' gullibility; the lexicon, as it appeared in the original article, is provided below.[1] According to Jasper, one of her terms was not published in the Times article: tuna platter, which she had defined as a "hot date".[2]
More information may be found at 
Grunge speak on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
| Term | Alleged definition | [Notes / Comments] |
|---|---|---|
| WACK SLACKS | Old ripped jeans | Compare wack (“annoyingly or disappointingly bad”) and slacks (“semi-formal trousers which are less formal than those that are part of a suit but nowadays are considered suitable casualwear in most offices”). |
| FUZZ | Heavy wool sweaters | |
| PLATS | Platform shoes | Compare flat (“a type of ladies' shoe with a very low heel”). |
| KICKERS | Heavy boots | |
| SWINGIN' ON THE FLIPPITY-FLOP | Hanging out | |
| BOUND-AND-HAGGED | Staying home on Friday or Saturday night | |
| SCORE | Great | Arguably an accurate definition (although not particular to grunge); see score § Interjection. |
| HARSH REALM | Bummer | |
| COB NOBBLER | Loser | |
| DISH | Desirable guy | Compare snack (“A very sexy and attractive person”). |
| BLOATED, BIG BAG OF BLOATATION | Drunk | Compare bloated (“swollen with fluid or gas”). |
| LAMESTAIN | Uncool person | Compare shitstain (“a stupid or contemptible person”). |
| TOM-TOM CLUB | Uncool outsiders | Compare tom-tom (“A small joined pair of drums, beaten with the hands”), although no apparent semantic connection exists. |
| ROCK ON | A happy goodbye | A real term (rock on), but not attested in the given definition. |
References[edit]
- ^ Rick Marin (1992 November 15) “Grunge: A Success Story”, in The New York Times[1], New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2023-07-16, section 9, page 9
- ^ Douglas Perry (2020 December 24) “Swingin' on the flippity-flop: Remembering the fake Northwest 'grunge lexicon' embraced by the New York Times”, in The Oregonian[2], Portland, O.R.: Advance Publications, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 17 August 2020