From Petting Parties to Netflix and Chill: How Sex Slang Changed Through the Decades
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Why Every Generation Invents New Words for Sex
Here is something funny about human nature.
Every generation seems convinced they invented sex. In reality, they just invented new words for it.
From “making whoopee” to “Netflix and Chill,” the way people talk about intimacy has changed dramatically over the decades. The behavior itself has stayed pretty consistent, but the language we use to describe it evolves with culture, technology, and social norms.
In this episode of Taboo Talk: Not Safe for Brunch, we explored how the slang around sex has shifted through the decades and what that says about how people approach intimacy.
Let’s take a walk through the timeline.
When Sex Was Hidden Behind Polite Language
Long before dating apps and texting existed, people still dated, flirted, and had sex. The difference was that the language around it had to be much more discreet.
In the early and mid 20th century, reputation mattered a lot more, especially for women. People relied on coded language that hinted at intimacy without saying it directly.
Some of the most common terms included:
Necking and Petting
These referred to heavy kissing and touching. The terms were common enough that parents and schools even warned teenagers about “petting parties” during the early 1900s.
Making Whoopee
Popularized by old TV shows like The Newlywed Game, this playful phrase allowed adults to talk about sex without scandalizing the room.
Going Steady
This was the earlier version of being in an exclusive relationship. Once a couple was “going steady,” expectations changed and intimacy was often implied.
Then there were the infamous bases.
First base, second base, third base, and home run.
Even today, many people are still confused about what each base actually means.
The Era of Suggestive but Vague Language
By the 1980s and 1990s, sex was no longer as taboo to discuss openly. But that didn’t mean people wanted perfect clarity.
This era mastered the art of phrases that could mean a lot of things depending on context.
Getting Lucky
A classic phrase that implies sex might happen without stating it outright.
Seeing Someone
This term replaced “going steady” for many people, but it left plenty of room for interpretation. Are they dating? Exclusive? Just casually hanging out?
No one really knew.
Went Home Together
This one usually needed no explanation. If two people left a bar together and went home together, most people assumed what happened next.
Booty Call
By the late 80s and early 90s, this phrase was everywhere. It referred to calling someone specifically for sex, usually with no commitment attached.
The meaning was direct, but still lighthearted enough to say casually.
When Casual Sex Became a Relationship Category
In the early 2000s, new terms emerged that tried to make casual intimacy sound a little safer emotionally.
One of the most popular examples was friends with benefits.
The idea was simple. Two people who were already friends added a sexual component without becoming a romantic couple.
In theory, it sounds clean and straightforward.
In practice, it often gets messy.
Once emotional attachment enters the picture, it becomes much harder to maintain that boundary between friendship and romance.
The Modern Era of Dating Slang
Once texting, social media, and dating apps entered the picture, slang started evolving even faster.
Modern sex slang is usually short, efficient, and often avoids commitment altogether.
Some of the most recognizable examples include:
Netflix and Chill
This phrase exploded online as a joking way to invite someone over for sex while pretending it was about watching TV.
Talking to Someone
This has become the modern version of early dating. But it can mean anything from texting occasionally to actively hooking up.
Link Up
A casual way to suggest meeting up that often implies intimacy without commitment.
Sneaky Link
A private sexual relationship that is intentionally kept secret from others.
Situationship
This term describes a relationship that includes emotional or sexual connection but lacks clear labels or commitment.
Situationships have become increasingly common, especially among people who want companionship but also value independence and autonomy.
The Truth About Sex Slang
When you look at all these phrases across generations, one thing becomes very clear.
The behavior has not changed that much.
People still date.
People still hook up.
People still try to figure out relationships.
What changes is the language we use to talk about it.
Every generation invents new slang to fit their culture, their technology, and their comfort level with intimacy.
So whether someone says they are:
• Making whoopee
• Getting lucky
• Calling a booty call
• Watching Netflix and chilling
• Or stuck in a situationship
They are all speaking different dialects of the same language.
Sex hasn’t changed.
The vocabulary just keeps evolving.