Go Steady: The 1950s Blueprint for Dating
Summary: Before ‘official’ on social apps, there was ‘going steady’—exclusive dating.
In this post:
- What “go steady” means and where it came from
- How people used it in the 1950s
- Modern equivalents and pop-culture examples
- Related slang to explore next
What does “go steady” mean?
To “go steady” meant a committed, exclusive relationship, often marked by class rings and pinned photos.
How it was used in the 1950s
“They’re going steady now”—a phrase found in yearbooks, soda shops, and sock hops.
Modern equivalents
• exclusive
• committed
• official