Published • Vintage Slang • 1990s

My Bad: The Casual Apology That Stuck

Summary: A concise, everyday way to own a mistake—no drama required.

In this post:
  • What “my bad” means and where it came from
  • How people used it in the 1990s
  • Modern equivalents and pop-culture examples
  • Related slang to explore next

What does “my bad” mean?

“My bad” is a quick apology admitting fault; it spread through sports talk and sitcoms.

How it was used in the 1990s

“Forgot your tape—my bad.” The phrasing became global internet English.

Modern equivalents

my fault
oops
that’s on me