Boss: When ‘The Boss’ Meant Cool, Not Manager
Summary: In teen slang, ‘boss’ became a compliment for anything first-rate.
In this post:
- What “boss” 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 “boss” mean?
By the mid‑century, “boss” meant excellent or impressive—especially in youth and music scenes.
How it was used in the 1950s
“That guitar solo was boss,” or “This ride is boss,” praised quality.
Modern equivalents
• excellent
• cool
• first‑rate