faboo

As an English teacher, I’m often asked if there are any words that only certain groups of Americans use. This week’s word definitely falls into that category. Generally speaking, you will never hear faboo or its synonym fantabulous from a macho man (unless he is one of the Village People). In this quote, it’s being used to talk about a new Broadway musical starring the sexually ambiguous Boy George.

The most common slang variation on fabulous is fab, the sixties equivalent of awesome (great). Back in the day when they were singing I Want to Hold Your Hand, the Beatles were known as the Fab Four. But times have changed. Now the Fab Five are the trendy self-improvement experts on Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, quoted in last week’s newsletter.

Queer is a derogatory term (noun/adjective) meaning gay, but it is not insulting when used by gay people. Straight, of course, is heterosexual. If you don’t live in the States (or don’t have cable) Queer Eye for the Straight Guy is a reality TV show on which a woman asks five stylish gay men to give her unfashionable boyfriend or husband a makeover and teach him to be romantic. Here's a typical piece of advice from Queer Eye's Carson Kressley on why men should buy expensive beauty products: “Bad credit you can clear up. Bad skin leaves scars.”

A. C. Kemp | January 15, 2004