If you grew up in the 1970s, you may remember hearing the word \u201clid\u201d used in a way that had nothing to do with the top of a jar or a pot. In the slang of the era, \u201clid\u201d could refer to a hat, especially a stylish one worn as part of someone\u2019s outfit. Saying someone had a \u201ccool lid\u201d was a casual way of complimenting their hat or overall look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The word had been used as slang for a hat long before the 1970s, but it remained familiar in American informal speech during that decade. Depending on the person and the setting, a \u201clid\u201d could mean anything from a baseball cap to a dressier hat. Hats were still an important part of many people\u2019s everyday wardrobes, making the expression easy to understand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 1970s also had plenty of memorable hat styles, from wide-brimmed designs and fedoras to colorful caps and casual sun hats. Fashion changed quickly, but calling a hat a \u201clid\u201d gave the word a relaxed, playful feel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, \u201clid\u201d is much more commonly understood as a cover or top, so the slang meaning may sound strange to younger generations. For those who remember the \u201970s, however, hearing someone call a hat a \u201clid\u201d can bring back a little piece of the era\u2019s everyday language\u2014and perhaps a few memories of the fashions that came with it.<\/p>\n