In the 1990s, a comedian named Borat? No. It was Wayne's World. "NOT" was an exclamation meaning "just kidding." You say something, then shout "NOT!" It takes it back. "I love your haircut. NOT!" It is a joke. It is a 90s slang. It is dated. It is also nostalgic.

NOT was popularized by the movie Wayne's World in 1992. It was already a schoolyard joke. The movie made it famous. It spread everywhere. T-shirts. SNL. It was a catchphrase. It faded by the late 90s. It is rarely used now. But it is remembered.

Related slang

• Psych: just kidding, similar.
• JK: just kidding, text form.
• Sike: just kidding, 90s slang.
• Not: the exclamation, dated.

NOT is a piece of pop culture history. It is a word that had a moment. It is not coming back. But it is a reminder. Slang changes fast. What is cool today is cringe tomorrow. NOT is a time capsule. It holds a decade. It holds a laugh.