The 2000s called. They want their aesthetic back. No, really! Y2K fashion and styles have infiltrated the hearts of many members of Gen Z. Since the early 2020s, there has been a spike in early 2000s trends due to Gen Z’s nostalgia for the decade when almost all of us were kids. Many Gen Zers are even attempting to recreate accessories from that era with a modern touch.
One thing you can’t forget about the 2000s is the abundance of catchphrases and slang. While there are certain phrases we’d rather forget because of their cringy and corny language, others make for perfect Instagram caption ideas. Read on for 40 of the most Y2K-themed Instagram captions from some of the decade’s most popular movies and music (don’t forget the many comebacks!).
- “Suga, how you get so fly?”
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Another way to say “How did you get so beautiful?” from “Suga Suga” by Baby Bash.
- “That’s so fetch.”
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A classic from Mean Girls.
- “Take a chill pill.”
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Take a chill pill was another quirky way of saying “calm down” or “relax,” and I swear this line appeared in practically every Disney Channel original movie of the time.
- “Your love’s got me looking so crazy right now.”
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This is a cute caption idea to show off your SO from “Crazy in Love” by Beyoncé.
- “XOXO, Gossip Girl.”
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Living out your Blaire Waldorf and Serena Van Der Woodsen dreams.
- “Long Way 2 Go.”
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When I went to a Y2K-themed darty, this was my Instagram caption. What? It’s simply too good to pass up and it’s from the iconic song “Long Way 2 Go” by Cassie.
- “’Cause I ain’t no hollaback girl.”
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Lyrically, Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl” pokes fun at haters while emphasizing the importance of being true to yourself and creating your own kind of leader.
- “I’m so 3008, you so 2000 and late.”
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One of the most memorable comebacks of the late 2000s came from “Boom Boom Pow” by the Black Eyed Peas. I’m not entirely sure what this phrase even means, but I know you were just served.
- “Talk to the hand.”
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If you’re using gestures with your hands in your latest Instagram pics, this would make a cute caption.
- “That’s hot.”
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Hands down, one of Paris Hilton’s most iconic catchphrases from the early 2000s.
- “Now I’m feelin’ so fly like a G6.”
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The hip-hop group Far East Movement coined the line “Now I’m feelin’ so fly like a G6” on the single “Like A G6” to symbolize someone who is cool, trendy, and wealthy.
- “Be careful what you wish for ‘cause you just might get it.”
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Five-year-old me played “When I grow Up” by The Pussycat Dolls religiously back in 2008.
- “Hey, MTV. Welcome to my crib.”
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MTV Cribs was the Y2K equivalent of an Architectural Digest video. Most of the celebs and television personalities that appeared on MTV Cribs would begin the show with this classic remark. This is a great saying to use if you want to show off your crib, your home, or even to caption a party with friends.
- “As if!”
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While this catchphrase is most commonly linked with the ’90s teen comedy Clueless, it can still be seen in early 2000s lingo. There’s even a song titled “As If” by Y2K girl trio Blaque that was used as a featured track for the Bring It On movie soundtrack in 2000.
- “The 2000s called. They want their flip phone back.”
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Juicy Couture’s Instagram iconically used this phrase to market their tracksuit line (an essential piece in early 2000 fashion) in a post, and honestly, the caption perfectly encapsulates everything the 2000s were about: flip phones and sick burns.
- “So what’s the sitch?”
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“Sitch” is an abbreviation for situation, and it was one of Kim Possible’s iconic catchphrases during the Disney Channel series’ run in the mid-2000s. The quote was initially meant to help others grasp the context of what was going on, but we can now use it as a fun Instagram idea.
- “Let’s bounce.”
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Another way to say “let’s leave” or “let’s go.” Bounce simply means to arrive or depart from a specific spot, so if you just returned from an epic house party, I think you should use this caption.
- “You just got served.”
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This means you were severely burned. Get some ice ready for that comeback.
- “What you know bout me?”
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That you’re 2 cool 4 school! From the classic song “Lip Gloss” by Lil’ Mama.
- “My lip gloss be poppin’.”
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You should always keep lip gloss on hand if you want to recreate a Y2K aesthetic style. Another lyric from the song “Lip Gloss.”
- “Does he have your number? 1-800-biotch.”
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Viola (played by Amanda Bynes) directs a famous burn at her rival and mean girl Monique in the iconic early 2000s film She’s The Man. Biotch screams the 2000s, as it was an unconventional way of pronouncing b*tch.
- “GTG.”
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An abbreviation for “got to go.”
- “Tonight I’m not takin’ no calls, ’cause I’ll be dancin’.”
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We’re sorry, the number you are trying to reach is not available. Please call again later. On the other hand, you can play Lady Gaga’s “Telephone” on repeat.
- “So, baby, kiss me through the phone.”
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Soulja Boy, tell ‘em! Soulja Boy raps about calling his love on “Kiss Me Thru the Phone,” and, this track will instantly transport you to the late 2000s.
- “Shawty’s like a melody in my head.”
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Just by reading the lyrics, I can hear the song, “Replay” by Iyaz in my head.
- “It’s like my iPod’s stuck on replay.”
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This other line from “Replay” makes me miss my old iPod.
- “Tell me how I’m supposed to breathe with no air.”
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Another dramatic late-2000s way of showing your SO you love them from “No Air” by Jordin Sparks.
- “What? Like it’s hard?”
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The iconic Elle Woods!
- “The girls with a passion 4 fashion.”
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This is the tagline of the ever-popular early 2000s fashion doll, Bratz. The Bratz dolls depicted the girls pursuing their ambitions of becoming fashion designers, and the girls accurately represented fashion trends of the time. Use this caption if you and your BFFs are obsessed with fashion and want to show it off in your next Instagram post.
- “Peace out!”
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A cute way to say “goodbye.”
- “I need a little fabulous, is that so wrong?”
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I think it was almost every young girl’s dream to live like Sharpay Evans when High School Musical first hit the scene back in 2006. This iconic line comes from the sequel in 2007 on the song “Fabulous,” where Sharpay sings about being popular, living the dream, and, of course, being fabulous all the time.
- “TTYL.”
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While the abbreviation for “talk to you later” is still used among Gen Z, it was a much more frequent phrase in the 2000s. It’s also a cute take on the rise of the digital age at the time.
- “Automatic, supersonic, hypnotic, funky fresh.”
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I haven’t heard the phrase “funky fresh” in a while but I do get to hear it from “One, Two Step” by Ciara.
- “On Wednesdays we wear pink.”
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We do! Mean Girls gets it.
- “Fo Shizzle!”
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Thank you, Snoop Dogg! This term, invented by the “Drop It Like It’s Hot” rapper, is a fun way to say “for sure.”
- “Viva La Juicy.”
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Viva La Juicy is a fragrance name coined by the Juicy Couture company in 2008, and its scent, like their tracksuits, was popular among teens and young women at the time. To be honest, I think the phrase is adorable!
- “Where’s my Juicy Couture tracksuit?”
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When it comes to Juicy Couture tracksuits, you can’t go anywhere from that era without seeing someone wearing them.
- “Amigas, cheetahs, friends for life!”
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Hello to all my Cheetah Sistas out there! This line is from the second installment of the Cheetah Girls film franchise, in which the girls travel to Barcelona to compete in a singing competition. This makes a great caption to show off your friends.
- “Wassup, homeskillet?”
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It’s a little cringe-worthy, but it really does illustrate 2000s lingo in the greatest way possible.
- “It’s gonna be a no from me, dawg.”
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Randy Jackson, a former judge on the reality singing competition American Idol, had his own unique catchphrase that became viral during the show’s peak. When rejecting a contestant who lacked what it required to become the next American idol, Jackson would use the phrase to tell them no — and it sort of became its own type of meme.
