party like it's 1999
To party intensely, particularly when reckless or pessimistic.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“We are going to party like it's 1999 tonight.”
“They party like it's 1999 because they do not care about tomorrow.”
“After finishing our final exams, we decided to go out and party like it's 1999.”
“The company hit its sales goal, so the boss told everyone to head to the bar and party like it's 1999.”
“Even though the economy is struggling, people are still spending their savings to party like it's 1999 this weekend.”
“Ignoring the looming deadline and the mounting pressure of their responsibilities, the group chose to party like it's 1999 for one last night of reckless abandon.”
first recorded 20th c.
Derived from the Prince song 1999, which was released in 1982. The lyric originally referenced a nuclear apocalypse predicted to occur in the year 2000, suggesting that one might as well celebrate with intensity before the arrival of the end.
The phrase was later reinterpreted as the millennium approached. The sense shifted from a pre-apocalyptic gesture to the expectation that the turn of the century required a particularly large celebration.
- 01
all it's cracked up to be
As good as claims or reputation would suggest.
- 02
and the like
And other similar items; et cetera.
- 03
be like
To say.
- 04
built like a brick outhouse
Synonym of built like a brick shithouse.
- 05
built like a brick shipyard
Synonym of built like a brick shithouse.
- 06
built like a brick shithouse
Of a man, having a muscular body, particularly with well-developed muscles of the chest, arms and abdominals.
- 07
do someone like that
to treat someone in a negative manner
- 08
face like the back end of a bus
A very ugly face.
Last updated August 10, 2026