ENGLISH
REFERENCE

party like it's 1999

idiom
Meaning

To party intensely, particularly when reckless or pessimistic.


Origin

first recorded 20th c.

From the Prince song called 1999 and released in 1982. The song uses the phrase in reference to a nuclear apocalypse predicted to occur in the year 2000, but it was later reinterpreted as meaning that the turn of the millennium calls for a particularly large celebration.

Examples
SIMPLE

We are going to party like it's 1999 tonight.

CONTEXTUAL

After finishing our final exams, we decided to go out and party like it's 1999.

COMPLEX

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.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    all it's cracked up to be

    As good as claims or reputation would suggest.

  2. 02

    and the like

    And other similar items; et cetera.

  3. 03

    be like

    To say.

  4. 04

    built like a brick outhouse

    Synonym of built like a brick shithouse.

  5. 05

    built like a brick shipyard

    Synonym of built like a brick shithouse.

  6. 06

    built like a brick shithouse

    Of a man, having a muscular body, particularly with well-developed muscles of the chest, arms and abdominals.

  7. 07

    do someone like that

    to treat someone in a negative manner

  8. 08

    face like the back end of a bus

    A very ugly face.

Last updated July 12, 2026