1920's slang

Slang of the
1920s
A
1. ab-so-lute-ly: affirmative, yes
2. absent treatment: dancing with a timid partner
3. air tight: very attractive
4. Airedale: an unattractive man
5. alarm clock: a chaperone
6. all wet: incorrect
7. And how!: I strongly agree!
8. ankle: to walk, i.e.. "Let's ankle!"
9. applesauce: flattery, nonsense, i.e.. "Aw, applesauce!"
10. Attaboy!: well done!; also, Attagirl!

B
11. baby: sweetheart. Also denotes something of high value or respect.
12. baby grand: heavily built man
13. baby vamp: an attractive or popular female, student.
14. balled up: confused, messed up.
15. baloney: Nonsense!
16. banana oil!: I doubt that!
17. Bank's closed: no kissing or making out i.e. "Sorry, mac, bank's closed."
18. bearcat: a fiery girl
19. beat it: scram, get lost.
20. beat one's gums: idle chatter
21. bee's knee's: terrific; a fad expression. Dozens of "animal anatomy" variations existed such as: elephant's eyebrows, gnat's whistle, eel's hips, etc.
22. beef: a complaint or to complain.
23. beeswax: business, i.e. "None of your beeswax."
24. bell bottom: a sailor
25. bent: drunk
26. berries: (1) perfect (2) money
27. Bible Belt: Area in the South and Midwest where Fundamentalism flourishes
28. big cheese: important person
29. big six: a strong man; from auto advertising, for the new and powerful six cylinder engines. 30. big timer: A charming and romantic man

31. billboard: a flashy man or woman
32. bimbo: a tough guy
33. bird: general term for a man or woman, sometimes meaning "odd," i.e. "What a funny old bird."
34. Blind Date: going out with someone you do not know
35. blooey: the condition when one has gone to pieces
36. Bluenose: An excessively puritanical person, a prude, Creator of "the Blue Nozzle
Curse."
37. blotto: drunk, especially to an extreme
38. blow: (1) a crazy party (2) to leave
39. blue serge: a sweetheart
40. bootleg: illegal liquor
41. breezer: a convertible car
42. Bronx Cheer: A loud spluttering noise, used to indicate disapproval. Same as raspberry
43. bug-eyed Betty: an unattractive girl, student.
44. bull: (1) a policeman or law-enforcement official, including FBI. (2) nonsense (3) to chat idly, to exaggerate
45. bump off: to murder, to kill
46. bum's rush, the: ejection by force from an establishment
47. bunk: nonsense
48. bunny: a term of endearment applied to the lost, confused, etc. Often coupled with "poor little." 49. bus: any old or worn out car.
50. Butt me: I'll take a cigarette.

C
51. cake-eater: a lady's man
52. canceled stamp: A shy girl at a dance or party
53. caper: a criminal act or robbery.
54. Carry a Torch: To have a crush on someone
55. cash: a kiss
56. Cash or check?: Do we kiss now or later?
57. cast a kitten: to have a fit. Used in both humorous and serious situations. i.e. "Stop tickling me or I'll cast a kitten!" Also, "have kittens."
58. cat's meow: great, also "cat's pajamas" and "cat's whiskers"
59. Cat's Pajamas: Same as cat's meow
60. Charlie: a man with a mustache
61. chassis: the female body
62. cheaters: eye glasses
63. check: Kiss me later.
64. chewing gum: double-speak, or ambiguous talk.
65. chin music: gossip
66. choice bit of calico: attractive female, student.
67. chopper: a Thompson Sub-Machine Gun, due to the damage its heavy .45 caliber rounds did to the human body.

68. chunk of lead: an unattractive female, student.
69. ciggy: cigarette
70. clam: a dollar
71. coffin varnish: bootleg liquor, often poisonous.
72. copacetic: excellent
73. crasher: a person who attends a party uninvited
74. crush: infatuation
75. cuddler: one who likes to make out

D
76. Daddy: a young woman's boyfriend, especially if he's rich
77. daddy-o: a term of address
78. dame: a female. Did not gain widespread use until the 1930's.
79. dapper: a Flapper's dad
80. darb: a great person or thing. "That movie was darb."
81. dead soldier: an empty beer bottle.
82. deb: a debutant.
83. declaration of independence: a divorce
84. dewdropper: a young man who sleeps all day and doesn't have a job
85. dick: a private investigator. Coined around 1900, the term finds major recognition in the
20's.
86. dimbox: a taxi
87. dimbox jaunt: a taxi ride
88. dogs: feet
89. doll: an attractive woman.
90. dolled up: dressed up
91. don't know from nothing: doesn't have any information
92. don't take any wooden nickels: don't do anything stupid.
93. dope: drugs, esp. cocaine or opium.
94. doublecross: to cheat, stab in the back.
95. dough: money
96. drugstore cowboy: A well-dressed man who loiters in public areas trying to pick up women. 97. dry up: shut up, get lost
98. ducky: very good
99. dud up: to dress up
100.
dumb Dora: an absolute idiot, a dumbbell, especially a woman; flapper.

E
101.
102.
103.
104.

earful: enough edge: intoxication, a buzz. i.e. "I've got an edge."
Edisoned: questioned egg: a person who lives the big life

105.

embalmer: a bootlegger

106.

face stretcher: an old woman trying to look young
107.
fag: a cigarette.
108.
Father Time: any man over 30
109.
fella: fellow. As common in its day as "man,"
"dude," or "guy" is today. "That John sure is a swell fella."
110.
fire extinguisher: a chaperone
111.
fish: (1) a college freshman (2) a first timer in prison 112. flapper: the modern woman of the 1920s.
113.
flat tire: a bore
114.
flivver: a Ford Model T; after 1928, also could mean any broken down car.
115.
floorflusher: an insatiable dancer
116.
flour lover: a girl with too much face powder fly boy: a glamorous term for an aviator
For crying out loud!: same usage as today four-flusher: a person who feigns wealth while mooching off others.
Frame: To give false evidence , to set up someone fried: drunk

F

117.
118.
119.
120.
121.

G
122.
gams: legs
123.
gatecrasher: see "crasher"
124.
gay: happy or lively
125.
get-up: an outfit.
126.
get a wiggle on: get a move on, get going
127.
get in a lather: get worked up, angry 128. giggle water: booze
129.
gigolo: dancing partner
130.
gimp: cripple; one who walks with a limp. Gangster Dion
O’Bannion was called Gimpy due to his noticeable limp.
131.
gin mill: a seller of hard liquor; a cheap speakeasy
132.
glad rags: "going out on the town" clothes
133.
go chase yourself: get lost, scram.

134. gold-digger: a woman who pursues men for their money.
135.
goods, the: (1) the right material, or a person who has it (2) the facts, the truth,
i.e. "Make sure the cops don't get the goods on you."
136.
goof: (1) a stupid or bumbling person, (2) a boyfriend, flapper.
137.
goofy: in love
138.
greenland: a park
139.
grubber: one who borrows cigarettes
140.
grummy: depressed
141.
grungy: envious

H
142.
hair of the dog: a shot of alcohol.
143.
half seas over: drunk, also "half under."
144.
handcuff: engagement ring
145.
hard-boiled: tough, as in, a tough guy, ie: "he sure is hard-boiled!"
146.
harp: an Irishman
147.
hayburner: (1) a gas guzzling car (2) a horse one loses money on
148.
heavy sugar: a lot of money
149.
heebie-jeebies: "the shakes," named after a hit song.
150.
heeler: a poor dancer
151.
hen coup: a beauty parlor
152.
high hat: a snob, haughty, unapproachable
153.
hike: a walk.
154.
hip to the jive: cool, trendy
155.
hit on all sixes: to perform 100 per cent; as "hitting on all six cylinders"; perhaps a more common variation in these days of four cylinder engines was "hit on all fours".
See "big six".
156.
hokum: nonsense
157.
hooch: booze
158.
hood: hoodlum
159.
hooey: nonsense.
160.
hoof: to walk
161.
Hoofer: Dancer or chorus girl
162.
hope chest: pack of cigarettes
163.
hopped up: under the influence of drugs
164.
hopper: a dancer
165.
horn in: to get into a dance without an invitation
166.
Hot dawg!: Great!; also: "Hot socks!" Rarely spelled as shown outside of flapper circles until popularized by 1940s comic strips.
167.
hot sketch: a card or cut-up
168.
Hotsy – Totsy: Pleasing

I
169.
"I have to go see a man about a dog.": "I've got to leave now," often meaning to go buy whiskey.
170.
icy mitt: rejection
171.
insured: engaged
172.
iron: a motorcycle, among motorcycle enthusiasts
173.
iron one’s shoelaces: to go to the restroom
174.
ish kabibble: a retort meaning "I should care."
175.
It: Sex appeal. Actress Clara Bow was the ‘it’ girl.

J
176.
jack: money
177.
Jake: great, ie. "Everything's Jake."
178.
Jalopy: a dumpy old car
179.
Jane: any female
180.
java: coffee
181.
jeepers creepers: exclamation
182.
jerk soda: to dispense soda from a tap; thus, "soda jerk"
183.
jitney: a car employed as a private bus. Fare was usually five-cents; also called a
"nickel."
184. joe: coffee
185.
Joe Brooks: a perfectly dressed person; student.
186.
john: a toilet
187.
joint: establishment or club, usually selling alcohol
188.
juice joint: a speakeasy

K
189.
190.
191.
192.
193.
194.

kale: money keen: appealing killjoy: a solemn person kisser: mouth kneeduster: skirt know one's onions: to know one's business or what one is talking about

L
195.
lalapazaza: a good sport
196.
lay off: cut the nonsense
197.
left holding the bag: (1) to be cheated out of one's fair share (2) to be blamed for something 198.
199.
200.
201.
202.
203.
204.

let George do it: a work evading phrase level with me: be honest limey: a British soldier or citizen, from World War I line: a false story, as in "to feed one a line." lip stick: a cigarette live wire: a lively person lollygagger: an idle person

M
205.

218.

mad money: carfare home to be used by a flapper if she has a fight with her date.
206.
manacle: wedding ring
207.
mazuma: money
208.
meringue: personality
209.
Mick: a derogatory term for Irishmen
210.
Middle Aisle: To marry
211.
milquetoast: a very timid person; from the comic book character Casper Milquetoast, a henpecked male.
212.
mind your potatoes: mind your own business. 213.
Moll: A gangster's girl
214.
mooch: to leave
215.
moonshine: homemade whiskey
216.
mop: a handkerchief
217.
Mrs. Grundy: A priggish or extremely tight-laced person munitions: face powder

N
219.
220.
221.
222.
223.
224.
225.
226.

neck: to kiss passionately necker: a girl who wraps her arms around her boyfriend's neck.
Nerts!: I am amazed! nifty: great, excellent
Nobody Home: Describes some one who is dumb noodle juice: tea
Not so good!: I personally disapprove.
"Now you're on the trolley!” Now you've got it, now you're right.

227.
228.

Oh yeah!: I doubt it! oil burner: a person who chews gum

O

229. old boy: a male term of address, used in conversation with other males. Denoted acceptance in a social environment. Also "old man" "old fruit." "How's everything old boy?" 230.
Oliver Twist: a skilled dancer
231.
on a toot: a drinking binge 232. on the lam: fleeing from police
233.
on the level: legitimate, honest
234.
on the up and up: on the level
235.
orchid: an expensive item 236. ossified: drunk
237.
owl: a person who's out late

P
238.
palooka: (1) a below-average or average boxer (2) a social outsider, from the comic strip character Joe Palooka, who came from humble ethnic roots
239.
panic: to produce a big reaction from one's audience
240.
panther sweat: whiskey
241.
peppy: vigorous, energetic
242.
percolate: (1) to boil over (2) As of 1925, to run smoothly; "perk"
243.
pet: necking
244.
petting pantry: movie theater
245.
petting party: one or more couples making out in a room or auto
246.
piffle: baloney
247.
piker: (1) a cheapskate (2) a coward
248.
pill: (1) a teacher (2) an unlikable person
249.
pinch: to arrest. Pinched: to be arrested.
250.
pinko: liberal
251.
pipe down: stop talking
252.
prom-trotter: a student who attends all school social functions
253.
pos-i-lute-ly: affirmative, also "pos-i-tive-ly"
254.
prune pit: anything that is old-fashioned
255.
punch the bag: small talk
256.
Pushover: A person easily convinced
257.
putting on the ritz: after the Ritz Hotel in Paris (and its namesake Caesar Ritz); doing something in high style. Also "ritzy."

Q
258.

quilt: a drink that warms one up

259.
260.
261.
262.
263.
264.
265.
266.
267.
268.
269.
270.

rag-a-muffin: a dirty or disheveled individual rain pitchforks: a downpour razz: to make fun of
Real McCoy: a genuine item regular: normal, typical, average; "Regular fella."
Reuben: an unsophisticated country bumpkin. Also "rube"
Rhatz!: How disappointing!
Ritzy: Elegant (from the hotel)
Rock of Ages: a woman over the age of 30. rub: a student dance party rubes: money or dollars rummy: a drunken bum

R

S
271.
sap: a fool, an idiot. Very common term in the 20s.
272.
says you: a reaction of disbelief
273.
Scram: Ask someone to leave immediately
274.
scratch: money
275.
screaming meemies: the shakes
276.
screw: get lost, get out, etc. Occasionally, in pre 1930 talkies (such as The
Broadway Melody) screw is used to tell a character to leave.
277.
screwy: crazy; "You're screwy!"
278.
sheba: one's girlfriend
279.
sheik: one's boyfriend
280.
shiv: a knife
281.
simolean: a dollar
282.
sinker: a doughnut
283.
sitting pretty: in a prime position 284. skirt: an attractive female
285.
smarty: a cute flapper
286.
smoke-eater: a smoker
287.
smudger: a close dancer
288.
snake charmer: a woman involved in bootlegging
289.
sockdollager: an action having a great impact

290.
291.
292.
293.
294.
295.
296.
297.
298.
299.
300.
301.
302.
303.
304.
305.
306.

so's your old man: a reply of irritation speakeasy: a bar selling illegal liquor
Spiffy: An elegant appearance spill: to talk splifficated: drunk spoon: to neck, or at least talk of love squirrel: to hide static: (1) empty talk (2) conflicting opinion stilts: legs streeted: thrown out of a party struggle: modern dance
Struggle Buggy: the backseat of a car. stuck on: having a crush on; in love. stutter bus: a truck sugar daddy: older boyfriend who showers girlfriend with gifts swanky: (1) good (2) elegant swell: (1) good (2) a high class person

T
307.
take someone for a ride: to take someone to a deserted location and murder them. 308. tasty: appealing
309.
teenager: not a common term until
1930; before then, the term was "young adults." 310. ten cent box: a taxi cab
311.
tell it to Sweeney: tell it to someone who'll believe it.
312.
tight: attractive
313.
Tin Pan Alley: the music industry in New York, located between 48th and
52nd Streets
314.
tomato: a female
315.
torpedo: a hired thug or hitman

U
316.
317.
318.

V

unreal: special upchuck: to vomit upstage: snobby

319.
320.

vamp: a seducer of men, an aggressive flirt voot: money

W
321.
322.
323.
324.
325.
326.
327.
328.
329.

water-proof: a face that doesn't require make-up weasel: a young man who steals a girl from her boyfriend wet blanket: see Killjoy wife: dorm roommate, student.
What's eating you?: What's wrong? whoopee: wild fun windsucker: a braggart
Woof! Woof!: ridicule wurp: a killjoy

330.

You slay me!: That's funny!

331.

zozzled: drunk

X
Y
Z

Sources: http://home.earthlink.net/~dlarkins/slang-pg.htm; http://local.aaca.org/bntc/slang/slang.htm;
Flappers 2 Rappers, American Youth Slang, by Tom Dalzell.