Glossary of early twentieth century slang in the United States
Excerpted from:
Fitzgerald: My Lost City, Personal EssaysThe tempo of the city had changed sharply. The uncertainties of 1920 were drowned in a steady golden roar. But the restlessness of New York in 1927 approached hysteria. The parties were bigger, the pace was faster, the shows were broader, the buildings were higher, the morals were looser, and the liquor was cheaper. but all those benefits did not really minister to much delight.
– F. Scott Fitzgerald[1]
This glossary of early twentieth century slang in the United States is an alphabetical collection of colloquial expressions and their idiomatic meaning from the 1900s to the 1930s. This compilation highlights American slang from the 1920s and does not include foreign phrases. The glossary includes dated entries connected to bootlegging, criminal activities, drug usage, filmmaking, firearms, ethnic slurs, prison slang, sexuality, women's physical features, and sports metaphors. Some expressions are deemed inappropriate and offensive in today's context.
While slang is usually inappropriate for formal settings, this assortment includes well-known expressions from that time, with some still in use today, e.g., blind date, cutie-pie, freebie, and take the ball and run.[2]
These items were gathered from published sources documenting 1920s slang, including books, PDFs, and websites. Verified references are provided for every entry in the listing.
Background
[edit]Melodrama films captivate the audience by weaving narratives that evoke intense emotions. These films primarily focus on family dynamics, centering around characters who face adversity and exploring themes of duty and love. The melodramatic format portrays characters navigating their challenges with unwavering determination, selfless acts, and bravery. Movie critics and theater owners often use the certain expressions to describe the movies they are reviewing or showing.[3][4][5]
0-9
[edit]- 86
- 1. Soda-counter term meaning an item was no longer available[6]
- 2. "Eighty-six" means to discard, eliminate, or deny service[6]
A
[edit]- abe's cabe
- 1. Five dollar bill[7]
- 2. See fin, a fiver, half a sawbuck[7]
- absent treatment
- Engaging in dance with a cautious partner[8]
- ab-so-lute-ly
- Affirmative, Yes[8]
- ace
- One dollar bill; see clam[9]
- air tight
- Very attractive[8]
- airedale
- Unattractive man[8]
- alarm clock
- Chaperone[8]
- alderman
- Man's pot-belly or simply a prominent belly of a man; see bay window[10]
- alibi
- Box of flowers or candy[8]
- all to the good
- Everything is all right [11]
- all wet
- Erroneous idea or individual e.g. "He's all Wet"[9]
- alley worker
- A woman thief who robs men in alleys[11]
- and how!
- I Strongly agree![8]
- ankle
- To walk, e.g. "Let's ankle!"[8]
- anyhoo
- used when you want to change the topic of conversation[12]
- ankle excursion
- Walk i.e. walk home[8]
- apple-knocker
- 1. Farm laborer mostly a Fruit picker[13]
- 2. country bumpkin or Hick[13]
- applesauce
- 1. Flattery[8]
- 2. Nonsense, e.g."Aw, Applesauce!"[9]
- armchair
- Love nest[8]
- attaboy!
- Well done! or Attagirl![15]
Example
A "cotton glaumer" picks cotton, an "apple knocker" picks apples and other fruit— 1923 book by Nels Anderson[14]
B
[edit]- babe
- Attractive person usually a woman and sometimes meaning a significant other[16]
- baby
- Something of high value or respect including your sweetheart[16]
- baby grand
- Heavily built man[8]
- badger game
- An extortion scheme that loosely takes its name from the illegal practice of badger-baiting. It revolves around a scheme to deceive someone, put them in a compromising position, and then extort money from them.[17]
- balled up
- Confused, messed up[18]
- bally nipper
- Tomboy[8]
- baloney
- Nonsense[8]
- banana oil
- The act of using insincere flattery and deception, particularly with the intention to deceive[19]
- bang to rights
- Caught in the act[11]
- bangtails
- Race horses who's tail is cut horizontally to resemble a tassel e.g. "I wagered on those bangtails in the third race."[20]
- bank's closed
- No kissing or making out e.g. Sorry, Mac, the bank's closed![8]
- barber
- Talkative individual[20]
- barney
- Scandal walker[21]
- barneymugging
- Love-making[8]
- barrelhouse
- cheap saloon speakeasy or brothel[22]
- bathtub gin
- Homemade spirit, made in a bathtub[23]
- bay window
- Funny, yet unflattering nickname for a man's pot belly e.g. He's trim and tough, with no bay window and zero patience; see alderman[23]
- be on then nut
- To be broke[18]
- bean-picker
- Person who tries to patch up trouble[8]
- bean-shooter
- Gun[18]
- bearcat
- Hot-blooded, vivacious woman[18]
- beat It
- Scram, get lost[18]
- beat one's gums
- Idle chatter e.g. someone "beats one's gums"or "Flap one's gums"[9]
- bee's knees, the
- Something or someone outstanding, remarkably fantastic, or awesome[24][a]
- beef
- Problem, e.g. "What's your beef?"[25]
- beeswax
- Business, e.g. "none of your beeswax"[25]
- beezer
- Nose; see also schnozzle smeller[20]
- behind the eight ball
- In a difficult position e.g. In a § Jam[25]
- bell bottom
- Sailor[8]
- bell polisher
- Man who lingers in apartment vestibule late at night[8]
- belly laugh
- Deep, full-bodied laugh[26]
- belt
- Drink, swallow or swig of liquor[27]
- bent
- 1. Individual who is intoxicated or inebriated; see § drunk; also derivative bent outta of shape; see bent outta of shape[28][b]
- 2. Spoiled and ruined 1910s[29]
- 3. Person who is criminal and corrupt 1910s[30]
- bent cars
- Stolen Automobiles; 1930s [29]
- bent outta of shape
- Alternate name for intoxicated; see § drunk[28][b]
- bent hairpin
- Elderly maid[8]
- berries
- Great or Money e.g. "It's the Berries"[8]
- berry patch
- 1. A man's special attraction to a girl[25]
- 2. The intimate area of a woman e.g."You won't be seeing my berry patch tonight, pal."[21]
- bible belt
Area in the south and midwest where fundamentalism flourishes[25]
- big cheese
- Someone of importance and influence e.g. the big boss; [8]
- big house
Prison[31]
- big one
- Death[32]
- big shot
- Someone of importance and influence; Big boss; see big cheese[33]
- big six
- From auto advertising, for the new and powerful six cylinder engines inferring a Strong man e.g. Go send our big six to collect the money[31]
- big sleep
- Death[20]
- big timer
- Charming and romantic man[8]
- billboard
- Flashy man or woman[8]
- bim
- Woman[20]
- bimbo
Tough guy or strong man; see also hard-boiled Bruno[8]
- bindle
- The bundle containing cloths and possessions usually carried by a tramp[34]
- bindle Punk Or Bindle Stiff
- Tramps or hobos; Migratory harvest workers[34]
- bing
- Solitary confinement cell used for punishment[34]
- bird
- Broad term for a man or woman, sometimes indicating "unusual," behavior e.g. "what a funny old bird"[8]
- biscuit
- Pettable flapper[31]
- bit
- Prison sentence[35]
- black hats
- Bad person, especially a villain or criminal in a movie, novel, or play; Heavy in a movie e.g. The Black hats show up at the mansion[36]
- blaah
- No good[8]
- blind
- 1. Alternate names for intoxicated; Drunken bout; see § drunk[37][b]
- blind date
An appointment is set for a show or dance where your partner is someone you don't know, usually a friend of a friend[38]
- blind pig
- Unlicensed, illegal drinking establishment e.g. They just opened a new blind pig down the street serving some first-class hooch; see speakeasy[39]
- blind tiger
- Unlicensed, illegal drinking establishment e.g. They just opened a new blind tiger down the street serving some first-class hooch; see speakeasy[40]
- blip off
- Kill someone[20]
- blooey
- Condition when one has gone to pieces[8]
- blotto
- Alternate names for intoxicated[41][b]
- § drunk
- blouse
- Leave from somewhere[8]
- blow
- 1. Crazy party[8]
- 2. Leave[8]
- 3. Big wad in nightclubs; spend one's money excessively or irresponsibly[42]
- 4. Cocaine[42]
- blow someone down
- Kill or murder someone; blow someone away[43]
- blower
- Telephone[31]
- blue serge
- Sweetheart[8]
- bluenose
- Excessively puritanical person; prude[31]
- blushing violet
- Publicity hound[8]
- bo
- Man; see also buster mac pal[20]
- bob cut
- There were various bob haircuts, but the most common involved cutting both the bangs and back in a straight line, typically with the back shorter and off the neck i.e. shingle bob; e.g. Most flappers had their hair bobbed[44]
- bohunk
- 1. Derogatory name for an Eastern European immigrant (out of use by 1930) except in certain anti-immigrant circles; See Ku Klux Klan[45]
- 2. Stupid, clumsy person[45]
- boiled as an owl
- Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk[46][b]
- boiler
- Automobile[20]
- boob
- Dumb guy[44]
- boob-tickler
- Girl who has to entertain her father's customers from out of town[8]
- bookkeeping
- The art of making a date[8]
- booklegger
- Dealer in suppressed novels[8]
- bootleg
- Illegal alcohol[44]
- bootlegger
- Someone who makes or sells alcohol illegally[47]
- booze
- Drink or shot of Alcohol[48]
- boozehound
- Heavy consumer of alcohol[49]
- bop
- To kill[50]
- box
- Safe or a bar[51]
- box job
- Safecracking[52]
- brace
- Interrogate informally; confront someone; Beg for money[53]
- bracelets
- Handcuffs (term originated before the 20th century) e.g. The house dick slapped a pair of bracelets on me[54]
- break It up
- Stop that; quit the nonsense; stop quarreling and fighting[55]
- breeze
- 1. Breeze Off i.e. leave; depart[56]
- 2. Leave; move; go quickly[57]
- breezer
- Convertible car[58]
- breezy
- Easy going; jovial; cheerful e.g. One movie reviewer refer to the hero of a film A Stranger from Somewhere as a Breezy Westerner[56]
- brillo
- Someone who lives fast and is a big spender[8]
- broad
- Expression used solely by men to refer to a woman and widely considered offensive by women[59]
- bronx cheer
- 1. Loud spluttering noise mimicking fluctuance that expresses complete disapproval[59]
- 2. see raspberry[44]
- brown
- Whiskey in the 1920s[60]
- bruno
- Tough guy, strong man, enforcer; see also bimbo hard-boiled[20]
- brush-ape
- Anyone from the sticks; hayshaker, farmer[21]
- bub(s
- Female breast(s)[61]
- bucket
- Automobile; see also cowpie crate heap jalopy[20]
- bug's ear
- 1. Always with the connotation of being small e.g.Your baby is cuter than a bug's ear[62]
- 2. Attractive, Charming i.e. cute as a bug's ear[63][a]
- bug eyed
- Amazed: astounded in the 1920s i.e. He looked all bug-eyed[64]
- bulge, the
- Advantage e.g. have the bulge on[65]
- bull(s)
- 1. Uniformed policeman; law-enforcement official; plainclothes cop[66]
- 2. Chat idly, to exaggerate[67]
- 3. railroad security guard[68]
- bull session
- Male talkfest, gossip, stories of sexual exploits[69]
- bum's rush
- Thrown out of an establishment[9]
- bump
- Kill, murder, assassination[70]
- bump gums
- Argue; talk excessively; see run one's gums[71]
- bump off
- Kill, murder, assassinate[72]
- bunk
- Nonsense[8]
- bunny
- Term of endearment applied to the lost, confused, etc often coupled with "poor little"[20]
- burn powder
- Fire a gun[73]
- bus
- Automobile, airplane, boat, large truck; 1910s[74]
- bust
- Boxer[8]
- bushwa
- Euphemism for "bulls#*%"[67]
- buster
- Man; see also bo mac pal[75]
- busthead
- Illicitly distilled liquor[76]
- butt me
Give me a cigarette[8]
- butter and egg man
- 1. Man with the bankroll or money[20]
- 2. Yokel is a derogatory term which can be used to describe a wealthy rural citizen who comes to the big city and extravagantly enjoys their newfound wealth e.g. blow a big wad in nightclubs[77]
- The chin; point of the chin[78]
- Professional killer[79]
- Police[79]
- Dancing very close to each other[8]
- butt(s)
- 1. Cigarettes[80]
- 2. Remainder of smoked cigarette or a cigarette[80]
- buzz
- Searches for person and arrives at their doorstep[79]
- buzzer
- Policeman or private detective's badge[81]
Example
I jammed the roscoe in his button and said, "Close your yap, bo, or I squirt metal."— In his article for the Ottawa Citizen, William Denton mentioned Sam Spade, the famous detective character from Dashiell Hammett's works, quoting him as saying:[20]
C
[edit]- C
- cocaine[82]
- c note
- $100 e.g. pair of c's = $200[20]
- cabbage
- Money[20]
- caboose
- Jail[20]
- cake basket
- Limousine[8]
- cake eater
- 1. Often times a cake eater was the opposite of a flapper e.g.The individual is dressed in tight-fitting attire, including a belted coat with pointed lapels, one-button pants, a low snug collar, and a greenish-pink shirt with a jazzbo tie; see flaming youth[21]
- 2. Spoiled rich person; Playboy[83]
- 3. Lady's man[84]
- 4. self-indulgent effeminate young man[83]
- can
- 1. Prison; holding cell at a police station; being imprisoned 1910s[86]
- 2. Dilapidated, run-down automobile; 1920s[86]
- canary
- 1. Informer; stool pigeon[87]
- 2. Female vocalist typically fronting a band[88]
- can house
- Bordello; brothel[89]
- canned
- Intoxicated; § drunk[90][b]
- cannery
- prison[89]
- canceled stamp
- Shy girl at a dance or party[8]
- can-opener
- Safecracker who opens cheap safes[20]
- caper
- 1. Criminal act or robbery[91]
- 2. Drunken spree[91]
- carry a torch
- Developing strong emotions for someone, yet enduring unrequited love[92]
- case dough
- Using one's last remaining funds[93]
- cash
- Kiss[94]
- cash or check
- Do we kiss now or later?[94]
- cast a kitten
- 1. Expressing intense and unexpected emotions; see have kittens[95]
- 2. Experience a sudden outburst of laughter, fear, or anger e.g. "He got so upset, I thought he was going to have kittens."[95]
- cat
- Man[20]
- cat's meow
- Someone who is smug and content with themselves; see bee's knee's[96][a]
- cat's pajamas
- see bee's knee's[21][a]
- cellar smeller
- Man with a penchant for showing up where liquor is being served[94]
- celestial
- Derogatory term for Chinese or East Asians[98]
- century
- One hundred dollars i.e. $100[20]
- charlie
- Man with a mustache[94]
- chassis
- Female body[99]
- cheaters
- Eyeglasses[9]
- check
- Kiss me later[94]
- check your hat
- Call me later[94]
- cherry smashes
- Weak kisses[94]
- chewing gum
- Doublespeak, or ambiguous talk[100]
- chicago lightning
- Gunfire[100]
- chicago overcoat
- Coffin[20]
- chicago typewriter
- Thompson submachine gun; see chopper[100]
- chick
- Young woman[101]
- chilled off
- Killed; murdered[102]
- chin
- Conversation; talking[102]
- chin music
- Punch on the jaw[94]
- chinese squeeze
- Grafting by skimming profits off the top[103]
- chippy
- Woman of easy virtue[104]
- chisel
- Swindle or cheat[105]
- chiv
- knife; stabbing or cutting weapon[105]
- choice bit of calico
- Desirable female[104]
- chopper
- Nickname because of the damage its heavy .45 caliber rounds did to the human body; see chicago typewriter[106]
- chop squad
- A squad of hitmen wielding Thompson submachine guns; also chopper squad[103]
- chump
- Person marked for a con or a gullible person[107]
- ciggy
- Cigarette[108]
- cinemagoer
- Frequently attends motion pictures (1920)[104]
- clam
- Money i.e. One Dollar bills; see ace[9]
- clammed
- Close-mouthed e.g. he really clammed up![109]
- clean sneak
- Escape from a robbery with no clues left behind[110]
- clip joint
- Nightclub where the prices are high and the patrons are fleeced[111]
- clipped
- 1. Shoot dead[112]
- 2. cheated or fleeced [113]
- close your head
- Shut up[20]
- clothesline
- Person who tells neighborhood stories[94]
- clout
- Shoplifter[20]
- clubhouse
- Police station[20]
- cocaine fiend
- 1916, the term "Cocaine Fiend" was fashionable. The term was used in trade journal of the period. However, movie reviewers revised the term to "Cocaine addict" as a replacement phase which seemed a little less harsh to readers[114]
- coffin varnish
- Bootleg liquor, often poisonous[116]
- coin
- Money; loot[117]
- coke
- cocaine; cocaine addict[82]
- cokehead
- Someone who engages in frequent and uncontrollable cocaine consumption [119]
- come to time
- 1. The term was employed in prizefighting, specifically boxing[120]
- 2. The contestants are expected to resume the competition once the rest period is over and time is called[120]
- 3. Meet expectations; keep an appointment[120]
- con
- Confidence game, swindle[122]
- con artist
- Person who cheats or tricks others by persuading them to believe something that is not true[122]
- con game
- Scam in which the victim is persuaded to trust the swindler in some way[122]
- conk
- Head[123]
- cooler
- solitary confinement cell in a prison[124]
- cop
- 1. Police officer[125]
- 2. Catch; capture[125]
- 3. Steal; swipe[125]
- copacetic
- Wonderful, fine, all right e.g."everything is copacetic"[9]
- copped
- Catch; Capture: Arrested by the cops[126]
- copper
- Policeman[127]
- corn
- Bourbon; corn liquor; rum[128]
- corn shredder
- Bad dancer i.e. young man who dances on lady's feet[94]
- corked
- Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk[127][b]
- corridor vamp
- Someone who ogles the opposite sex[94]
- cowpie
- Automobile; see also bucket crate heap jalopy[94]
- cowpie warmup
- Car ride[94]
- crab
- Figure out[129]
- crabhanger
- Reformer[21]
- crack wise
- Make a sarcastic, flippant, or sardonic comment[130]
- crape hanger
- Zealous reformer[94]
- crasher
- Person who attends a party uninvited[94]
- crate
- Automobile; see also bucket cowpie heap jalopy[131]
- croak
- To die; to be Killed; murdered[132]
- croaker
- Doctor[133]
- crush
- Have romantic interest; Infatuation[69]
- crushed out
- Escaped i.e. from jail:Prison break[134]
- cuddle-cootie
- Young man who takes a girl for a ride usually on a bus[94]
- cuddler
- One who likes to make out[94]
- cut down
- Strike down; kill; incapacitate[135]
- cutie-pie
- Typically a young woman who is charming or attractive; also Cutesie pie[136]
- cutting yourself a piece of cake
- Making yourself wait patiently[21]
Example
"It calls for a picked clientele of fans who are able to visualize and distinguish mortal from immortal as portrayed in the flesh. It will not appeal to the Flapper, the Lounge Lizard and Cake Eater, nor to the less intelligent."— 1923 Exhibitor's Trade Review assessment of the film – Puritan Passions[85]
Example
The Rent Collector (Vitagraph), with Larry Semon — A scream, a whirlwind, a cyclone of fun. For action and real fun his comedies are the snake's hips and the cat's meow.— 1923 Exhibitors Herald Patron's Movie Review[97]
_-_Title.jpg)
Title card for the American exploitation film The Cocaine Fiends
Example
Browne finds a dead woman, whose jewels are missing. Foumier discovers that Browne is a cocaine fiend, and . . .— 1916 Moving Picture World Review of No. 16 Martin Street[115]
Example
Wanted: Love *** Abe has Coin *** Girls Kid him— 1915 Article Headline of Abe Deuce's letter to the editor of Los Angeles Record [118]
Example
Newspaper article states addicts are nicknamed according to the kind of drug they use e.g.one addicted to cocaine is called a cokehead, coke, snowbird, sniffer.— 1923 newspaper article explaining drug usage and terms[82]
Example
They Like 'Em Rough,' with Viola Dana. – Comedy-drama in which a husband uses cave man tactics to make his flapper wife come to time— 1922 Exhibitors Herald Movie Review[121]
D
[edit]- daddy
- Young woman's wealthy boyfriend or lover (sugar daddy)[137]
- daddy-o
- Term of address usually directed towards older males[138]
- daisy
- None too masculine[20]
- dame
- Female. did not gain widespread use until the 1930's[20]
- dance
- To be hanged[139]
- dangle
- Leave, get lost[20]
- dapper
- 1. Fashionably attired, impeccably dressed[140]
- 2. Flapper's dad[94]
- darb
- Man who pays the check; gink with a roll of coin[21]
- daylight
- Similar to the idea of "letting the daylight in" or "fill him with daylight" i.e. create a hole by either shooting or stabbing[141]
- dead soldier
- Empty beer bottle[139]
- deb
- Debutant[139]
- deck
- 1. Refers to a single-dose packet, bag, or glassine envelope of cocaine e.g. deck of cocaine[142]
- 2. Pack of cigarettes e.g. Deck of Luckies[141]
- declaration Of Independence
- Divorce[94]
- derrick
- Shoplifter[20]
- dewdropper
- Young man who sleeps all day and doesn't have a job[94]
- dib
- Share of the proceeds[139]
- dick
- Private investigator coined around 1900, the term finds major recognition in the 20's[139]
- dimbox
- Taxicab; see Hack[94]
- dimbox Jaunt
- Taxi ride[94]
- dincher
- Half smoked cigarette[94]
- dingledangler
- Person who persists in telephoning[21]
- dingus
- Thing[20]
- dip
- Pickpocket[20]
- dip the bill
- Have a drink[20]
- ditzek
- Anything funny[94]
- dish
- 1. Pretty woman[144]
- 2. Provide information to talk[145]
- dive
- Disreputable or low quality bar[146]
- dive ducat
- Subway ticket[94]
- dizzy
- 1. Deeply in love with a woman e.g. Are you dizzy with that dame[145]
- 2. Stupid; making a bad decision e.g. Don't do that – are you dizzy?[145]
- do the dance
- To be hanged[20]
- dog kennels
- Pair of shoes[21]
- dogs
- Feet[94]
- dog jock
- Man who walks his wife's dogs[94]
- doll
- Attractive woman[146]
- dolled Up
- Dressed up[94]
- don't know from nothing
- Doesn't have any information[146]
- don't take any wooden nickels
- Don't do anything stupid; also don't take any wooden dimes[147]
- dope
- Any form of illicit drugs[148]
- dope fiend
- Drug addict usually cocaine or opium[148]
- dope peddler
- Drug dealer[148]
- doublecross
- Cheat, stab in the back[147]
- dough
- Money[149]
- drag a sock
- Walk or dance[150]
- drift
- Go i.e. leave[20]
- drill
- Shoot[20]
- drop a nickel
- 1. Place a phone call to the police and provide information about someone; Alternative expression – "drop a dime"[151]
- 2. Actually making a phone call[151]
- droppers
- Hired killers[20]
- dropping the pilot
- Getting a divorce[150]
- drugstore cowboy
- Well-dressed man who loiters in public areas trying to pick up women[150]
- drum
- Speakeasy[20]
- dry
- Place where alcohol is not served or person opposed to the legal sale of alcohol[152]
- dry Up
- Cover up; Keep quiet about; stop talking[153]
- dry-gulch
- Murder or kill someone[152]
- ducat
- Ticket[20]
- duck soup
- Easy Ticket[20]
- ducky
- Very good[150]
- dud
- Wall flower or dress up[150]
- dud up
- Dress up[154]
- dumb dora
- 1. Stupid, especially a woman[155]
- 2. Foolish woman often applied to a flapper[156]
- dummer
- 1. Thug who robs drunks[157]
- 2. Thief who robs homes when the occupants are away[157]
- dumkuff
- Nutty[150]
- dump
- Roadhouse, club; more generally, any place[20]
- dust out
- Leave, depart[20]
Example
. . .Audrey to get her some coke. Audrey calls Max, the piano player, and he gives her a deck, which Cleo pretends to take
E
[edit]- ear muffs
- Radio receivers[21]
- earful
- Enough[150]
- edged
- Intoxication, a buzz e.g. When he was edged, his personality completely changed[38]
- edisoned
- Questioned[150]
- egg
- 1. Person who lives the big life[150]
- 2. Man[20]
- egg harbor
- Fall dance[150]
- eggs in the coffee
- Easy[20]
- elbows
- Cops[20]
- electric cure
- Electrocution[20]
- elephant ears
- Police officer or detective[158]
- embalmed
- Intoxicated; see § drunk[159][b]
- embalmer
- Bootlegger[150]
- ethel
- Effeminate man; male homosexual[160]
- eye opener
- Marriage[150]
F
[edit]- face stretcher
- Older woman trying to look younger[150]
- fade
- Go away, get lost[20]
- fag
- 1. Cigarette[161]
- 2. Sometime around 1920, the term meant a homosexual[162]
- fakeloo artist
- Con man[161]
- fall guy
- Victim of a frame[161]
- father time
- Any man over 30[150]
- feathers
- Small talk[150]
- feet
- Clumsy dancer[150]
- fella
- Man, Guy, Fellow e.g. That john sure is a swell fella ; see also bo buster mac pal[163]
- few drinks, a
- Common euphemism for drinking an unspecified amount of alcohol usually in the context of attending a Speakeasy[164]
- fig leaf
- One piece bathing suit[150]
- filches
- Steal or pilfer someone's possession, especially if it's something small[165]
- fin
- $5 bill and abe's cabe[7]
- finale hopper
- 1. Young man who arrives after all bills are paid[21]
- 2. Always eager to make empty promises and never present when it matters[21]
- finder
- The individual responsible for detonating the safe as part of a safe blowing crew; see yegg[167]
- finger
- Identify or direct someone, especially to a professional killer; Put the finger on or to finger someone[168]
- finger man
- finger man snitch inside person find the finger man[168]
- fink
- Informant; stool pigeon[168]
- fire alarm
- Divorced woman[150]
- fire bell
- Married woman[150]
- fire extinguisher
- Chaperone at a dance or party[150]
- fish
- 1. First timer in prison i.e. a new fish[169]
- 2. Heavy drinker e.g. You drink like a fish[169]
- flaming youth
- In the 1920s, the term referred to a group of young men known for their wild and flamboyant behavior; Male counterpart to a flapper; see cake eater[170]
- flapper(s)
- 1. Unconventional young woman, often from a middle-class background, typically in her late teens or early twenties, defied her parents' wishes by embracing a bold, unconventional lifestyle with short bobbed hair, revealing outfits, lipstick, and a free-spirited attitude; Flappers are associated with the Jazz Age of the 1920s[171]
- flat
- Broke[20]
- flatfoot
- Policeman esp officer who walks a beat[172]
- flat shoe
- Dispute between flapper and her goof[150]
- flat tire
- Dull insipid, disappointing date; see Drag, Oilcan, Pickle, Pill, Rag[150]
- flattie
- Flatfoot, cop[20]
- flatwheeler
- Young man who takes a young lady to an egg harbor[21]
- flimflam
- Swindle[20]
- flippers
- Hands[20]
- flivver
- 1. Ford model T[20]
- 2. After 1928, could mean broken down car[172]
- floater
- Person making trouble and then disappears[150]
- flogger
- Overcoat[173]
- floorflusher
- Insatiable dancer[150]
- flop
- 1. Go to bed; fall asleep[174]
- 2. Grown-up who is disagreeable, socially awkward, and unsuccessful; 1920s[174]
- 3. Intentionally lose a fight by taking a dive; 1920s [174]
- 4. Woman who is fat, clumsy, and lacks cleanliness; 1900-1930s [174]
- 5. Cheap room in hotel or bed; 1910s [174]
- 6. Abrupt change in political policy[174]
- 7. Seat[175]
- 8. Hit; knock down; 1910s [174]
- flophouse
- 1. Cheap transient hotel used by people down on their luck[176]
- flour lover
- Girl with too much face powder[150]
- fluky
- Odd; Different[150]
- fly boy
- Glamorous term for an aviator[9]
- fog
- Attack; Assault;Shoot[177]
- foot juice
- Cheap red wine[178]
- for a row of
- Distance[150]
- for crying out loud
- Another way of saying – are you for real?[150]
- forty-niner
- Man who is prospecting for a rich wife[21]
- four flusher
- Person who feigns wealth while mooching off others[150]
- frail
- Woman[179]
- frame
- Giving false evidence to set up someone[180]
- frau
- Wife[181]
- freebie
- This offer can be used for a free sample or promotion; Also spelled freebie, freeby, freebee freebye[182]
- fried
- Alternate names for intoxicated e.g. fried to the hat; see § drunk[180][b]
- frog's eyebrows
- Nice; fine; outstanding[21][180]
- fry
- To be electrocuted[181]
- futz
- Euphemism for f*%k e.g. Don't futz around[180]
- fuzz
- Police officers(1930s)[183]
Example
After his arrival, Dippy filches many of the guests of their valuables— 1922 Exhibitors Herald Movie Review[166]
Example
They Like 'Em Rough,' with Viola Dana – Comedy-drama in which a husband uses cave man tactics to make his flapper wife come to time— 1922 Exhibitors Herald Movie Review[121]
G
[edit]- g man
- Government man; FBI employee[184]
- gal
- Woman assistant, secretary; female factotum[185]
- gams
- Woman's legs[150]
- gander
- 1. Dressing up; Getting ready and duding up[150]
- 2. Look, close scrutiny, glance e.g. Take a gander at those gams[186]
- 3. Criminal lookout[186]
- gandy dancer
- A member of a crew responsible for attaching rails to ties, often called a section hand or track laborer[187]
- gashouse
- rough[20]
- gas station
- Place that sells gasoline; term was coined in 1925[188]
- gasper
- Cigarette[20]
- gat
- Pistol, Hand gun; see roscoe[48]
- gatecrasher
- Attending party, type of entertainment without an invitation or ticket i.e. uninvited guest; see crasher[48]
- get-hot!
- Encouragement for a hot dancer[150]
- gay
- 1. Happy or lively Happy, joyful, and lively[189]
- 2. No connection to homosexuality in 1920[189]
- get a wiggle On
- Get a move on, get going[9]
- get in a lather
- Get worked up; angry; agitated e.g. Stay away from Eddy when he get's into a lather[190]
- get sore
- Get mad; angry[188]
- getaway sticks
- Women's Legs; see gams[190]
- get it
- Killed; Murdered [188]
- get-up
- Outfit[188]
- giggle water
- Intoxicating beverage; alcohol; also Giggle Juice[20]
- gigolo
- Hired escort or dancing partner for a woman[191]
- gimp
- Cripple i.e. One who walks with a limp; Gangster Dion O'Bannion was called gimpy due to his noticeable limp[192]
- gimlet
- Chronic bore[150]
- gin mill
- Seller of hard liquor; Cheap speakeasy[20]
- gink
- Man or fellow[192]
- give the air
- Break a date[150]
- give the knee
- Dance cheek-to-cheek and Toe-to-Toe[150]
- glad rags
- Clothing to 'go out on the town; Attire to wear to parties or special occasions[193]
- glom
- The act of stealing; also glaum[194]
- glorious regalia
- Chic clothing of a flapper[150]
- go chase yourself
- Get lost; Scram[193]
- gold digger
- Woman who associates or marries a man for his wealth (1915)[9]
- goods, The
- 1. Incrimination evidence, the facts, the truth, e.g. make sure the cops don't get the goods on you [193]
- 2. Narcotics of any sort[195]
- goof
- 1. Bumbling, stupid person[195]
- 2. Flapper's boyfriend[150]
- goofy
- 1. Crazy, Silly, foolish[196]
- 2. In love[150]
- goog
- Black eye inflicted by a blow to the head[197]
- goon
- strong imitating man; compensated troublemaker[198]
- gooseberry lay
- Stealing clothes from a clothesline[199]
- gowed-up
- High on dope[20]
- grab some air
- Put your hands up[200]
- grab a flop
- Sit down on a seat[150]
- graft
- Obtaining money through dishonest means, especially bribery[201]
- grand
- One thousand dollars; $1000[201]
- green apples
- Homely woman[150]
- green glorious
- Money and checks[193]
- greenland
- A park[150]
- grift
- Confidence game or swindle; also grifter i.e. Con man[202]
- grill(ed)
- Interrogation; intense and prolonged questioning[203]
- grindhouse(s)
- Low-budget film theater that shows primarily exploitation films i.e. Term first appeared in 1920s and derived from burlesque theaters on 42nd Street in New York City; Origins based on early projectionists used a grinding or cranking motion[204]
- grubber
- One who borrows cigarettes[150]
- grubstake
- Invitation to dinner[21]
- grummy
- Depressed[193]
- grungy
- Envious[206]
- gum
- Opium[82]
- gumshoe
- Detective or private investigator; also gumshoeing i.e. pertaining to a undercover investigation[207]
- gun for
- Searching for someone with the intention of causing them significant harm. e.g. He was out gunning for Tom[208]
- guns
- Pickpockets; Hoodlums[20]
- gussie
- Shy person[206]
- guy
- A gender-neutral way to address any individual (1910)[209]
Example
Flyers made from San Francisco to Hawaii. It is just a hoak meller that will, for the better part, carry in some of the smaller grindhouses.— 1926 Variety Movie Review[205]
H
[edit]- hack
- Taxicab[20]
- hair of the dog
- Taking shot of booze to help recover from a hangover especially the day after going on a Toot; also The hair of the dog that bit you[210]
- half
- Fifty-cents; 50 cents i.e. $.50[211]
- half cut
- Happily intoxicated[21]
- half seas over
- Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk[212][b]
- half under
- Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk[213][b]
- handcuff
- Engagement ring or wedding band[206]
- happy-dust
- cocaine[82]
- hard
- Tough; see also bimbo hard-boiled Bruno[20]
- hard-boiled
- Tough i.e. tough guy, e.g. "He sure is hard-boiled!" ; see also bimbo Bruno[206]
- harlem sunset
- Fatal injury caused by knife (1930s)[214]
- harp
- Irishman[215]
- hash house
- Cheap restaurant[20]
- hatchet man
- Killers, gunmen[20]
- heartwrenching
- Appealing to one's deepest emotions or inner feelings; Tug at one's heartstrings; also heart-tugging[216]
- have the bees
- To be rich[217]
- have kittens
- 1. Expressing intense and unexpected emotions; see cast a kitten[95]
- 2. Experience a sudden outburst of laughter, fear, or anger e.g. "He got so upset, I thought he was going to have kittens"[95]
- hayburner
- 1. Gas guzzling car i.e. automobile that uses a lot of fuel and gets poor gas mileage[218]
- 2. race Horse one loses money on[210]
- 3. Someone who smokes marijuana[219]
- head doctors
- Psychiatrists[220]
- heap
- Old automobile; see also bucket, cowpie, crate, jalopy[221]
- heat
- 1. The police[222]
- 2. Pursuit by law enforcement [221]
- heater
- Gun, pistol, revolver; see gat; see roscoe[223]
- heavy sugar
- Indicator of wealth through possession or condition[224]
- heebie-jeebies
- The state of being extremely nervous caused by fear, worry, stress, etc; named after the 1926 single by Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five – hit song[206]
- heeler
- Poor dancer[206]
- hen coup
- Beauty parlor[206]
- hep
- 1. Wise; up-to-date[225]
- 2. Jazz musician[225]
- highbrow
- Intellectually stimulating, highly cultured, sophisticated, cultured or learned person[215]
- high hat
- Haughty, Snobbish, Unapproachable[206]
- highjohn
- Boyfriend[206]
- high pillow
- Person at the top; Individual in charge; the boss[226]
- highbinders
- Corrupt politician or functionary; highly pretentious, arrogant[227]
- hike
- Walk[206]
- hikers
- Knickerbockers[206]
- hinky
- Suspicious; curious [228]
- hiphound
- One who drinks hooch[21]
- hipster
- 1. During Prohibition – person who wears a hip flask of alcohol dating from the 1920s[229]
- 2. A dancer, particularly a female one[229]
- 3. one who espouses the bohemian life style of the period[230]
- his blue serge
- His girl[21]
- histrionics
- Intentionally exaggerated, overly emotional behavior designed to provoke a response[231]
- hit on all sixes
- To perform 100 per cent e.g. "hitting on all six cylinders"; also hitting on all cylinders[232]
- hitch
- a period of time spent in prison or jail[233]
- hitting on all eight
- In good shape, going well[20]
- hitting the pipe
- Smoking opium[20]
- hoary-eyed
- Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk[234][b]
- hock shop
- Pawnshop[20]
- hogs
- Engines[20]
- hoaky
- 1. Excessively contrived; Hackneyed; also hoakier, hoakiest, hoak[235]
- 2. Sentimental material in a film; alt spelling of hokey; see hokum[235]
- hoity-toity
- Behaviour adopted to demonstrate one's superiority; Pretentious or snobbish behaviour[236]
- hokum
- 1. An instance of excessively contrived, hackneyed, or sentimental material in a film[206]
- 2. Pretentious; nonsense; insane trash[237]
- holaholy
- Person that objects to necking[206]
- holy smokes
- Probation officer[206]
- hombre
- Man or fellow[20]
- honest squeeze
- Female companion or girlfriend;see squeeze[239]
- hooch
- Alcoholic drink made by Alaskan Indians (Hoochinoo), but more commonly refers to illicitly distilled liquor[240]
- hood
- Hoodlum[233]
- hooey
- Nonsense; Bullsh*t; Popular from 1925 through 1930 and used sparingly later on[241]
- hoof
- Walk[206]
- hoofer
- Dancer or chorus girl[206]
- hoosegow
- Jail[242]
- hop
- 1. Type of swing dance e.g. Lindy Hop; organized dance (1900s)[243]
- 2. Opiate, marijuana, morphine or other type of narcotics[243]
- hophead
- Morphine addict[82]
- hope chest
- Pack of cigarettes[206]
- hopped up
- Under the influence of drugs[244]
- hopper
- Dancer[206]
- horn in
- Get into a dance without an invitation[206]
- horsefeathers
- Exclamation of disbelief contempt; Inoffensive expletive e.g. darn; see Applesauce[245]
- hot
- Stolen; Recently stolen illegal goods[246]
- hot dawg
- Great![206]
- hot dog
- Relishing something with much delight![247]
- hot sketch
- Card or cut-up[9]
- hotsy totsy
- Fancy or sophisticated[206]
- house dick
- Security officer employed by a hotel or similar establishment; Hotel detective[248]
- houdini
- Arrive on time for a date[206]
- house peeper
- House or hotel detective[20]
- hush money
- Allowance from father[21]
- hype
- Shortchange artist[20]
Example
flyers made from San Francisco to Hawaii. It is just a hoak meller that will, for the better part, carry in some of the smaller grindhouses.— 1926 Variety Movie Review[205]
Example
. . . where Nazimova comes to a house of refuge, not knowing that Sills is there, and is pronounced dying by physicians, but is saved by Sills' prayer. To us who make and sell pictures, this "saved by prayer" situation registers as hokum, but just the same it has a genuine wallop for most of your customers, and consequently this final sequence effectively tops a very good red meat dramatic yarn.— 1924 Wid's Movie Review[238]
I
[edit]- ice
- 1. Diamonds e.g. That gal has more ice than the North Pole![249]
- 2. Kill e.g. That mug better be careful or he's gonna get iced![250]
- icy mitt
- When you have one-sided feelings for someone or when one is given the cold shoulder in a romantic relationships[251]
- idler(s)
- 1. A person who wastes time doing nothing; lazy person; sluggard[252]
- indian hay
- Marijuana[254]
- ing-bing
- As in to throw a fit[20]
- in stir
- In jail[20]
- insured
- Engaged[251]
- irish goodbye(s)
- Ethnophobic term used for someone who leaves a social gathering without saying goodbye; also irish exit[255]
- iron
- 1. Motorcycle, among motorcycle enthusiasts 1920s[256]
- 2. older automobile[257]
- 3. handcuffs[258]
- 4. carry iron i.e. armed[258]
- iron your shoelaces
- Go to the restroom e.g. It's time for me to iron my shoelaces[259]
- ish kabibble
- Retort e.g. I should care from the name of the musician in the Kay Kyser Orchestra[260]
- it
- Sex appeal; Actress Clara Bow was the "It" girl[256]
- it's the bunk
- I doubt that![251]
Example
In the park awaiting her train home she meets Forrest Chenoworth, a rich idler, whose money has gotten him into trouble with a lady named Jane.— 1920 Wid's Daily Movie Review[253]
J
[edit]- jack
- Money[20]
- jake
- Great, e.g. Everything's jake; see Copacetic[9]
- jalopy
- Dumpy old car; see also bucket cowpie crate heap[261]
- jam
- Trouble; Tight spot[20]
- jane
- Female[251]
- jasper
- Man; hick[20]
- jay bird
- Person who takes risks[251]
- java
- Coffee[20]
- jaw
- Talk[20]
- jazzman
- Performer of jazz[119]
- jeepers creepers
- 1. Polite expletive for Jesus Christ[263]
- 2. Exclamation![263]
- jingle-brained
- 1. Addled or intoxicated (1910)[264]
- 2. Not that bright, muddled[265]
- jigaboo
- Derogatory term for African-American (1920s)[266]
- jitney
- 1. Car employed as a private bus i.e. travel by bus or small car[267]
- 2. Bus charging a fixed fare usually five-cents i.e. "Nickel"[267]
- jobbie
- Man or woman[268]
- joe
- Coffee, e.g. A cup of Joe[9]
- joe brooks
- Perfectly dressed person[269]
- john
- 1. Prostitute's client[270]
- 2. Toilet or restroom[270]
- john d
- Individuals who use an abundance of polite language and insincere compliments[271]
- johnson brother
- Professional Criminal[272]
- joint
- 1. Establishment, bar, tavern or club selling alcohol[272]
- 2. Place e.g. My Joint[272]
- jorum of skee
- Drink of hard liquor usually scotch whiskey; see skee[273]
- jug
- Jail[274]
- juice
- Money from bribery, corruption, or loan sharking[275]
- juice joint
- Establishment for serving illegal liquor during prohibition[275]
- junk
- Opium or Morphine[82]
- jump the gun
- Act prematurely[276]
- jumping tintypes
- Moving pictures[251]
- junk head
- Morphine addict[82]
- junkie
- Drug addict, especially a heroin user (1923)[277]
Example
"His thousands of admirers are happy to know that no anti-toxin has yet been discovered to cure this master jazzman of his 'illness!'"— 1926 newspaper article praising band leader Fred Hamm[262]
}}
K
[edit]- kale
- Money[20]
- keen
- Something or someone attractive or appealing[251]
- kick off
- Die[20]
- kicking the stem
- smoking opium[82]
- kiddo
- A casual way for a man to address a woman he knows[278]
- killjoy
- Solemn person[251]
- kike
- Derogatory label for Jewish people, specifically those who immigrated from Eastern Europe as opposed to older German immigrants from previous decades[279]
- kippy
- Neat or Nice[251]
- kiss
- 1. Land a blow or punch[280]
- 2. Drink from a bottle[280]
- kisser
- Mouth[20]
- kitten
- Woman[20]
- kneeduster
- Skirt[251]
- knock
- Prison sentence[281]
- knock off
- 1. Stolen[282]
- 2. Killed, murdered[282]
- 3. Beaten, defeated[282]
- knockover
- 1. Murder, kill[283]
- 2. Rob or steal with violence[283]
- 3. Arrest especially after a raid[283]
- 4. Intentionally get someone in trouble[283]
- knock up
- Make a woman pregnant; impregnate[283]
- know your onions
- 1. Know one's stuff e.g. Joe really knows his onions when it comes to cooking[284]
- 2. Knowledgeable about a given subject or task; also know one's onions; knowing one's onions; knew one's onions; known one's onions[285]
L
[edit]- lalapazaza
- Good sport[251]
- lam, on the
- On the run[9]
- lammed off
- Ran away or escaped[20]
- large
- $1,000 e.g.Twenty large would be $20,000[20]
- law, the
- Police officer[286]
- Laying on the hip
- smoking opium[82]
- lay off
- Smoke of opium[287]
- lay out
- 1. Defeat or overcome i.e. to lay out someone[287]
- 2. Knock someone out in a fight[287]
- 3. Kill someone[287]
- lead
- Term used for bullets e.g. Fill ya full of lead[288]
- lead cocktail
- To be shot; Bullets, specifically when embedded in the victim's body; also poisoning[288]
- lead poisoning
- To be shot; Bullets, specifically when embedded in the victim's body; also lead cocktail[288]
- lead pusher
- gun; gat[288]
- left holding The Bag
- Leave someone holding the responsibility or blame is to abandon them[289]
- lens louise
- The person who dominated all the conversations[251]
- let george do it
- Work evading phrase i.e.Let someone else cover the cost of achieving the shared benefit[290]
- let's blouse
- Work evading phrase e.g.Let's blouse this clambake![251]
- lettuce
- Green folding money i.e. lettuce leaves[291]
- level with me
- Be honest, trustworth, true[291]
- lid
- Hat[20]
- limey
- 1. Englishman, Briton, or person of British descent; an English or British immigrant[292]
- 2. English or British ship[293]
- line
- 1. Untruth or exaggeration, often told to seek or maintain approval from others e.g. "to feed one a line"[294]
- 2. Insincere flattery[290]
- lip
- 1. Underworld attorney i.e. criminal attorney e.g. Why don't you use Louie the Lip?[295]
- 2. backtalk[296]
- lip stick
- Cigarette[251]
- live wire
- Energetic, vibrant, individual e.g That joe is a real live wire[295]
- lollygagger
- 1. Young man who enjoys making out[251]
- 2. Lazy person; slacker; see idler[297]
- loogan
- Man with a gun[20]
- looker
- Good looking person of either sex especially a women[298]
- look-out
- Somebody keeping watch for approaching enemies, police, or any potential danger i.e. Person accompanying criminals while they commit a crime and warns them of approaching police or witnesses[299]
- lounge lizard
- Guy that is sexually active; ladies man[300]
- lousy with
- Have abundance of[20]
- lug
- Bullet[20]
Example
It calls for a picked clientele of fans who are able to visualize and distinguish mortal from immortal as portrayed in the flesh. It will not appeal to the Flapper, the Lounge Lizard and Cake Eater, nor to the less intelligent.— 1923 Exhibitors Trade Review Movie Review[85]
M
[edit]- m
- Morphine[82]
- mac
- Man; see also bo buster pal[301]
- mad money
- Carfare home used by a flapper if she has a fight with her date[251]
- made
- Recognized[20]
- main drag
- Most important street in a town or city[9]
- main squeeze
- Primary female companion or girlfriend; lover; sweetheart; see squeeze[302]
- manacle
- Wedding ring[251]
- map
- Face[20]
- marbles
- Pearls[20]
- mark
- 1. Targeted individual in a swindle or rigged game[303]
- 2. Search for a probable location for a theft[303]
- maroon
- An idiot; a fool; Gullible person[304]
- mazuma
- Money, cash, dollar bills[305]
- mawkish
- Sentimental in an exaggerated or insincere way[306]
- meal ticket
- When he calls, the flapper invites the man to have dinner[251]
- meat wagon
- Ambulance[20]
- meller
- Melodrama film; see melodrama[308]
- mellerdrammer
- Familiar or humorous name and spelling given to melodrama[309]
- melodrama
- Emotional drama featuring passionate love and heart-wrenching situations; any situation or action that is exaggerated[309]
- meringue
- Personality[251]
- michigan bankroll
- Fake bankroll consists of a large denomination bill wrapped around several smaller denomination banknotes; also michigan roll; michigan stake[310]
- mick
- Derogatory term for irishmen[311]
- mickey finn
- strong hypnotic or barbiturate put secretly into a drink[311]
- middle aisle
- Marry[312]
- mill
- Typewriter[313]
- milquetoast
- 1. Henpecked male based on the Comic book character Caspar Milquetoast; very timid person; wimpy[313]
- mind your potatoes
- mind your own business[312]
- mitt
- Hand[314]
- mob
- Organized crime family or gang (not necessarily mafia)[314]
- mohaska
- Gun, Firearm, Piece; see heat; also mohoska[315]
- moll
- Gangster's girlfriend[9]
- moniker
- Name[316]
- monogolist
- Young man who hates himself[21]
- mooch
- Leave[251]
- moonshine {{defn|defn=
- Homemade alcohol; whiskey made from unlicensed distillers[317]
- mop
- Handkerchief[251]
- mouthpiece
- Lawyer especially criminal defense attorney[318]
- mrs. grundy
- A narrow-minded person or group that is overly concerned with censoring or criticizing personal conduct; priggish; tight-laced person; Prudish; derived from Grundy[319]
- mud pipe
- Opium pipe[20]
- mug(s)
- Men – especially refers to dumb ones; low, crude, fellow; lout[320]
- munitions
- Face powder[251]
- mulligan
- Irish cop; police officer; prison guard[321]
- mustard plaster
- A boy who lingers around and is not wanted[251]
Example
She plays a young wife whose husband falls for the assiduous attentions of a jazzy willo' the wisp. Many of the situations are mawkish and over sentimental, but Lila makes it all possible by her sincerity and poise.— 1924 Photoplay Movie Review[307]
N
[edit]- nailed
- Caught by the police[20]
- neck
- Kiss passionately[322]
- necker(s)
- Girl who wraps her arms around her boyfriend's neck while dancing[251]
- nerts!
- That's Amazing[251]
- nevada gas
- Cyanide[20]
- newshawk
- Reporter[20]
- newsie
- person who sells or delivers newspapers; reporter[20]
- nibble one
- Have a drink[323]
- nicked
- Stolen[324]
- nifty
- Great, excellent; competently[251]
- nippers
- Handcuffs[325]
- nobody home
- Used to describe someone who is perceived as unintelligent or mentally challenged[326]
- noodle juice
- Tea[251]
- noodle
- Head[327]
- nookie
- Sex act; sexual activity[327]
- nosebaggery
- Restaurant[251]
- not so good!
- Personally disapprove[251]
- now you're on the trolley
- Now you're right; now you've got it! (1920) i.e. Now you're on board[218]
- number
- clever resourceful Person[328]
O
[edit]- oatmeal mush
- The superficial conversation of a cake eater[251]
- obituary notice
- Eviction declaration[251]
- off the track
- This person becomes insanely violent when they go off the track[20]
- oh yeah!
- I doubt it![251]
- oil burner
- Person who chews gum[251]
- oilcan
- An imposter[251]
- old fops
- People who are older than middle age[251]
- old man
- term of address; also old fruit; also old boy e.g."How's everything old boy?"[329]
- oliver twist
- Skilled dancer[251]
- omnibibulous
- Able to consume almost any alcoholic beverage, or likely to do so[330]
- on a toot
- On a drinking spree[329]
- on the lam
- Running away, usually from the police; see lam, on the[9]
- on the level
- Legitimate, honest[329]
- on the up and up
- On the level[329]
- op
- Detective[332]
- orchid
- Expensive item[251]
- orphan paper
- Bad checks[20]
- ossified
- Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk[333][b]
- ostrich
- Person who is a Know-it-all[251]
- out on parole
- Divorced[251]
- out on the roof
- Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk[333][b]
- owl
- Person who's out late or stays up late[251]
- owled
- Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk[334][b]
- oyster fruit
- Pearls[333]
Example
Reviewing the 1928 "The Racket" – Eight January Chicago, racketeers who, for various good reasons, or on the lam and temporarily going straight in Los Angeles, we're rounded up and induced to work and this crook melodrama.— 1928 Motion Picture Classic Movie Review[331]
P
[edit]- packing heat
- Carrying a gun[20]
- pal
- Man; see also bo buster mac[335]
- palooka
- 1. Social outsider based on comic strip character joe palooka first devised in 1921; also paluka; palooker[335]
- 2. Large, below-average or stupid man; mediocre or inferior boxer[20]
- panther piss
- Raw or inferior whiskey; rotgut; see panther sweat[336]
- paint the town red
- To party and celebrate in a boisterous and unruly fashion, especially in public areas e.g. to show the big city how red paint should be applied[337]
- pan
- Face[20]
- panic
- Produce big favorable reaction from one's audience[336]
- panther sweat
- Raw or inferior whiskey; rotgut; see panther piss[336]
- paste
- Hit; Strike very hard;Punch[338]
- pathos
- The characteristic of something that stirs emotions and passions, particularly evoking tender feelings like pity and sorrow[339]
- patsy
- Person who is set up i.e. person takes the blame for a crime; victim; fool or chump[338]
- paw
- Hand[338]
- peaching
- Informing[341]
- peeper
- Detective[342]
- peepers
- Eyes[342]
- pen
- Penitentiary, jail[342]
- pen yen
- Opium[343]
- peppy
- Energetic and full of vitality[344]
- percolate
- 1. To happen[345]
- 2. As of 1925, to run smoothly and well[346]
- pet
- 1. Necking[346]
- 2. Making out[347]
- peterman
- Safecracker who uses Nitroglycerin[346]
- petting pantry
- Movie theater or cinema[348]
- petting party
- 1. One or more couples making out in a room; Devoted to hugging, or kissing games[349]
- 2. Social event devoted to hugging[21]
- phonus balonus
- Complete nonsense[349]
- pickpocket
- Pickpocketing involves the stealing of money or other valuables from the person or a victim's pocket without them noticing the theft[350]
- piece
- Gun[351]
- piffle
- Baloney[349]
- pigeon
- Stool-pigeon[20]
- piker
- 1. Grasping person; cheapskate[352]
- 2. One who will take the least risk especially to help others; coward[352]
- 3. lazy person[352]
- 4. small time burglar; cheat[352]
- pill
- 1. Someone who irritates you e.g. "That person is being a real pill"[353]
- 2. Teacher[344]
- 3. bullet[20]
- 4. see Cigarette[20]
- pillowcase
- Young man who is full of feathers[344]
- pinch(ed)
- Arrested e.g. He was pinched by the coppers[20]
- pinko
- Liberal; freespirit[347]
- pins
- Legs[20]
- pipe
- See or notice[20]
- pipe down
- Stop talking[344]
- pipes
- Throat[20]
- pipe that
- Did you listen to that[20]
- pitching woo
- Making love[20]
- plastered
- Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk[347][b]
- plant
- Someone who disguises themselves as neutral or affiliated with an organization, yet covertly works with another person or external group[354]
- playboy
- Older boyfriend[344]
- plug(s)
- 1. Blow, punch; bullet wound[355]
- 2. People[355]
- poke
- Bankroll; roll of money; money in general[356]
- police-dog
- Young woman's fiance[21]
- poop(ed)
- 1. Shoot or kill someone[357]
- 2. Information; the low-down[358]
- pop
- Shoot or kill someone; poop[359]
- potted
- Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk[360][b]
- pos-i-lute-ly
- Affirmative see pos-i-tive-ly[344]
- primed
- Approaching a state of drunkenness; see § drunk[361][b]
- priscilla
- Stay-at-home girl[344]
- pro skirt
- Prostitute[362]
- produce the cash
- Kiss me![344]
- prune pit
- Anything that is traditional[344]
- puffing
- smoke opium[363]
- pug
- Pugilist, Boxer[364]
- pull a daniel boone
- Vomit[347]
- pump
- Heart[365]
- pump metal
- Shoot bullets; see squirt metal[141]
- punch the bag
- Small talk [344]
- punch rustler
- Individual who spends the majority of their time at parties near the refreshments[344]
- punk
- Hood, Thug[20]
- pushover
- Person easily convinced or seduced[366]
- puss
- Face[366]
- put down
- Drink[367]
- put the bee on
- To beg from; to borrow money from[368]
- put the screws on
- 1. Harass using extreme coercive pressure[369]
- putting on the ritz
- 1. Demonstration of affluence and lavishness; Pretend to be superior; After the Ritz Hotel in Paris (and its namesake César Ritz; see Ritzy[370]
- 2. Wear fashionable and attention-grabbing clothing: Ritzy; also put on the dog[370]
- 3. Puttin' On the Ritz is a song written by Irving Berlin in 1927[371]
Example
Dorothy Davenport handles the part of Violetta in an appealing manner, obtaining considerable pathos in the latter scenes— 1916 issue The Moving Picture World[340]
Example
but the pickpocket upsets the boat by relieving a number of the guests of their valuables, and then being obliged to flee— 1916 The Moving Picture World[166]
Q
[edit]- queer
- 1. Counterfeit[20]
- 2. Mishandle something[20]
- quiff
- 1. Cheap prostitute e.g. I'm no quiff![372]
- quilt
- Drink that warms one up[372]
R
[edit]- rag-a-muffin
- Disheveled, Dirty individual; hooligan, lout[373]
- rags
- Clothes[20]
- rain pitchforks
- Downpour; rain heavily[374]
- ranked
- Observed; Given the once-over[20]
- rap
- Criminal charge[375]
- rappers
- Informers; professional perjurer[376]
- rat
- Treacherous; disgusting person; stool pigeon[377]
- rate
- Merit; deserve; count for something[377]
- rats and mice
- Dice, e.g. craps[20]
- rattler
- Train[20]
- rhatz
- Exclamation of disappointment; darn![378]
- razz
- To make fun of someone[344]
- real mccoy
- Genuine item[344]
- redhot
- Sort of criminal[20]
- red-light
- Eject from a car or train[20]
- reefer
- marijuana cigarette[82]
- regular
- Real; genuine; normal; average i.e. Regular fella[379]
- reel boy
- Man who likes to watch movies[344]
- reuben
- Unsophisticated country bumpkin; rube; fool[380]
- rhatz!
- Disappointing[344]
- rhino
- Money[380]
- right
- Indicating quality[20]
- right gee
- Quality guy[20]
- ringers
- Fakes[20]
- ritz
- Stuck up[344]
- ritzy
- Elegant; luxurious i.e. from the hotel[381]
- rock of ages
- Woman over the age of 30[344]
- rock, the
- Alcatraz[382]
- rod
- Gun[20]
- roscoe
- Gun[20]
- rotgut
- Bad or cheap or bootleg liquor; see panther sweat[383]
- rub
- Dancing party[384]
- rube(s)
- Bumpkin; Easy mark[385]
- rub-out
- Killing[20]
- rughopper
- Man who does not date[344]
- rug shaking
- Dancing the shimmy[344]
- rumble, The
- News[20]
- rummy
- Alternate names for intoxicated; § drunk; also rum seller; bootlegger[386][b]
- rumrunner
- 1. Individual who smuggles any form of alcohol[387]
- 2. Vessel employed for the illegal transportation of alcoholic beverages[387]
- run one's gums
- Argue; talk excessively; see bump gums[71]
- rube
- Bumpkin; Easy mark[20]
- run out
- Leave or escape[20]
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Example
I jammed the roscoe in his button and said, "Close your yap, bo, or I squirt metal."— In his article for the Ottawa Citizen, William Denton mentioned Sam Spade, the famous detective character from Dashiell Hammett's works, quoting him as saying:[20]
S
[edit]- sap
- Fool, stupid person; see Finale hopper[388]
- sap poison
- Getting hit with a sap[20]
- sappy
- 1. Emotional, nostalgic, mushy; see mawkish[388]
- 2. Foolish, stupid; see sap[388]
- savvy
- Understand[20]
- sawbuck
- $10 bill e.g. a double sawbuck is a $20 bill or half-sawbuck is $5.00[389]
- says you
- A response of skepticism; A defiant exclamation![389]
- scatter
- 1. Saloon or speakeasy[20]
- 2. Hideout; room; lodging[20]
- schnozzle
- Nose; see also beezer smeller[20]
- scofflaw
- A person who openly violates the law, particularly by not adhering to a law that is challenging to enforce[390]
- scram
- Leave immediately; flee; also scram out[391]
- screaming meemies
- State of anxiety; jitters; state of nervous hysteria; see heebie jeebies[392]
- scratch
- Money[20]
- scratcher
- Forger[20]
- screw
- 1. In pre-1930 talkies, screw is used to tell a character to leave[20]
- 2. Get lost, get out[392]
- 3. Prison guards[393]
- screwy
- Crazy; eccentric e.g. "you're screwy!"[394]
- scrooched
- Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk[395][b]
- see a man about a dog
- I've got to leave now i.e. to have a drink[396]
- seetie
- Things that flappers despise[344]
- send over
- Send to jail[20]
- sentiment
- Emotions, particularly gentle emotions, exist separately from logic or judgment, and are often seen as weak or foolish; Originating from emotions instead of reasoning; also sentimental[397]
- shamus
- Private detective[398]
- 1. Swindlers, especially at cards[20]
- 2. Sneaky person[20]
- A good dancer who spends his money freely[344]
- shatting on your uppers
- To be in financial despair; see uppers[20]
- sheba
- Stylish and attractive woman; woman with sex appeal; originates from the film The Queen of Sheba [400]
- sheik
- 1. A man who believes he is irresistible to women (from the Valentino movies)[401]
- 2. I'm going out in search of female conquests[401]
- 3. Young man dressed in a fashionable manner[401]
- shells
- Bullets[20]
- shifter
- Grafter[21]
- shine box
- Club showcasing live performances by black jazz musicians[402]
- shiv
- Knife[403]
- show case
- Wealthy man's wife decked out in jewels[344]
- shylock
- Unscrupulous moneylender[404]
- shyster
- Untrustworthy and despicable lawyer or politician[404]
- simoleon(s)
- Dollar(s)[405]
- sing
- Inform; incriminate oneself and others; see canary[405]
- sinker
- Doughnut or biscuit[406]
- sip
- Female dancer[344]
- sister
- Woman, girl[406]
- sitting pretty
- Being in a superior and extremely pleasant position[407]
- skate around
- Woman of easy virtue[408]
- skee
- 1. Scotch Whiskey; see jorum of skee[409]
- 2. Opium (1930)[409]
- skid row
- Area or neighborhood often visited by homeless individuals, vagrants, wanderers; Struggling and without resources[410]
- skirt
- Attractive female[411]
- slat
- Young man or boyfriend[344]
- slant, get a
- Take a look[20]
- slapper
- Reformer or the antithesis of a flapper[344]
- sleuth
- Detective[20]
- slug
- 1. Knock unconscious[412]
- 2. bullet[412]
- smeller
- Nose; see also schnozzle beezer[20]
- smith brother
- Man who never pays i.e. coughs up[344]
- smoked
- 1. Consuming inexpensive low-quality alcoholic beverages and becoming intoxicated; see § drunk[413][b]
- 2. Engaging in the act of smoking opium or a marijuana cigarette[413]
- smoke-eater
- Any Smoker[344]
- smooth
- Man who cannot be trusted[344]
- smudger
- Close dancer[344]
- snake charmer
- Woman involved in bootlegging[344]
- snap a cap
- Fire a gun shot[414]
- snatch
- Kidnapping[415]
- sneeze
- 1. portion of a powered narcotic e,g, cocaine[416]
- 2. arrest[416]
- 3. kidnapped[416]
- 4. steal[416]
- sniffer
- cocaine addict or user[417]
- snitch
- Informer, or to inform; see stool pigeon[417]
- snooker
- Cheat, swindle[417]
- snooper
- Private detective[417]
- snort(s)
- Drink(s) of liquor[417]
- snow
- cocaine[82]
- snowbird
- cocaine addict[82]
- snugglepup
- Young man who frequents petting parties[21]
- so's your old man
- Reply of irritation; retort to an insult or slur[418]
- soak
- 1. Pawn used as collateral e.g. put into soak[419]
- 2. Drink; heavy drinking session[419]
- 3. despised person[419]
- sob sister
- Female newshawk attempting to provoke a response from her readers through her emotional reporting[278]
- sock
- Punch; clobber[420]
- sockdollager
- An event or action that holds great significance; An individual or object that is extraordinary, marvelous, or exceptional[420]
- soda jerk
- Person who works at a soda fountain and dispense soda from a tap; also jerks soda[421]
- sodbuster
- Undertaker[21]
- soft shoe
- Trail behind someone[344]
- soup
- Soup-like mixture created by dissolving the stick of dynamite in hot water to create Gelignite nitroglycerin, then the crude nitroglycerin is used for breaking open safes[422]
- soup man
- skilled criminal specializing in using nitroglycerin to crack open safes[422]
- spade(s)
- Derogatory term for African-Americans[423]
- speakeasy
- Illegal establishment selling liquor; see blind pig, bootleg[424]
- spifflicated
- Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk[425][b]
- spiffy
- Elegant appearance; smart; fashionable[426]
- spill
- Talk, inform; tell everything one knows[426]
- spinach
- 1. Money[427]
- 2. nonsense, worthless matter[426]
- spoon
- To neck, or talk of love; flirtation[428]
- square
- Honest; regular man or women; respectable, upright[429]
- squeeze
- Female companion or girlfriend; lover; sweetheart; see main squeeze[302]
- squirrel
- Hide[344]
- squirt metal
- Shoot bullets[20]
- static
- Conflicting opinion; difficulties, impudent; argumentative talk[430]
- statts
- Conversation that means nothing[21]
- step off
- 1. To be executed; die[431]
- 2. To get married[431]
- step off a wharf
- Ordering drinks and then refusing to pay the bill[344]
- stiff
- 1. Corpse, dead human body[432]
- 2. drunk passed out cold[432]
- stilts
- Legs[344]
- sting
- Culmination of a con game; swindle[433]
- stool pigeon
- Informer; see canary[434]
- stoolie
- Stool-pigeon; criminal informer[435]
- strangler
- What a spendthrift isn't[21]
- streeted
- Thrown out of a party[436]
- strike breaker
- Young woman who goes with her friend's "steady" while there is a coolness[436]
- struggle
- Modern dance[436]
- struggle buggy
- Backseat of a car; Parent's worst nightmare[278]
- stuck on
- You have a crush on someone[436]
- stutter bus
- Truck[436]
- stutter-tub
- Motor boat[21]
- sucker
- Someone who is vulnerable to being swindled by a scam artist[437]
- sugar
- Money[21]
- sugar daddy
- Older boyfriend who showers girlfriend with gifts[436]
- swanky
- Good, Elegant, Ritzy[436]
- sweetie
- Anybody she hates[21]
- swell
- Great[436]
- swindler(s)
- Individual(s) who deceive with the intention of stealing money or possessions from others[438]
Example
The two sharpers escape and join another member of the confidence game.— 1916 The Moving Picture World[399]
Example
I jammed the roscoe in his button and said, "Close your yap, bo, or I squirt metal."— In his article for the Ottawa Citizen, William Denton mentioned Sam Spade, the famous detective character from Dashiell Hammett's works, quoting him as saying:[20]
T
[edit]- tail
- Shadow or follow[20]
- take a bent stick
- Instead of hoping for a perfect partner, a woman who may not be easily marriageable should consider settling for a loyal elderly admirer[29]
- take a powder
- Leave; depart hastily[439]
- take for a ride
- Transport someone to an isolated area with the intention of killing them[440]
- take on
- Eat[20]
- take the air
- Leave[436]
- take the bounce
- To get kicked out[20]
- take the ball and run
- 1. Carry on with an activity or process initiated by someone else, usually when they were unable to complete or succeed at it; also run with the ball[12]
- 2. Taking an opportunity and following it[12]
- take the fall for
- Endure punishment, blame, criticism, or even arrest for the actions of someone else, perhaps knowingly; Getting arrested for a specific crime, particularly when others are not held accountable for committing the same crime[441]
- tanked
- Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk[442][b]
- tasty
- Appealing; sexually alluring[443]
- tea
- 1. Marijuana[444]
- 2. Whisky[444]
- tearjerker
- It's a tear-inducing performance in a film, novel, song, or opera that evokes strong emotions; a fomenter of pathos[445]
- teetotaler
- Individual who refrains from consuming any form of alcohol[446]
- tell it to sweeney
- Expressing skepticism by dismissing a previous unrealistic claim[447]
- ten cent box
- Taxi cab; see hack[448]
- the advantage bulls
- Plainclothes railroad cops[449]
- the money man
- Man with the bankroll[450]
- the nuts
- Good![448]
- the real mccoy
- The genuine thing, neither a substitute nor an imitation[451]
- they
- Refers to objecting parents[21]
- three letter man
- Homosexual[452]
- three-spot
- Three-year jail term[141]
- throw lead
- Shoot bullets[453]
- ticket
- Private Investigator License (PI)[453]
- tiger milk
- Some sort of liquor[454]
- tight
- Attractive[448]
- tighten the screws
- To forcefully pressure someone through coercion, force, or violent threats[455]
- tin
- Police officers badge[456]
- tin pan alley
- Music industry in New York, located between 48th and 52nd streets[457]
- tip a few
- Have a few drinks[141]
- tomato
- Attractive woman or Good looking girl with no brains[9]
- toddler
- Related to someone who shows up once everything has already been paid for; see finale hopper[448]
- tooting The Wrong Ringer
- Asking the wrong person[141]
- torpedo(s)
- Hired thug or hitman[458]
- toss and hike
- Decide to pursue a new girl and reject the current one[448]
- trap
- Mouth[459]
- trigger man
- Man whose job is to use a gun[454]
- trip for biscuits
- Wild goose chase[460]
- trotzky
- Mature woman with facial hair[448]
- trouble boys
- Groups of young men known for causing mischief or getting into minor legal troubles[141]
- turn up
- Give up or turn in to law enforcement officers[20]
- twist
- Woman[20]
- two bits
- Twenty-five cents ($.25) or Twenty-five dollars ($25)[461]
U
[edit]- under glass
- In jail[462]
- unreal
- Special[448]
- up and down
- Gazing intently at someone[20]
- uppers
- To be in financial despair; see shatting on your uppers[20]
- upchuck
- Vomit, yak, spew, especially after consuming too much Giggle juice[448]
- upstage
- Sobby[448]
- urban set
- New gown[448]
V
[edit]- vag
- Vagrancy; Homelessness[20]
- vamp
- Female seducer of men; Aggressive female flirt[463]
- voot
- Money[463]
W
[edit]- walk in
- Party crasher[448]
- wallop(s)
- 1. A heavy blow, punch; thrash e.g. he gave him a mighty wallop[464]
- 2. Emotional impact; emotionally excited reaction; psychological force e.g. that film has some serious wallop[465]
- waster
- A person who wastes or lavishly spends money; wastrel[466]
- water-proof
- Face that doesn't require make-up[448]
- weak sister
- Push-over[20]
- wear iron
- Carry a gun[141]
- weasel
- 1. Young man who steals a girl from her boyfriend[448]
- 2. Informer; squeals; see Canary[467]
- Weepie
- Film designed to elicit a tearful emotional response from its audience; Sad or sentimental film, often portraying troubled romance; see tear jerker[468]
- weeping willow
- 1. Pessimist; one who doubts; see crepehanger;[21]
- 2. See killjoy; wet blanket[468]
- wet
- 1. Place where liquor is available or person who is in favor of legal alcohol sales[469]
- 2. Incorrect, mistaken e.g. you're all wet (1920)[469]
- wet blanket
- Person who spoils a fun moment i.e. Killjoy[448]
- whaled
- Heavy drinker who is drunk[471]
- whangdoodle
- Jazz music[472]
- what's eating you?
- What's currently irritating or troubling you? e.g. You seem to be in a sour mood today, What's eating you?[473]
- whiskbroom
- A man who cultivates whiskers[448]
- white lightning
- Moonshine; inferior whiskey e,g, they had a pint of bootleg white lighting[474]
- white stuff
- 1. Morphine[82]
- 2. Grain alcohol used for making bootleg liquor[474]
- whoopee
- 1. Boisterous, convivial fun; wild celebration[475]
- 2. Having fun had with a romantic partner; making whoopee i.e. having sexual intercourse[476]
- windsucker
- Braggart[448]
- wise guy
- Smart aleck; individual who is showy and arrogantly knowledgeable[477]
- wise Head
- Smart person[20]
- wise to be
- To have a good understanding e.g. put us wise[20]
- wooden kimono
- Coffin[20]
- woof! woof!
- Ridicule[448]
- wop
- Derogatory term for an Italian; term means without papers[478]
- worker
- Woman who takes a guy for his money e.g. She Sizes Up As A Worker[20]
- wrestle
- Dance variant of Shimmy dance[448]
- wrinkle
- Girl's mother[448]
- wrong guy
- A person who is incompetent and untrustworthy; criminal; also wrong gee, wrong ghee, wrong Injun[479]
- wrong number
- Not a good fellow; dangerous person[480]
- wrong person
- Used in secretive conversations to indicate a mistake in identity, especially in dealings that required discretion[141]
- wurp
- socially inadequate; see Killjoy[481]
Example
. . . where Nazimova comes to a house of refuge, not knowing that Sills is there, and is pronounced dying by physicians, but is saved by Sills' prayer. To us who make and sell pictures, this "saved by prayer" situation registers as hokum, but just the same it has a genuine wallop for most of your customers, and consequently this final sequence effectively tops a very good red meat dramatic yarn.— 1924 Wid's Movie Review[238]
Example
In the park awaiting her train home she meets Forrest Chenoworth, a rich idler, whose money has gotten him into trouble with a lady named Jane. . . The alderman's son, a waster, is acquainted with Jane— 1920 Wid's Daily Movie Review[253]
Example
I am a one-sided person—what you call, perhaps, a wet blanket. I don't smoke, I don't drink, I don't gamble, I don't dance. I like my home. I do not like boldness, lack of restraint.— 1923 Photoplay interview of Joseph Schildkraut[470]
Y
[edit]- ya follow
- Do you understand?[482]
- yap
- Mouth[20]
- yard
- One hundred dollars ($100)[20]
- yegg
- Safecracker who can only open cheap and easy safes; supposedly named after john yegg, first criminal to use nitroglycerin to crack a safe to break open a safe[483]
- yen
- opium[484]
- yellowback
- Various dominations of U.S. dollar having a yellow-colored back e.g. Out West during the Civil War California used currencies with yellowback, while out East, they used greenbacks[484]
- Yenshee
- Opium; see yen[485]
- Yenshee baby
- Opium addict[485]
- you slay me!
- That's so funny; also you kill me[486]
Z
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ a b c d Animal alternatives having the same meaning as Bee's Knees [488]
Bee's ankles, bee's knee's, Bullfrog's beard,
Canary's tusks, Cat's Canary, Cat's cuffs,
Cat's eye, Cat's eyebrows, Cat's kimono,
cat's meow, cat's pajamas, Cat's underwear,
Cat's whiskers, Clam's garters, Cuckoo's chin,
Dog's ankles,Dog's bollocks, Duck's Quack, Eel's hips,
Eel's ankle, Elephant's adenoids,
Elephant's arches, Elephant's eyebrows,
Elephant's instep, Elephant's hips,
Elephant's wrist, Frog's ankles,
Frog's elbow, Frog's eyebrows, Gnat's elbow,
Goat's whiskers, Grasshopper's knees,Hen's eyebrows, Kitten's ankles, Leopard's stripes,
Monkey's eyebrows, Pig's feet, Pig's wings,
Puppy's tail, Pussycat's whiskers, Sardine's whiskers, Snake's ears, Snake's hips, Snugglepup's bow-bow, Spider's ankles, Tiger's spots, Turtle's neck, - ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x In the early 20th century, people commonly used these terms to describe being inebriated: Dalzell 2012, pp. 12
- Bent
- Blind
- Blotto
- Bolognied
- Canned
- Crocked
- Boiled as an owl
- Corked
- Embalmed
- Fried
- Fried to the Hat
- Half Seas Over
- Half Under
- Hoary-eyed
- Jammed
- Jazzed
- Jiggered
- Juiced
- Lit
- Oiled
- Out like a light
- Out on the roof
- Ossified
- Owled
- Pie-eyed
- Piffled
- Plastered
- Polluted
- Potted
- Primed
- Shellacked
- Shot
- Stew to the hat.
- Scrooched
- Smoked
- Spifficated
- Tanked
- Zozzled
References
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Abe Deuce's letter to the editor of Los Angeles Record
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Slang of the 1920's The twenties were the first decade to emphasize youth culture over the older generations, and the flapper sub-culture had a tremendous influence on mainstream America; many new words and phrases were coined by these liberated women. Many of these are still used today!
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Ordinary Production Given to Very Convenient Melodrama
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Reviewed by Robert C. McElravy.
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- ^ a b Chapman 1987, p. 382.
- ^ screw as defined in Wiktionary
- ^ Chapman 1987, p. 383.
- ^ Green 2008, p. 1141.
- ^ Green 2008, p. 1145.
- ^ sentiment as defined in Wiktionary
- ^ Chapman 1987, p. 388.
- ^ "Bluebird Photoplays, Inc – A Stranger from Somewhere". The Moving Picture World. New York, Chalmers Publishing Company. November 25, 1916. p. 1226. Archived from the original on August 9, 2011. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
- ^ Green 2008, p. 1157.
- ^ a b c Green 2008, p. 1158.
- ^ Green 2008, p. 1162.
- ^ Chapman 1987, p. 393.
- ^ a b Chapman 1987, p. 398.
- ^ a b Chapman 1987, p. 399.
- ^ a b Chapman 1987, p. 400.
- ^ Chapman 1987, p. 401.
- ^ Tradii 2018, p. 54.
- ^ a b Green 2008, p. 1191.
- ^ Chapman 1987, p. 402.
- ^ Chapman 1987, p. 403.
- ^ a b Chapman 1987, p. 406.
- ^ a b Green 2008, p. 1216.
- ^ "Snap a Cap". 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
Green's Dictionary of Slang is the largest historical dictionary of English slang
- ^ Green 2008, p. 1222.
- ^ a b c d Green 2008, p. 1223.
- ^ a b c d e Chapman 1987.
- ^ "Green's Dictionary of Slang". 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
Green's Dictionary of Slang is the largest historical dictionary of English slang
- ^ a b c Green 2008, p. 1230.
- ^ a b Chapman 1987, p. 413.
- ^ Soda Jerk as defined in Wiktionary
- ^ a b Green 2008, p. 1238.
- ^ Chapman 1987, p. 417.
- ^ Chapman 1987, p. 1244.
- ^ Green 2008, p. 1247.
- ^ a b c Chapman 1987, p. 418.
- ^ Green 2008, p. 1248.
- ^ Green 2008, p. 1253.
- ^ Green 2008, p. 1258.
- ^ Green 2008, p. 1269.
- ^ a b Green 2008, p. 1272.
- ^ a b Green 2008, p. 1276.
- ^ Partridge 1984, p. 1156.
- ^ Partridge 1984, p. 1160.
- ^ Partridge 1984, p. 1161.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Dalzell 2012, p. 17.
- ^ Green 2008, p. 1297.
- ^ Partridge 1984, p. 1187.
- ^ Chapman 1987, p. 441.
- ^ take for a ride as defined in Wiktionary
- ^ "Take a fall for". idioms.thefreedictionary.com. Farlex. 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
- ^ Chapman 1987, p. 444.
- ^ Green 2008, p. 1324.
- ^ a b Green 2008, p. 1326.
- ^ Chapman 1987, p. 445.
- ^ teetotaler as defined in Wiktionary
- ^ tell it to sweeney as defined in Wiktionary
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Dalzell 2012, p. 18.
- ^ "Miscellaneous Slang of the 1920s". Lighthouse Translations. 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
Speakeasies and Jazz
- ^ "Miscellaneous Slang of the 1920s – Money Man". Lighthouse Translations. 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
Speakeasies and Jazz
- ^ the real mccoy as defined in Wiktionary
- ^ "Green's Dictionary of Slang". 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
Green's Dictionary of Slang is the largest historical dictionary of English slang
- ^ a b Geneviene 2018, p. 78.
- ^ a b Tradii 2018, p. 61.
- ^ "Tighten the screws". idioms.thefreedictionary.com. Farlex. 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
- ^ Chapman 1987, p. 451.
- ^ Chapman 1987, p. 452.
- ^ Chapman 1987, p. 455.
- ^ Chapman 1987, p. 458.
- ^ Tradii 2018, p. 62.
- ^ Chapman 1987, p. 463.
- ^ Geneviene 2018, p. 79.
- ^ a b Geneviene 2018, p. 81.
- ^ Green 2008, p. 1414.
- ^ wallop as defined in Wiktionary
- ^ waster as defined in Wiktionary
- ^ Chapman 1987, p. 475.
- ^ a b Green 2008, p. 1424.
- ^ a b Green 2008, p. 1426.
- ^ "What is Anglo-Saxon hypocrisy – By Mark Larkin". Photoplay. MacFadden Publishing Inc. June 1929. Archived from the original on June 25, 2021. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
- ^ "Green's Dictionary of Slang – whaled". 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
Green's Dictionary of Slang is the largest historical dictionary of English slang
- ^ Green 2008, p. 1430.
- ^ what's eating you as defined in Wiktionary
- ^ a b Chapman 1987, p. 480.
- ^ Chapman 1987, p. 482.
- ^ Green 2008, p. 1440.
- ^ Chapman 1987, p. 486.
- ^ Chapman 1987, p. 487.
- ^ "Wrong Guy". 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
Green's Dictionary of Slang is the largest historical dictionary of English slang
- ^ Green 2008, p. 1460.
- ^ Green 2008, p. 1461.
- ^ "English Slang Terms and Phrases of the 1920s". Penlighten & Buzzle.com, Inc. 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
penlighten is a website about books
- ^ Green 2008, p. 1466.
- ^ a b Green 2008, p. 1467.
- ^ a b Green 2008, p. 1468.
- ^ Partridge 1984, p. 1365.
- ^ Geneviene 2018, p. 89.
- ^ Dalzell 2012, pp. 19
Works cited
[edit]Books
- Chapman, Robert L (1987). American Slang. New York, New York: Harper & Row. p. 499. ISBN 0-06-096160-0.
Abridged edition of the New Dictionary of American Slang
- Dalzell, T. (2012). Flappers 2 Rappers: American Youth Slang. Dover Publications. ISBN 978-0-486-12162-8. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
Unabridged copy of 1996 Meriam-Webster publication of the same name
- Geneviene, T.R. (2018). Speak Flapper: Slang of the 1920s. ISBN 978-1-6561-6855-9. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
- Green, Jonathon (2008). Chambers Slang Dictionary (1st ed.). London: Chambers. p. 1477. ISBN 978-0550-10563-9.
- Kipfer, Barbara Ann; Chapman, Robert L. (2007). The Dictionary of American Slang (4th ed.). New York: HarperCollins puiblisher. p. 592. ISBN 978-0-06-117646-3.
- LeFurgy, Bill (2019). Criminal Slang: Annotated Edition of the 1908 Dictionary of the Vernacular of the Underworld. High Kicker Books. p. 110. ISBN 978-1-7345678-2-3. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
contents of original Joseph Sullivan's criminal slang: a dictionary of the vernacular of the underworld, first published by the detective pub company in 1908 and edited by Bill LeFurgy.
- Lighter, J.E. (1994). Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang: A-G (1st ed.). New York, New York: Random House. p. 1006. ISBN 0-394-54427-7.
- Lighter, J.E. (1997). Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang: H-O (1st ed.). New York, New York: Random House. p. 736. ISBN 0-679-43464-X.
- McClure's Magazine (1917). McClure's Magazine. S.S. McClure, Limited. p. 62. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
- Mitchell, C.R. (2019). 1920s Slang Dictionary (in Tagalog). Independently Published. ISBN 978-1-0728-6161-4. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
- Partridge, Eric (1984). A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English: Colloquialisms and Catch-phrases, Solecisms and Catachreses, Nicknames, Vulgarisms (8th ed.). New York, New York: Macmilan Publishing Company. p. 1400. ISBN 0-02-594980-2.
- Tradii, Joe (2018). From Ameche to Zozzled: A Glossary of Hard-Boiled Slang of the 1920s Through The 1940s. Amazon Digital Services LLC – Kdp. ISBN 978-1-9833-4745-0. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
Glossary of Hard-Boiled slang of the 1920s through the 1940s
Web Slang Dictionaries and PDFs
- "Slang of the 1920". local.aaca.org. Archived from the original on June 18, 2010. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
- Beard, Robert. "A Historical Dictionary of American Slang". alphadictionary.com. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
- "Green's Dictionary of Slang". 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
Green's Dictionary of Slang is the largest historical dictionary of English slang
- Historical Dictionary of American Slang (this version)
- Online Etymology Dictionary
- "Dictionaries". An Encyclopædia Britannica Company. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
- "Time Traveler". An Encyclopædia Britannica Company. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
- "Dictionaries and Works Cited: Dictionary of Newfoundland English". Heritage.nf.ca. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
- Serrani, Alyssa (December 13, 2021). "Comeback-Worthy 1920s Slang That Only Rag-a-Muffins Won't Appreciate". YourDictionary. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
- "Thesaurus and word tools for your creative needs". WordHippo. February 19, 2009. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
- "1920's Slang". huffenglish.com. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
- Wiktionary – a free standard dictionary
- "Slang of the 1920's" (PDF). center.uoregon.edu. University of Oregon. 2024. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
Slang of the 1920's The twenties were the first decade to emphasize youth culture over the older generations, and the flapper sub-culture had a tremendous influence on mainstream America; many new words and phrases were coined by these liberated women. Many of these are still used today!
- "slang_of_the_1920s.pdf" (PDF). Retrieved August 3, 2024.
Websites
- Brockway, Laura Hale (March 25, 2021). "phrases from the 1920s". PR Daily. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
- "1920s Slang". Smoky Hill Museum. 2024. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
- "1920s and 1930s Slang Dictionary". Orlando Dinner Show. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
- "1920s Slang". Lighthouse Translations. February 5, 2024. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
- "Learn 1920s Speakeasy Prohibition Slang!". Shot In The Dark Mysteries Murder. February 6, 2011. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
- "The LSC After Dark Guide to 1920s Slang". Liberty Science Center. November 15, 2016. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
- Ross, Scott (2013). "Early 20th Century American Slang". Reader's Digest. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
- Smith, Sam Benson (September 10, 2019). "30 Slang Words from the 1920s That Are Worth Bringing Back". Reader's Digest. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
Further reading
[edit]- Dalzell, T. (2018). The Routledge Dictionary of Modern American Slang and Unconventional English. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-351-76520-6. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
- Farmer, J.S.; Henley, W.E. (1890). Slang and Its Analogues Past and Present: A to Byz. Slang and Its Analogues Past and Present: A Dictionary, Historical and Comparative of the Heterodox Speech of All Classes of Society for More Than Three Hundred Years. subscribers only. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
- Green, J. (2005). Cassell's Dictionary of Slang. Weidenfeld & Nicholson. ISBN 978-0-304-36636-1. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
- Wentworth, Harold; Flexner, Stuart Berg (1975). Dictionary of American slang – Harold Wentworth, Stuart Berg Flexner – Google Books. Crowell. ISBN 9780690006704. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
- Hotten, J.C. (1894). The Slang Dictionary: Etymological, Historical, and Anecdotal. Chatto & Windus. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
- Kipfer, B.A.; Chapman, R.L. (2010). Dictionary of American Slang. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-06-204324-5. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
- Lighter, J.E. (2007). Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang: T–Z. Random House. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
- Maitland, J. (1891). The American Slang Dictionary. R.J. Kittredge & Company. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
- Maitland, J. (2017). The American Slang Dictionary (Classic Reprint). Fb&c Limited. ISBN 978-0-266-32805-6. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
- McCutcheon, M. (1995). The Writer's Guide to Everyday Life from Prohibition Through World War II. The Writer's Guide to Everyday Life Series. Writer's Digest Books. ISBN 978-0-89879-697-1. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
See also
[edit]- Art Deco
- Glossary of Mafia-related words
- Jazz Age
- List of 1920s jazz standards
- List of police-related slang terms
- List of ethnic slurs
- Prohibition in the United States
- Roaring Twenties
- Slang dictionary
External links
[edit]- Slang of the 1920s on YouTube
- Video (48:15) − America in color: The 1920s on YouTube
- The Jazz Age In America
- Roaring Twenties from U S History.com
- The Roaring Twenties – History.com
- Roaring Twenties study guide and teacher resources – timeline, quotes, analysis, multimedia
