Glossary of early twentieth century slang in the United States

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Excerpted from:
Fitzgerald: My Lost City, Personal Essays

The 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.

Contents

– 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

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

S.S. Kresge Lunch Counter and Soda Fountain, about 1920 1920 - S. S. Kresge Lunch Counter.jpg
S.S. Kresge Lunch Counter and Soda Fountain, about 1920
86

Main article: 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

A-1
First class [7]
abe's cabe
1.  Five dollar bill [8]
2.  See fin, a fiver, half a sawbuck [8]
absent treatment
Engaging in dance with a cautious partner [9]
ab-so-lute-ly
Affirmative, Yes [9]
absotively
Absolutely and positively [7]
ace
1.  One dollar bill; see clam [10]
2.  An airplane adept [7]
3.  An artist in any line [7]
acknowledge the corn
Admit responsibility for [7]
Advertisement; hence ad club [7]
adam's ale
Water [7]
african golf
The game of craps or dice [7]
air tight
Very attractive [9]
airedale
Unattractive man [9]
alarm clock
Chaperone [9]
alderman
Man's pot-belly or simply a prominent belly of a man; see bay window [11]
alibi
Box of flowers or candy [9]
alibi Ike
One who excuses all his faults [7]
all in
Exhausted [7]
all to the good
Everything is all right [12]
all to the good, the mustard, etc
Excellent [7]
all wet
Erroneous idea or individual e.g. "He's all Wet" [10]
alley worker
A woman thief who robs men in alleys [12]
almighty, dollar
Money, the god of america [7]
also ran
A loser [7]
altogether, in the
Nude, naked [7]
ambulance-chaser
A shyster lawyer who goes after injured people to solicit their damage suits [7]
amuck, to run
To behave crazily [7]
ananias Club, member of the
A liar; anyone who differed with theodore roosevelt [7]
and how!
I Strongly agree! [9]
angel
Man who finances a theatrical or other venture, usuallyfor no angelic reason [7]
angora, to get one's
To discomfit or rattle one [7]
animated ivories or cubes
Dice [7]
ankle
To walk, e.g. "Let's ankle!" [9]
anvil chorus
A chorus of knockers or depreciators [7]
anyhoo
used when you want to change the topic of conversation [13]
ankle excursion
Walk i.e. walk home [9]
apple-knocker
1.  Farm laborer mostly a Fruit picker [14]
2.  country bumpkin or Hick [14]

Example
A "cotton glaumer" picks cotton, an "apple knocker" picks apples and other fruit

— 1923 book by Nels Anderson [15]
applesauce
1.  Flattery [9]
2.  Blah, tripe, nonsense, foolish talk, e.g."Aw, Applesauce!" [10] [7]
apple strudel
Concentrated apple sauce [16]
arkansas toothpick
A sheath or bowie knife [16]
armchair
Love nest [9]
ass
A fool [16]
attaboy!
Well done! or Attagirl! [17]
attic
Empty part of a house; hence head, up per story [16]
automat
A nickel-in-the-slot restaurant [16]
awfully
Very much [16]

B

b.v.d.
A man's underclothing [18]
babbitt
Typical mediocre-brained middle class American, realtor or otherwise [18]
babe
Attractive person usually a woman and sometimes meaning a significant other [19]
baby
Something of high value or respect including your sweetheart [19]
baby doll
One's sweetheart [18]
baby grand
Heavily built man [9]
back-scratcher
One who praises you for your praise of him, her or it [18]
bad egg, bad penny, etc
A good-for-naught [18]
bad go to the
Attend Sunday movies, dance, or otherwise offend the rotary methodist god [18]
bad, to the
Having suffered loss [18]
badger game

Main article: 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. [20]
bag, to hold the
To be left responsible while others escape [18]
baggage smasher
Hotel porter who handles trunks [18]
bald-headed row
Front row at a girlie leg show [18]
ball, to play
Go ahead [18]
balled up
Confused, messed up [21] [18]
balty, bats in, the belfry
Crazy [18]
bally nipper
Tomboy [9]
baloney
Nonsense [9]
bamboozle
Obtain by trickery [18]
banana oil
The act of using insincere flattery and deception, particularly with the intention to deceive [22]
bang-up
First rate [18]
bang the ivories
Play the piano [18]
bang to rights
Caught in the act [12]
bangtails
Race horses who's tail is cut horizontally to resemble a tassel e.g. "I wagered on those bangtails in the third race." [23]
bank's closed
No kissing or making out e.g. Sorry, Mac, the bank's closed! [9]
barber
Talkative individual [23]
barber shop chord
Male quartette harmony; barbarous music [18]
barge
Walk along [24]
barleycorn, John
Spirit of alcohol, exiled by Volstead [24]
barn-stormer
Strolling player [24]
barney
Scandal walker [25]
barneymugging
Love-making [9]
barnumize
To advertise in high-faulting' language [24]
barrelhouse

Main article: Juke joint

cheap saloon speakeasy or brothel [26]
bathtub gin

Main article: Bathtub gin

Homemade spirit, made in a bathtub [27]
battle royal
Indiscriminate boxing match of three or more [24]
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 [27]
be on then nut
To be broke [21]
beak, beagle
Nose [24]
bean-eater
Bostonian [24]
bean-picker
Person who tries to patch up trouble [9]
bean-shooter
Gun [21]
beans, not to know
To, know nothing [24]
bear
One who speculated' for a fall in stocks; opposite of bull [24]
bear, she's a
She's a wow, a wonder [24]
bearcat
Hot-blooded, vivacious woman [21]
beat
In journalism, precedence in news; a scoop [24]
beat around the bush
To dodge the issue [24]
beat it
Clear a way; vamoose; depart; scram, get lost [21] [24]
beat one's gums
Idle chatter e.g. someone "beats one's gums"or "Flap one's gums" [10]
beats the devil, the dutch
Beats everything [24]
beau, beau-lover
Suitor, lover [24]
bedbug
An amorous or uxorious person [24]
bee in one's bonnet
To be obsessed with an idea [24]
bee's knees, the
Something or someone outstanding, remarkably fantastic, or awesome [28] [a]
beef
Problem, e.g. "What's your beef?" [29]
beer, small
Anything unimportant [24]
beeswax
Business, e.g. "none of your beeswax" [29]
beezer
Nose; see also schnozzle smeller [23]
Photograph of an 8 ball Pool billiards 8-ball, b-w.jpg
Photograph of an 8 ball
behind the eight ball

Main article: Behind the eight ball

In a difficult position e.g. In a § Jam [29]
believe me
Expletive, "this is true" [24]
bell bottom

Main article: Bell-bottoms

Sailor [9]
bell polisher
Man who lingers in apartment vestibule late at night [9]
belly laugh
Deep, full-bodied laugh [30]
bellyache
Complain all the time [24]
belly-bumper, -buster, or -whopper
Small hand sled used for coasting, lying on one's stomach [24]
bellywash
Soft drink, soda water, etc [24]
belt
Drink, swallow or swig of liquor [31]
bent
1.  Individual who is intoxicated or inebriated; see § drunk; also derivative bent outta of shape; see bent outta of shape [32] [b]
2.  Spoiled and ruined 1910s [33]
3.  Person who is criminal and corrupt 1910s [34]
bent cars
Stolen Automobiles; 1930s [33]
bent outta of shape
Alternate name for intoxicated; see § drunk [32] [b]
bent hairpin
Elderly maid [9]
benzine buggy
Automobile [24]
berries
Great or Money e.g. "It's the Berries" [9]
berry patch
1.  A man's special attraction to a girl [29]
2.  The intimate area of a woman e.g."You won't be seeing my berry patch tonight, pal." [25]
bet, you
Absolutely. also bet your boots, last dollar [24]
better half
What a man calls his wife in her presence [24]
biff
A blow [24]
Map showing the Bible Belt BibleBelt.png
Map showing the Bible Belt
bible belt

Main article: Bible Belt

Area in the south and midwest where fundamentalism flourishes [29]
big burg, big town
A city [35]
big cheese

Main article: Supervisor

Someone of importance and influence e.g. the big boss; [9]
big drink
The Mississippi; any ocean [35]
big head, to have a
To be conceited [35]
Lobby card for the 1930 movie - The Big House The Big House film poster.jpg
Lobby card for the 1930 movie – The Big House
big house

Main article: Prison

Prison [36]
big mouth
A noisy, bragging person [35]
big one
Death [37]
big pond or puddle
The Atlantic ocean [35]
big shot
Someone of importance and influence; Big boss; see big cheese [38]
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 [36]
big sleep
Death [23]
big stiff, big cheese
Anyone who disagrees with you [35]
big timer
Charming and romantic man [9]
bilge
Bunk, blah, flapdoodle, nonsense [35]
billboard
Flashy man or woman [9]
bim
Woman [23]
bimbo

Main article: Bimbo

Tough guy or strong man; see also hard-boiled Bruno [9]
Two hobos walking along railroad tracks after being put off a train. One is carrying a bindle Hobos2.jpg
Two hobos walking along railroad tracks after being put off a train. One is carrying a bindle
bindle

Main article: Bindle

The bundle containing cloths and possessions usually carried by a tramp [39]
bindle Punk Or Bindle Stiff
Tramps or hobos; Migratory harvest workers [39]
bing
Solitary confinement cell used for punishment [39]
bird
1.  Broad term for a man or woman, sometimes indicating "unusual," behavior e.g. "what a funny old bird" [9]
2.  A young girl; anything attractive [35]
birthday suit
Nature's garb; nudity [35]
biscuit
Pettable flapper [36]
bit
1.  United states money equivalent to 12½ cents [35]
2.  Prison sentence [40]
bite the dust
Be slain [35]
blaah
No good [9]
black Hand
A Spanish, Italian or Sicilian secret society of criminals [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 [41]
black Maria
The calaboose, police wagon to take criminals to jail or station house [35]
blah
Bunk, nonsense, spreadeagle talk [35]
blarney
Wheedling flattery; pretty talk [35]
blazes, go to
Go to hell [35]
blazes, like
Violently, impetuously (from the flames of hell) [35]
bleed, to
To victimize, extort money from [35]
blimp
Any non-rigid balloon [35]
blind
1.  Alternate names for intoxicated; Drunken bout; see § drunk [42] [b]
blind date

Main article: 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 [43]
blind pig

Main article: Speakeasy

Unlicensed, illegal drinking establishment e.g. They just opened a new blind pig down the street serving some first-class hooch; see speakeasy [44]
blind tiger

Main article: Speakeasy

Unlicensed, illegal drinking establishment e.g. They just opened a new blind tiger down the street serving some first-class hooch; see speakeasy [45]
blink, on the
On the fritz; no good [35]
blip off
Kill someone [23]
bloated aristocrat, bloated bondholder
Wealthy person [35]
blockhead
Dunce, fool [35]
blooey
Condition when one has gone to pieces [9]
bloody shirt, to wave the
To stir up political strife [35]
blotto
Alternate names for intoxicated [46] [b]
§ drunk
blouse
Leave from somewhere [9]
blow
1.  Crazy party [9]
2.  To boast or brag [35]
3.  Leave [9]
3.  Big wad in nightclubs; spend one's money excessively or irresponsibly [47]
4.  Cocaine [47]
blow in
Come in unexpectedly [35]
blow one's own horn
To praise oneself [35]
blow-out
Feast, spread; puncture, as of auto tire [35]
blue funk
Nervous apprehension or agitation [48]
blue in the face
Aghast with amazement or fear [48]
blue laws
Severe puritanic laws [48]
blue moon, once in a
Hardly ever [48]
blue pencil, to
To edit [48]
blues
Depression; a jazz or ragtime tune [48]
blue-sky laws
Laws concerning corporations so loose that everything gets through; the sky the limit [48]
blue-stocking
A puritan, one holier-than-thou [48]
blow someone down
Kill or murder someone; blow someone away [49]
Wooden wall telephone with a hand-cranked magneto generator Wall Hanging Telephone with Detachable Earpiece - Communication Gallery - BITM - Calcutta 2000 211.JPG
Wooden wall telephone with a hand-cranked magneto generator
blower

Main article: Telephone

Telephone [36]
blue serge
Sweetheart [9]
bluenose
Excessively puritanical person; prude [36]
bluff
Bragging, assertion without foundation [48]
bluff, to call a
To call for a show-down [48]
blurb
Printed praise, usually excessive [48]
blushing violet
Publicity hound [9]
bo
Man; see also buster mac pal [23]
Louise Brooks styling a "shingle" bob cut in 1929 Shingle bob, Louise Brooks.jpg
Louise Brooks styling a "shingle" bob cut in 1929
bob
To cut the hair short [48]
bob cut

Main article: 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 [50]
bogus
Spurious, sham [48]
bohemian
Artistic, as life in an artists' quarter [48]
bohunk

Main article: List of ethnic slurs

1.  Derogatory name for an Eastern European immigrant (out of use by 1930) except in certain anti-immigrant circles; See Ku Klux Klan [51]
2.  Stupid, clumsy person [51]
boiled
Drunk, pickled, stewed, stewed to the gills, lit, illuminated, soused [48]
boiled as an owl
Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk [52] [b]
boiler
Automobile [23]
bolsheviki, bolshevik
Anything you disagree with, from Russian communist policies to prohibition [48]
bonanza
A profitable investment; a lucky strike [48]
bone dry
No liquor available. but see speakeasy, blind pig, blind tiger, bootleg, rum row, etc. [48]
bone, to pull a
To make a stupid mistake [48]
bonehead
A dull, stupid, or awkward fellow [48]
bones
Dice, the ivory cubes, the galloping dominoes [48]
bones, to make no bones about
To speak directly [48]
boob
Dumb guy [50] [48]
boob-tickler
Girl who has to entertain her father's customers from out of town [9]
boodle
Illegal gain or graft [53]
bookkeeping
The art of making a date [9]
bootleg
To sell illegal liquor [53]
booklegger

Main article: Rum-running

1.  Dealer in suppressed novels [9]
2.  Someone who makes or sells alcohol illegally [54]
boom
To advertise extensively; to puff [53]
boom
Inflated values, as in Florida and California real estate [53]
boost
To aid by pushing upward. hence booster [53]
booze

Main article: Alcoholic beverage

Drink or shot of Alcohol [55]
boozehound
Heavy consumer of alcohol [56]
bop
To kill [57]
bosh
Nonsense; twaddle [53]
bosom fly
A petter or Necker; from "let me to thy bosom fly" [53]
boss
Master or employer [53]
bottle
The drinking habit [53]
bounce, get the
To be discharged-- from a job also, get the sack [53]
bouncer
One who throws out objectionable persons [53]
bourbon
A stubborn conservative; old rye whiskey [53]
bowled over
Put out of commission [53]
box
Safe or a bar [58]
box job
Safecracking [59]
bozo
Person; a term of address [53]
brace
Interrogate informally; confront someone; Beg for money [60]
bracer
A stimulant, an alcoholic drink [53]
Pair of Handcuffs Police handcuffs.jpg
Pair of Handcuffs
bracelets

Main article: Handcuffs

Handcuffs (term originated before the 20th century) e.g. The house dick slapped a pair of bracelets on me [61]
brainstorm
Sudden and violent cerebral disturbance; mental attitude of any rich criminal [53]
brand-new
Absolutely new [53]
brass
Bare-faced impudence [53]
bread-and-butter
One's living [53]
break it up
Stop that; quit the nonsense; stop quarreling and fighting [62]
break the ice
To overcome diffidence on first meeting [53]
breeches, to wear the
To rule the house; said too frequently of women [53]
breeze
1.  Breeze Off i.e. leave; depart [63]
2.  Leave; move; go quickly [64]
breezer
Convertible car [65]
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 [63]
brick
A first rate person. Also "a regular brick" [53]
brillo
Someone who lives fast and is a big spender [9]
briny, the
The sea or ocean [66]
broad

Main article: Woman

Expression used solely by men to refer to a woman and widely considered offensive by women [67]
brodie
To take a chance; from Steve brodie's successful leap from Brooklyn bridge [66]
broke, clear, dead, or stone
Penniless [66]
bromide
A commonplace bore; a stale jest [66]
bronx cheer

Main article:Blowing a raspberry

1.  Loud spluttering noise mimicking fluctuance that expresses complete disapproval [67]
2.  see raspberry [50]
brown
Whiskey in the 1920s [68]
bruiser
A boxer, or pugilist [66]
bruno
Tough guy, strong man, enforcer; see also bimbo hard-boiled [23]
brush-ape
Anyone from the sticks; hayshaker, farmer [25]
bub(s
Female breast(s) [69]
buck
A dandy; also, a dollar [66]
buck the tiger
Gamble, play against the bank [66]
buck up
Be encouraged [66]
buck, pass the
To shift responsibility [66]
bucket
Automobile; see also cowpie crate heap jalopy [23]
bucket shop
A gambling den with faked dealing in stocks and bonds [66]
bud
A debutante [66]
buddy
Companion in arms; chum [66]
buff
The skin; hence, in the buff naked [66]
bug, a
A fanatic; as, a radio bug [66]
bug eyed
Amazed: astounded in the 1920s i.e. He looked all bug-eyed [70]
bug's ear
1.  Always with the connotation of being small e.g.Your baby is cuter than a bug's ear [71]
2.  Attractive, Charming i.e. cute as a bug's ear [72] [a]
bugger-lugger
A factory hand [66]
bugs
Go crazy [66]
bulge, the
Advantage e.g. have the bulge on [73]
bull
1.  Nonsense, exaggerated lies; chat idly, to exaggerate; hence, bull thrower, toreador, etc [74]
2.  Stock speculator playing for a rise [66]
3.  Uniformed policeman; law-enforcement official; plainclothes cop [75]
4.  railroad security guard [76]
bull session
Male talkfest, gossip, stories of sexual exploits [77]
bully
Splendid; excellent [66]
bullyrag
To threaten, to scold [66]
bum
Hobo. hence, on the bum, ruined, broke [66]
bum's rush
Thrown out of an establishment [10]
bump
Kill, murder, assassination [78]
bump gums
Argue; talk excessively; see run one's gums [79]
bump off
Kill, murder, assassinate [80]
bum's rush
Old method of ejecting bums from saloons [66]
bunco
To swindle or rob. hence, bunco-game, bunco-steerer. a bunco man's decoy [66]
bunk
Nonsense [9]
bunny
Term of endearment applied to the lost, confused, etc often coupled with "poor little" [23]
burbank
To create a new hybrid plant or animal [66]
burn powder
Fire a gun [81]
bus
Automobile, airplane, boat, large truck; 1910s [82]
bush league
Second rate [66]
bushwa
Euphemism for "bulls#*%" [74]
bust
1.  A drunken revel, a spree [66]
2.  Boxer [9]
busthead

Main article: Moonshine

Illicitly distilled liquor [83]
buster
Man; see also bo mac pal [84]
busy as a one-arm paper-hanger with the barber's itch
Very busy [85]
butter and egg man
1.  Man with the bankroll or money [23]
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 [86]
3.  Well-to-do mid-western salesman in new York, playing with shebas and vamps; a sugar-coated papa. [85]
buzz-wagon, buzz-buggy
An automobile [85]
buzzer
Policeman or private detective's badge [87]

C

C

Main article: Cocaine

cocaine [88]
A series 1922 one-hundred dollar gold certificate US-$100-GC-1922-Fr-1215.jpg
A series 1922 one-hundred dollar gold certificate
c note

Main article: United States one-hundred-dollar bill

$100 e.g. pair of c's = $200 [23]
c.o.
Conscientious objector [85]
c.o.d.
Cash on delivery; no credit [85]
cabbage

Main article: Federal Reserve Note

Money [23]
caboodle
Aggregate, whole collection [85]
caboose
Jail [23]
cadet
Pimp, pander, procurer; west point undergraduate [85]
cain, to raise
To raise hell [85]
cake basket
Limousine [9]
cake eater
1.  Often 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 [25]
2.  Spoiled rich person; Playboy [89]
3.  Lady's man [90]
4.  Self-indulgent effeminate young man [89]
5.  A tea-hound, lounge-lizard, lady-bug [85]

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 [91]
call down
To reprove, to censure [85]
can
1.  Prison; holding cell at a police station; being imprisoned 1910s [92]
2.  Dilapidated, run-down automobile; 1920s [92]
can house
Bordello; brothel [93]
can it
Forget it. hence, can the chatter. shut up [85]
can opener
Safecracker who opens cheap safes [23]
canary
1.  Informer; stool pigeon [94]
2.  Female vocalist typically fronting a band [95]
canceled stamp
Shy girl at a dance or party [9]
canned

Main article: Alcohol intoxication

Intoxicated; § drunk [96] [b]
canned music
Phonograph or radio music [85]
cannery
prison [93]
cannon-fodder
Soldiers [85]
canoodle
To bill and coo [85]
canuck, Kanuck
A French Canadian [85]
cap, to set one's cap for
To try to vamp [85]
cape Cod turkey
Salted codfish [85]
caper
1.  Criminal act or robbery [97]
2.  Drunken spree [97]
capital
Splendid, excellent [85]
captain of industry
A wholesale human wolf, who buries his bones in profitable investments [85]
card
A character; "he's a card" [85]
carpet-bagger
A non-resident politician [85]
carry a torch
Developing strong emotions for someone, yet enduring unrequited love [98]
case
Queer or eccentric character [85]
case dough
Using one's last remaining funds [99]
cash
Kiss [100]
cash or check
Do we kiss now or later? [100]
cash in
Settle one's accounts [85]
cash in one's chips
To die [85]
cast a kitten
1.  Expressing intense and unexpected emotions; see have kittens [101]
2.  Experience a sudden outburst of laughter, fear, or anger e.g. "He got so upset, I thought he was going to have kittens." [101]
cat
Man [23]
cat's meow
Someone who is smug and content with themselves; see bee's knee's [102] [a]

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 [103]
cat's pajamas
see bee's knee's [25] [a]
cat's whiskers, cat's pajamas, cat's meaow, elephant's fallen arches, snake's hips
Something excellent [104]
catspaw
A tool or dupe [104]
catch
An eligible unmarried man or girl [104]
catch-word,
A popular phrase used to get votes [104]
cater-cornered
Placed corner-wise or diagonally [104]
caveman
Modern forcible wooer [104]
cellar smeller
Man with a penchant for showing up where liquor is being served [100]
celestial

Main article: Celestial Empire

Derogatory term for Chinese or East Asians [105]
century
One hundred dollars i.e. $100 [23]
chained lightning
White mule; southern mountain whiskey [104]
chair, the
The electric chair, for electrocution or a permanent wave [104]
change
Loose money [104]
character
A person of striking peculiarities [104]
charlie
Man with a mustache [100]
chassis
Female body [106]
chaw up
To demolish utterly, smash [104]
cheaters

Main article: Reading Glasses

Eyeglasses [10]
check
Kiss me later [100]
check your hat
Call me later [100]
cherry smashes
Weak kisses [100]
cheek
Barefaced impudence [104]
cheese it
Beat it [104]
cherry smashes
Weak kisses [100]
chestnut
An old joke; the ark was cargoed with them [104]
chewing gum
Doublespeak, or ambiguous talk [107]
chicago lightning
Gunfire [107]
chicago overcoat
Coffin [23]
chicago typewriter

Main article: Thompson submachine gun

Thompson submachine gun; see chopper [107]
chick

Main article: Woman

Young woman [108]
chicken
A broiler, flapper, young girl [104]
chilled off
Killed; murdered [109]
chin
Conversation; talking [109]
chin music

Main article: Chin music

Punch on the jaw [100]
chinese squeeze
Grafting by skimming profits off the top [110]
chip in
To contribute money to [104]
chippy
Woman of easy virtue [111]
chisel
Swindle or cheat [112]
chiv
knife; stabbing or cutting weapon [112]
chocolate drop
A negro [104]
choice bit of calico
Desirable female [111]
chop-suey
Blah, applesauce, nonsense [104]
Colt Model 1921A Thompson with a 100-round drum magazine Campbell Thompson.jpg
Colt Model 1921A Thompson with a 100-round drum magazine
chopper

Main article: Thompson submachine gun

Nickname because of the damage its heavy .45 caliber rounds did to the human body; see chicago typewriter [113]
chop squad
A squad of hitmen wielding Thompson submachine guns; also chopper squad [110]
chorine
A chorus girl [104]
chump
1.  A blockhead [104]
2.  Person marked for a con or a gullible person [114]
ciggy

Main article: Cigarette

Cigarette [115]
cinemagoer
Frequently attends motion pictures (1920) [111]
clam
1.  Money i.e. One Dollar bills; see ace [10]
2.  A dumb or taciturn person [104]
clammed
Close-mouthed e.g. he really clammed up! [116]
claptrap
Cheap unworthy trick to get applause [104]
claret
In pugilistic slang, blood [104]
class, classy
Ritzy, elegant, swell, fashionable [104]
claw-hammer coat
Evening dress coat [104]
clay-eater, dirt-eater
Poor whites who eat clay [104]
clean, to get
To escape entirely [104]
clean sneak
Escape from a robbery with no clues left behind [117]
clip joint

Main article: Clip joint

Nightclub where the prices are high and the patrons are fleeced [118]
clipped
1.  Shoot dead [119]
2.  cheated or fleeced [120]
clodhopper
A country jake, hick, jay, rube, etc [104]
close
Stingy [104]
close your head
Shut up [23]
clothesline
Person who tells neighborhood stories [100]
clout
Shoplifter [23]
cloven foot, to show the
To betray satanic character [104]
clover, to be in
To be well off [121]
clubhouse
Police station [23]
Title card for the American exploitation film The Cocaine Fiends The Cocaine Fiends (1935) - Title.jpg
Title card for the American exploitation film The Cocaine Fiends
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 [122]

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 [123]
cocked hat, to knock into
To knock out of shape [121]
cocky
Saucy, impertinent [121]
coco, koko
Head, supposititious site of brains [121]
codfish aristocracy
Vulgar new-rich; fish baron [121]
co-ed
Girl or woman at a college for both sexes [121]
coffin varnish
Bootleg liquor, often poisonous [124]
coin
Money; loot [125]

Example
Wanted: Love *** Abe has Coin *** Girls Kid him

— 1915 Article Headline of Abe Deuce's letter to the editor of Los Angeles Record [126]
coin money
To prosper in business [121]
coke

Main article: Cocaine

cocaine; cocaine addict [88]
cokehead

Main article: Cocaine dependence

Someone who engages in frequent and uncontrollable cocaine consumption [127]

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 [88]
cold
Distant, frigid, unenthusiastic [121]
cold deck
Marked or stacked deck of cards [121]
cold shoulder
Same as icy mitt; refusal of a lover [121]
cold water, to throw on
To discourage [121]
collar, hot under the
To be angry [121]
come to time
1.  The term was employed in prizefighting, specifically boxing [128]
2.  The contestants are expected to resume the competition once the rest period is over and time is called [128]
3.  Meet expectations; keep an appointment [128]

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 [129]
come-uppance, to get one's
To get one's deserts [121]
con
Confidence game, swindle [130]
con artist
Person who cheats or tricks others by persuading them to believe something that is not true [130]
con game
Scam in which the victim is persuaded to trust the swindler in some way [130]
confidence game; con-game
A trick for extorting money from the unwary. hence, con-man, etc. [121]
conk
Head [131]
cooler
solitary confinement cell in a prison [132]
coon
In a bad predicament; negro, hence, gone coon [121]
cootie
Louse. hence, cuddle-cootie; an affectionate person [121]
cop

Main article: Police officer

1.  Police officer [133]
2.  Catch; capture [133]
3.  Steal; swipe [133]
copacetic
Wonderful, fine, all right e.g."everything is copacetic" [10]
copped
Catch; Capture: Arrested by the cops [134]
copper
Policeman [135]
corked
Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk [135] [b]
corn
Bourbon; corn liquor; rum [136]
corn shredder
Bad dancer i.e. young man who dances on lady's feet [100]
corner the market, to
To monopolize the supply [121]
corridor vamp
Someone who ogles the opposite sex [100]
cotton, to
To stick closely to [121]
couch-beetle
Bedbug, amorous person [121]
country
Hicksville; rustic [121]
court-plaster
A wooer who sticks by you [121]
cow
An awkward waddling woman [121]
cowpie
Automobile; see also bucket crate heap jalopy [100]
cowpie warmup
Car ride [100]
cowpuncher
A cowboy, a he-man [137]
crab
1.  Grouch [137]
2.  Figure out [138]
crabhanger
Reformer [25]
crack a bottle
Open a bottle of liquor [137]
crack up
To praise highly [137]
crack, a wise
A near-bright remark [137]
crack wise
Make a sarcastic, flippant, or sardonic comment [139]
cracked
Crazy [137]
cracker
Poor white, as in Georgia [137]
crank
A person with a mental twist [137]
crape hanger
Zealous reformer [100]
craps
Dice; African golf; Abyssinian polo; Congo croquet [137]
crap-shooter
One who plays craps; ivory-roller [137]
crasher

Main article: Gate crashing

Person who attends a party uninvited [100]
crate
Automobile; see also bucket cowpie heap jalopy [140]
crawl, to
To wriggle out of a difficulty obsequiously [137]
creeps
Goose-flesh, cold shivers [137]
croak
To die; to be Killed; murdered [141]
croaker
Doctor [142]
crook
A criminal, dishonest person hence, to crook [137]
crow
To exult in triumph [137]
crush

Main article: Infatuation

Have romantic interest; Infatuation [77]
crushed out
Escaped i.e. from jail:Prison break [143]
cub
A young reporter [137]
cuckoo
Crazy [137]
cuddle-cootie
Young man who takes a girl for a ride usually on a bus [100]
cuddler
One who likes to make out [100]
cups, in his
Drunk; spifflicated; stewed, pickled [137]
cur
A contemptible man [137]
curb, on the
Out in the street; said of curbstone brokers, dealing in small securities [137]
cuss
A perverse or obstinate fellow; used affectionately also [137]
cussedness, general
General mischievousness [137]
custard pie comedies
Comedies in which the chief trick is throwing custard pies [137]
cut dead
To snub socially [137]
cut down
Strike down; kill; incapacitate [144]
cutie
A doll, peach, attractive girl [137]
cutie-pie
Typically a young woman who is charming or attractive; also Cutesie pie [145]
cutting yourself a piece of cake
Making yourself wait patiently [25]
cuttroat
A dealer in coal, landlord, etc. [137]

D

d.t.'s
1.  Delirium tremens [146]
2.  A middle-aged man attentive to a gold-digger [146]
daddy
Young woman's wealthy boyfriend or lover (sugar daddy) [147]
daddy-o
Term of address usually directed towards older males [148]
daisy
1.  A person or thing that is charming [146]
2.  None too masculine [23]
dame
Female. did not gain widespread use until the 1930's [23]
damper
One or that which depresses [146]
dance
To be hanged [149]
dangle
Leave, get lost [23]
dapper
1.  Fashionably attired, impeccably dressed [150]
2.   Flapper's dad [100]
darb
Man who pays the check; gink with a roll of coin [25]
dark horse
A candidate unmentioned before election [146]
darkey
Negro, especially the old-fashioned type [146]
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 [151]
day, call it a
Let's quit work [146]
daylight, letting through one
Shooting a person [146]
dead ringer for
Exact image of [146]
dead soldier
Empty beer bottle [149]
dead to the world
Unconscious; dead drunk [146]
deadbeat
A sponge, parasite, one who lives on others [146]
deadhead
A deadbeat, especially a theatrical one; one who has not paid for his ticket; empty bottle [146]
deb

Main article: Debutante

Debutant [149]
deck
1.  Refers to a single-dose packet, bag, or glassine envelope of cocaine e.g. deck of cocaine [152]
2.  Pack of cigarettes e.g. Deck of Luckies [151]

Example
. . .Audrey to get her some coke. Audrey calls Max, the piano player, and he gives her a deck, which Cleo pretends to take

— 1916 Moving Picture Weekly Review of No. 16 Martin Street [153]
declaration Of Independence
Divorce [100]
demi-monde
A woman of questionable reputation [146]
demirep
A woman of doubtful chastity [146]
derrick
Shoplifter [23]
deuce
The devil [146]
devil
A printer's assistant; a gay fellow [146]
dewdropper
Young man who sleeps all day and doesn't have a job [100]
diamond, rough
An unclaimed daddy; a rich man who eats peas with his knife [146]
dib
Share of the proceeds [149]
dick

Main article: Detective

1.  Private investigator coined around 1900, the term finds major recognition in the 20's [149]
2.  A policeman, detective [146]
dickens, the
The devil [146]
diff
Difference "what's the diff" [146]
dig in
To work hard [146]
dig out
To leave suddenly [146]
diggings
A mine; a house [154]
dimbox

Main article: Taxi

Taxicab; see Hack [100]
dimbox Jaunt
Taxi ride [100]
dincher
Half smoked cigarette [100]
dingledangler
Person who persists in telephoning [25]
dingus
Thing [23]
dip
Pickpocket [23]
dip the bill
Have a drink [23]
dippy
Unnoodled; bughouse; crazy [154]
dirty linen
Family or political disgraces [154]
dish
1.  Pretty woman [155]
2.  Provide information to talk [156]
dished
To be cheated out of [154]
ditzek
Anything funny [100]
dive
1.  A disreputable resort [154]
2.  Disreputable or low quality bar [157]
dive ducat
Subway ticket [100]
dizzy
1.  Deeply in love with a woman e.g. Are you dizzy with that dame [156]
2.  Stupid; making a bad decision e.g. Don't do that – are you dizzy? [156]
do
To swindle [154]
do the dance
To be hanged [23]
do time
Serve in prison [154]
dodo
Fossil; antiquated specimen [154]
dog
Fellow [154]
dog kennels
Pair of shoes [25]
dog jock
Man who walks his wife's dogs [100]
doggy
Ritzy, swell, stylish [154]
dogs
Feet, shoes [154]
doll
Baby, chicken, peach, attractive woman [154]
dolled up
Dressed up; dressed fit to kill [154]
don't know from nothing
Doesn't have any information [157]
don't take any wooden nickels
Don't do anything stupid; also don't take any wooden dimes [158]
doo-dad
Thing-um-a-bob; what-dye-call-it [154]
dope
A narcotic; hence dope-fiend, dope-joint, the real facts [154]
dope

Main article: Narcotic

Any form of illicit drugs [159]
dope fiend
Drug addict usually cocaine or opium [159]
dope peddler
Drug dealer [159]
doublecross

Main article: Double cross

1.  Cheat, stab in the back [158]
2.  To judas; to betray [154]
dough
Money [160]
dough
Money [154]
doughboy
American soldier in the world war [154]
doughnut
Money all around, nothing in the middle; a rich fool [154]
down and out
Utterly broke [154]
drag a sock
Walk or dance [161]
draw
To pull out one's pistol [154]
dress up
To play up or ornament a story [154]
drift
Go i.e. leave [23]
drill
Shoot [23]
drop a nickel

Main article: Informant

1.  Place a phone call to the police and provide information about someone; Alternative expression – "drop a dime" [162]
2.  Actually making a phone call [162]
droppers
Hired killers [23]
dropping the pilot
Getting a divorce [161]
drugstore cowboy
Well-dressed man who loiters in public areas trying to pick up women [161]
drum
Speakeasy [23]
dry

Main article: Prohibition

Place where alcohol is not served or person opposed to the legal sale of alcohol [163]
dry Up
Cover up; Keep quiet about; stop talking [164]
dry-gulch
Murder or kill someone [163]
dub
A mutt, a dud, a flat tire, a poor fish [154]
ducat
Ticket [23]
duck lame
A congressman failing reelection and still serving his unexpired term [154]
duck soup
Easy Ticket [23]
ducky
Very good [161]
dud
1.  An unexploded shell; a failure; a pepless person [154]
2.  Wall flower or dress up [161]
dud up
Dress up [165]
dude
One who follows "what men are wearing" in the theater programs [154]
dude-wrangler
An easterner cowpunching or ranching; a tenderfoot [154]
duds
Belongings; especially, cloths when worn [154]
dumb
Stupid [166]
1920s Dumb Dora Comic strip by Chic Young Dumb Dora 1925.png
1920s Dumb Dora Comic strip by Chic Young
dumb dora

Main article: Dumb Dora

1.  Stupid, especially a woman [167]
2.  Foolish woman often applied to a flapper [168]
dummer
1.  Thug who robs drunks [169]
2.  Thief who robs homes when the occupants are away [169]
dumkuff
Nutty [161]
dump
1.  A house; affectionately, as "a swell dump" [166]
2.  Roadhouse, club; more generally, any place [23]
dump, to
To get rid of [166]
dust
Money [166]
dust out
Leave, depart [23]
dutch treat
Each pays for his own [166]

E

ear muffs
Radio receivers [25]
earful
Enough [161]
easy mark
Swindle food; one easily tricked [166]
easy virtue
One to whom virtue comes hard [166]
edged
Intoxication, a buzz e.g. When he was edged, his personality completely changed [43]
edisoned
Questioned [161]
egg
1.  Person who lives the big life [161]
2.  A man, hence, bad egg, hard-boiled egg [166]
egg harbor
Fall dance [161]
eggs in the coffee
Easy [23]
elbows
Cops [23]
electric cure
Electrocution [23]
elegant
Dainty, fastidious [166]
elephant ears
Police officer or detective [170]
elevated
Slightly drunk [166]
embalmed
Intoxicated; see § drunk [171] [b]
embalmer
Bootlegger [161]
ethel
Effeminate man; male homosexual [172]
evil
Anything pleasant [166]
ex
Out of a job; as, ex-president, ex-bartender [166]
eye, black
A mark to one's discredit [166]
eye, my!
Expletive of surprise [166]
eye opener
Marriage [161]

F

face, close your
Close your mouth [166]
face stretcher
Older woman trying to look younger [161]
fade
Go away, get lost [23]
fag

Main article: Cigarette

Cigarette [173]
fagot

Main article: Faggot

1.  A chorus man; an effeminate man [166]
2.  Sometime around 1920, the term meant a homosexual [174]
fairy
An effeminate man [166]
fake
Anything prepared for deceiving [166]
fakeloo artist
Con man [173]
faker
A street merchant, as of cheap jewelry; a college economist or sociologist; a statesman or patriot, preacher or doctor; a man [166]
fall for
To be gullible; to fall in love [166]
fall guy

Main article: Fall guy

1.  Victim of a frame [173]
2.  One who tries to sell gold bricks ; one who takes the blame, while his accomplices escape [166]
fan
An enthusiast over some sport; from fanatic; to club (police term) [166]
fancy man
A women's preferred lover [166]
fathead
Nincompoop; dumb bell [175]
father of Waters
The Mississippi [175]
father time
Any man over 30 [161]
favorite son
Politicians popular at home, but a zero elsewhere [175]
feathers
Small talk [161]
fed up
Surfeited [175]
feed the fishes
To be seasick; to be drowned [175]
feed the press
To rush copy to press [175]
feeler
An experimental suggestion; fingers or hand [175]
feet
Clumsy dancer [161]
fella
Man, Guy, Fellow e.g. That john sure is a swell fella ; see also bo buster mac pal [176]
fence
A receiver of stolen goods [175]
fence, on the
Undetermined [175]
fetching
Pleasing [175]
few, a
A good many [175]
few drinks, a
Common euphemism for drinking an unspecified amount of alcohol usually in the context of attending a Speakeasy [177]
fiddle-de-dee
Nonsense, applesauce, a case of tut-tut [175]
fiddlesticks
Nonsense, how absurd! [175]
fifty-fifty
Half and half [175]
fig leaf
One piece bathing suit [161]
fight
A party; as, a tea-fight. hence, hen fight, woman's party [175]
filches
Steal or pilfer someone's possession, especially if it's something small [178]

Example
After his arrival, Dippy filches many of the guests of their valuables

— 1922 Exhibitors Herald Movie Review [179]
filibuster
A strategic move in congress, to delay a bill or prevent passage [175]
fin
$5 bill and abe's cabe [8]
finale hopper
1.  Young man who arrives after all bills are paid [25]
2.  Always eager to make empty promises and never present when it matters [25]
3.  One who sticks to the last dance [175]
findings
Accessories; needles, pins, etc. in dressmaking [175]
finder
The individual responsible for detonating the safe as part of a safe blowing crew; see yegg [180]
finger
Identify or direct someone, especially to a professional killer; Put the finger on or to finger someone [181]
finger man
finger man snitch inside person find the finger man [181]
fink

Main article: Informant

Informant; stool pigeon [181]
fire alarm
Divorced woman [161]
fire bell
Married woman [161]
fire extinguisher
Chaperone at a dance or party [161]
fish
1.  First timer in prison i.e. a new fish [182]
2.  Heavy drinker e.g. You drink like a fish [182]
fish, poor
Pepless creature [175]
fish-story
A lie; a cherry-tree tale [175]
fix
A mess [175]
fizzle
A failure [175]
flabbergast
To astound or stagger [175]
flame
One's beloved [175]
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 [183]
Young flappers, members of the 1927 MGM Chorus Girls MGM Chorus Girls.png
Young flappers, members of the 1927 MGM Chorus Girls
flapdoodle
Twaddle; nonsense [175]
flapper(s)

Main article: Flapper

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 [184]
2.  God's masterpiece, or nature's; the modern bobbed-haired heart-bandit [175]

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 [129]
flat
Broke [23]
flatfoot
Policeman esp officer who walks a beat [185]
flat shoe
Dispute between flapper and her goof [161]
flat tire
1.  Dull insipid, disappointing date; see Drag, Oilcan, Pickle, Pill, Rag [161]
2.  A dud; a vim less person [175]
flattie
Flatfoot, cop [23]
flatwheeler
Young man who takes a young lady to an egg harbor [25]
flier
A small investment, in stocks, as a gamble [175]
flimflam

Main article: Scam

To cheat or swindle, as by trickery [23] [186]
fling
A sneer [186]
flip a coin
Toss a coin to decide a matter [186]
flippers
Hands [23]
flirt with death or the undertaker
Run a big risk [186]
Henry Ford standing in front of a 1921 Model T Ford 1921.jpg
Henry Ford standing in front of a 1921 Model T
flivver
1.  Ford model T [23]
2.  After 1928, could mean broken down car [185]
3.  A ford, tin lizard, tin lizzie, etc. [186]
floater
1.  Person making trouble and then disappears [161]
2.  A fraudulent voter [186]
flogger
Overcoat [187]
flooey, to go
To flop, be spoiled [186]
floorflusher
Insatiable dancer [161]
flop
1.  Go to bed; fall asleep [188]
2.  Grown-up who is disagreeable, socially awkward, and unsuccessful; 1920s [188]
3.  Intentionally lose a fight by taking a dive; 1920s [188]
4.  Woman who is fat, clumsy, and lacks cleanliness; 1900-1930s [188]
5.  Cheap room in hotel or bed; 1910s [188]
6.  Abrupt change in political policy [188]
7.  Seat [189]
8.  Hit; knock down; 1910s [188]
9.  A failure [186]
flophouse

Main article: Flophouse

Cheap transient hotel used by people down on their luck [190]
flossy
Ritzy, swell, classy, elegant [186]
flour lover
Girl with too much face powder [161]
flu
The influenza or grippe [186]
fluke
An accidental lucky stroke [186]
fluky
Odd; Different [161]
flumadiddle
Humbug; flummery; nonsense [186]
flunk
To fail [186]
flunkey
A servant in livery [186]
flush
Affluent; well monied; sugar-coated [186]
fluzie
A daughter of joy, a prostitute [186]
fly boy

Main article: Airman

Glamorous term for an aviator [10]
fly-by-night
A shady enterprise or person [186]
fly-up-the-creek
A capricious person [186]
fodder
Food [186]
fog
Attack; Assault; Shoot [191]
fogy
Old-fashioned eccentric [186]
foot juice
Cheap red wine [192]
foozle
A poorly played stroke [186]
for a row of
Distance [161]
for crying out loud
Another way of saying – are you for real? [161]
forty, all Like everything
Like everything [186]
forty-niner
Man who is prospecting for a rich wife [25]
fossil
A dodo, mossback, antiquated person [186]
four flusher

Main article: Four flush

1.  Person who feigns wealth while mooching off others [161]
2.  A bluff; one who bets on four cards instead of five of a suit [186]
fox
To fool, cheat, play a joke on [186]
foxy
Cunning [186]
frail
Woman [193]
frame
Giving false evidence to set up someone [194]
frau

Main article: German honorifics

Wife [195]
free lance
A writer writing without advance assignment [186]
free-for-all
A general fight; a battle royal [186]
freebie
This offer can be used for a free sample or promotion; Also spelled freebie, freeby, freebee freebye [196]
freeze on to
Take a tight hold of [186]
freeze out
To compel to retire or withdraw [186]
french leave
Omitted or informal leave-taking [186]
fresh
Presumptuous; bold; cheeky [197]
freshman
A first year man in college [197]
fried
Alternate names for intoxicated e.g. fried to the hat; see § drunk [194] [b]
frills
Fancy accompaniments [197]
frisk
To search a person by going through his pockets [197]
fritz, on the
No good [197]
frog's eyebrows
Nice; fine; outstanding [25] [194]
fry

Main article: Electric chair

To be electrocuted [195]
fry, small
Persons of no importance [197]
frump
A sour old maid; a prim old lady [197]
fuddled
Muddled; intoxicated [197]
fudge
Nonsense; to cheat (marbles); a kind of candy [197]
full
Drunk [197]
full of prunes
"you're crazy; you're wrong [197]
funk
Fear; panic [197]
fuss
To confuse; also, to escort a girl [197]
futz
Euphemism for f*%k e.g. Don't futz around [194]
fuzz

Main article: List of police-related slang terms

Police officers(1930s) [198]

G

g man

Main article: G-man

Government man; FBI employee [199]
gal
Woman assistant, secretary; female factotum [200]
gams
Woman's legs [161]
gander
1.  Dressing up; Getting ready and duding up [161]
2.  Look, close scrutiny, glance e.g. Take a gander at those gams [201]
3.  Criminal lookout [201]
gandy dancer

Main article: Gandy dancer

A member of a crew responsible for attaching rails to ties, often called a section hand or track laborer [202]
gashouse
rough [23]
gas station

Main article: Filling station

Place that sells gasoline; term was coined in 1925 [203]
gasper

Main article: Cigarette

Cigarette [23]
gat

Main article: Firearm

Pistol, Hand gun; see roscoe [55]
gatecrasher

Main article: Gate crashing

Attending party, type of entertainment without an invitation or ticket i.e. uninvited guest; see crasher [55]
get-hot!
Encouragement for a hot dancer [161]
gay

Main article: Gay

1.  Happy or lively Happy, joyful, and lively [204]
2.  No connection to homosexuality in 1920 [204]
get a wiggle On
Get a move on, get going [10]
get in a lather
Get worked up; angry; agitated e.g. Stay away from Eddy when he get's into a lather [205]
get sore
Get mad; angry [203]
getaway sticks
Women's Legs; see gams [205]
get it
Killed; Murdered [203]
get-up
Outfit [203]
giggle water

Main article: Alcohol

Intoxicating beverage; alcohol; also Giggle Juice [23]
gigolo

Main article: Gigolo

Hired escort or dancing partner for a woman [206]
gimp
Cripple i.e. One who walks with a limp; Gangster Dion O'Bannion was called gimpy due to his noticeable limp [207]
gimlet
Chronic bore [161]
gin mill
Seller of hard liquor; Cheap speakeasy [23]
gink
Man or fellow [207]
give the air
Break a date [161]
give the knee
Dance cheek-to-cheek and Toe-to-Toe [161]
glad rags
Clothing to 'go out on the town; Attire to wear to parties or special occasions [208]
glom
The act of stealing; also glaum [209]
glorious regalia
Chic clothing of a flapper [161]
go chase yourself
Get lost; Scram [208]
gold digger

Main article: Gold digger

Woman who associates or marries a man for his wealth (1915) [10]
goods, The
1.  Incrimination evidence, the facts, the truth, e.g. make sure the cops don't get the goods on you [208]
2.  Narcotics of any sort [210]
goof
1.  Bumbling, stupid person [210]
2.  Flapper's boyfriend [161]
goofy
1.  Crazy, Silly, foolish [211]
2.  In love [161]
goog
Black eye inflicted by a blow to the head [212]
goon

Main article: Goon squad

strong imitating man; compensated troublemaker [213]
gooseberry lay
Stealing clothes from a clothesline [214]
gowed-up
High on dope [23]
grab some air
Put your hands up [215]
grab a flop
Sit down on a seat [161]
graft
Obtaining money through dishonest means, especially bribery [216]
grand

Main article: Currency

One thousand dollars; $1000 [216]
green apples
Homely woman [161]
green glorious
Money and checks [208]
greenland
A park [161]
grift

Main article: Scam

Confidence game or swindle; also grifter i.e. Con man [217]
grill(ed)
Interrogation; intense and prolonged questioning [218]
grindhouse(s)

Main article: Grindhouse

1.  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 [219]
2.  "According to historian David Church, this theater type was named after the "grind policy", a film-programming strategy dating back to the early 1920s that continuously showed films at cut-rate ticket prices that typically rose over the course of each day." [220] [221]

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 [222]
grubber
One who borrows cigarettes [161]
grubstake
Invitation to dinner [25]
grummy
Depressed [208]
grungy
Envious [223]
gum
Opium [88]
gumshoe

Main article: Private investigator

Detective or private investigator; also gumshoeing i.e. pertaining to an undercover investigation [224]
gun for
Searching for someone with the intention of causing them significant harm. e.g. He was out gunning for Tom [225]
guns
Pickpockets; Hoodlums [23]
gussie
Shy person [223]
guy
A gender-neutral way to address any individual (1910) [226]

H

hack
Taxicab [23]
hair of the dog

Main article: 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 [227]
half
Fifty-cents; 50 cents i.e. $.50 [228]
half cut
Happily intoxicated [25]
half seas over
Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk [229] [b]
half under
Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk [230] [b]
handcuff
Engagement ring or wedding band [223]
happy-dust
cocaine [88]
hard
Tough; see also bimbo hard-boiled Bruno [23]
hard-boiled

Main article: Hardboiled

Tough i.e. tough guy, e.g. "He sure is hard-boiled!" ; see also bimbo Bruno [223]
harlem sunset
Fatal injury caused by knife (1930s) [231]
harp
Irishman [232]
hash house
Cheap restaurant [23]
hatchet man
Killers, gunmen [23]
heartwrenching
Appealing to one's deepest emotions or inner feelings; Tug at one's heartstrings; also heart-tugging [233]
have the bees
To be rich [234]
have kittens
1.  Expressing intense and unexpected emotions; see cast a kitten [101]
2.  Experience a sudden outburst of laughter, fear, or anger e.g. "He got so upset, I thought he was going to have kittens" [101]
hayburner
1.  Gas guzzling car i.e. automobile that uses a lot of fuel and gets poor gas mileage [235]
2.  race Horse one loses money on [227]
3.  Someone who smokes marijuana [236]
head doctors
Psychiatrists [237]
heap
Old automobile; see also bucket, cowpie, crate, jalopy [238]
heat
1.  The police [239]
2.  Pursuit by law enforcement [238]
heater
Gun, pistol, revolver; see gat; see roscoe [240]
heavy sugar
Indicator of wealth through possession or condition [241]
1926 single by Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five Heebie Jeebies.jpg
1926 single by Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five
heebie-jeebies

Main article: 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 [223]
heeler
Poor dancer [223]
hen coup
Beauty parlor [223]
hep
1.  Wise; up-to-date [242]
2.  Jazz musician [242]
highbrow

Main article: Highbrow

Intellectually stimulating, highly cultured, sophisticated, cultured or learned person [232]
high hat
Haughty, Snobbish, Unapproachable [223]
highjohn
Boyfriend [223]
high pillow
Person at the top; Individual in charge; the boss [243]
highbinders
Corrupt politician or functionary; highly pretentious, arrogant [244]
hike
Walk [223]
hikers
Knickerbockers [223]
hinky
Suspicious; curious [245]
hiphound
One who drinks hooch [25]
hipster
1.  During Prohibition – person who wears a hip flask of alcohol dating from the 1920s [246]
2.   A dancer, particularly a female one [246]
3.  one who espouses the bohemian life style of the period [247]
his blue serge
His girl [25]
histrionics

Main article: Histrionics

Intentionally exaggerated, overly emotional behavior designed to provoke a response [248]
hit on all sixes
To perform 100 per cent e.g. "hitting on all six cylinders"; also hitting on all cylinders [249]
hitch
a period of time spent in prison or jail [250]
hitting on all eight
In good shape, going well [23]
hitting the pipe
Smoking opium [23]
hoary-eyed
Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk [251] [b]
hock shop
Pawnshop [23]
hogs
Engines [23]
hoaky
1.  Excessively contrived; Hackneyed; also hoakier, hoakiest, hoak [252]
2.  Sentimental material in a film; alt spelling of hokey; see hokum [252]

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 [222]
hoity-toity
Behaviour adopted to demonstrate one's superiority; Pretentious or snobbish behaviour [253]
hokum

Main article: Nonsense

1.  An instance of excessively contrived, hackneyed, or sentimental material in a film [223]
2.  Pretentious; nonsense; insane trash [254]

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 [255]
holaholy
Person that objects to necking [223]
holy smokes
Probation officer [223]
hombre

Main article: Man

Man or fellow [23]
honest squeeze
Female companion or girlfriend;see squeeze [256]
hooch

Main article: Liquor

Main article: hooch

Alcoholic drink made by Alaskan Indians (Hoochinoo), but more commonly refers to illicitly distilled liquor [257]
hood

Main article: Hoodlum

Hoodlum [250]
hooey
Nonsense; Bullsh*t; Popular from 1925 through 1930 and used sparingly later on [258]
hoof
Walk [223]
hoofer

Main article: Tap dance

Dancer or chorus girl [223]
hoosegow

Main article: Prison

Jail [259]
hop

Main article: Swing Dance

Main article: Lindy Hop

1.  Type of swing dance e.g. Lindy Hop; organized dance (1900s) [260]
2.  Opiate, marijuana, morphine or other type of narcotics [260]
hophead

Main article: Narcotic

Morphine addict [88]
hope chest
Pack of cigarettes [223]
hopped up
Under the influence of drugs [261]
hopper

Main article: Lindy Hop

Dancer [223]
horn in
Get into a dance without an invitation [223]
horsefeathers
Exclamation of disbelief contempt; Inoffensive expletive e.g. darn; see Applesauce [262]
hot
Stolen; Recently stolen illegal goods [263]
hot dawg
Great! [223]
hot dog
Relishing something with much delight! [264]
hot sketch
Card or cut-up [10]
hotsy totsy
Fancy or sophisticated [223]
house dick
Security officer employed by a hotel or similar establishment; Hotel detective [265]
houdini
Arrive on time for a date [223]
house peeper
House or hotel detective [23]
hush money
Allowance from father [25]
hype
Shortchange artist [23]

I

ice
1.  Diamonds e.g. That gal has more ice than the North Pole! [266]
2.  Kill e.g. That mug better be careful or he's gonna get iced! [267]
icy mitt
When you have one-sided feelings for someone or when one is given the cold shoulder in a romantic relationships [268]
idler(s)
1.  A person who wastes time doing nothing; lazy person; sluggard [269]

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 [270]
indian hay
Marijuana [271]
ing-bing
As in to throw a fit [23]
in stir
In jail [23]
insured
Engaged [268]
irish goodbye(s)

Main article: Irish goodbye

Ethnophobic term used for someone who leaves a social gathering without saying goodbye; also irish exit [272]
iron
1.  Motorcycle, among motorcycle enthusiasts 1920s [273]
2.  older automobile [274]
3.  handcuffs [275]
4.  carry iron i.e. armed [275]
iron your shoelaces
Go to the restroom e.g. It's time for me to iron my shoelaces [276]
ish kabibble
Retort e.g. I should care from the name of the musician in the Kay Kyser Orchestra [277]
Clara Bow the "it" girl in 1932 ClaraBow2.1.jpg
Clara Bow the "it" girl in 1932
it

Main article: It girl

Sex appeal; Actress Clara Bow was the "It" girl [273]
it's the bunk
I doubt that! [268]

J

jack
Money [23]
jake
Great, e.g. Everything's jake; see Copacetic [10]
Dorothea Lange's photo of a Missouri family of five Broke, baby sick, and car trouble! - Dorothea Langes photo of a Missouri family of five in the vicinity of Tracy, California.jpg
Dorothea Lange's photo of a Missouri family of five
jalopy

Main article: Decrepit car

Dumpy old car; see also bucket cowpie crate heap [278]
jam
Trouble; Tight spot [23]
jane

Main article: woman

Female [268]
jasper
Man; hick [23]
jay bird
Person who takes risks [268]
java

Main article: coffee

Coffee [23]
jaw
Talk [23]
Cover from a 1922 edition of F. Scott Fitzgerald's book Tales of the Jazz Age JohnHeld Tales of the Jazz Age 1922.jpg
Cover from a 1922 edition of F. Scott Fitzgerald's book Tales of the Jazz Age
jazzman

Main article: Jazz

Performer of jazz [127]

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 [279]
jeepers creepers
1.  Polite expletive for Jesus Christ [280]
2.  Exclamation! [280]
jingle-brained
1.  Addled or intoxicated (1910) [281]
2.  Not that bright, muddled [282]
jigaboo

Main article: List of ethnic slurs

Derogatory term for African-American (1920s) [283]
jitney

Main article: Illegal taxi operation

1.  Car employed as a private bus i.e. travel by bus or small car [284]
2.  Bus charging a fixed fare usually five-cents i.e. "Nickel" [284]
jobbie
Man or woman [285]
joe

Main article: Coffee

Coffee, e.g. A cup of Joe [10]
joe brooks
Perfectly dressed person [286]
john

Main article: Toilet

Main article: Client

1.  Prostitute's client [287]
2.  Toilet or restroom [287]
john d
Individuals who use an abundance of polite language and insincere compliments [288]
johnson brother
Professional Criminal [289]
joint
1.  Establishment, bar, tavern or club selling alcohol [289]
2.  Place e.g. My Joint [289]
jorum of skee
Drink of hard liquor usually scotch whiskey; see skee [290]
jug

Main article: Prison

Jail [291]
juice
Money from bribery, corruption, or loan sharking [292]
juice joint

Main article: Speakeasy

Establishment for serving illegal liquor during prohibition [292]
junk

Main article: Heroin

Opium or Morphine [88]
jump the gun
Act prematurely [293]
jumping tintypes
Moving pictures [268]
junk head
Morphine addict [88]
junkie

Main article: Addiction

Drug addict, especially a heroin user (1923) [294]

K

kale
Money [23]
keen
Something or someone attractive or appealing [268]
kick off
Die [23]
kicking the stem
smoking opium [88]
kiddo
A casual way for a man to address a woman he knows [295]
killjoy
Solemn person [268]
kike

Main article: Kike

Derogatory label for Jewish people, specifically those who immigrated from Eastern Europe as opposed to older German immigrants from previous decades [296]
kippy
Neat or Nice [268]
kiss
1.  Land a blow or punch [297]
2.  Drink from a bottle [297]
kisser

Main article: Mouth

Mouth [23]
kitten
Woman [23]
kneeduster
Skirt [268]
knock
Prison sentence [298]
knock off
1.  Stolen [299]
2.  Killed, murdered [299]
3.  Beaten, defeated [299]
knockover
1.  Murder, kill [300]
2.  Rob or steal with violence [300]
3.  Arrest especially after a raid [300]
4.  Intentionally get someone in trouble [300]
knock up
Make a woman pregnant; impregnate [300]
know your onions
1.  Know one's stuff e.g. Joe really knows his onions when it comes to cooking [301]
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 [302]

L

lalapazaza
Good sport [268]
lam, on the

Main article: Fugitive

On the run [10]
lammed off
Ran away or escaped [23]
large

Main article: United States dollar

$1,000 e.g.Twenty large would be $20,000 [23]
law, the
Police officer [303]
Laying on the hip
smoking opium [88]
lay off
Smoke of opium [304]
lay out
1.  Defeat or overcome i.e. to lay out someone [304]
2.  Knock someone out in a fight [304]
3.  Kill someone [304]
lead
Term used for bullets e.g. Fill ya full of lead [305]
lead cocktail

Main article: bullet

To be shot; Bullets, specifically when embedded in the victim's body; also poisoning [305]
lead poisoning

Main article: Bullet

To be shot; Bullets, specifically when embedded in the victim's body; also lead cocktail [305]
lead pusher
gun; gat [305]
left holding The Bag
Leave someone holding the responsibility or blame is to abandon them [306]
lens louise
The person who dominated all the conversations [268]
let george do it
Work evading phrase i.e.Let someone else cover the cost of achieving the shared benefit [307]
let's blouse
Work evading phrase e.g.Let's blouse this clambake! [268]
lettuce
Green folding money i.e. lettuce leaves [308]
level with me
Be honest, trustworth, true [308]
lid
Hat [23]
limey

Main article: Glossary of names for the British

1.  Englishman, Briton, or person of British descent; an English or British immigrant [309]
2.  English or British ship [310]
line
1.  Untruth or exaggeration, often told to seek or maintain approval from others e.g. "to feed one a line" [311]
2.  Insincere flattery [307]
lip
1.  Underworld attorney i.e. criminal attorney e.g. Why don't you use Louie the Lip? [312]
2.  backtalk [313]
lip stick

Main article: Cigarette

Cigarette [268]
live wire
Energetic, vibrant, individual e.g That joe is a real live wire [312]
lollygagger
1.  Young man who enjoys making out [268]
2.  Lazy person; slacker; see idler [314]
loogan
Man with a gun [23]
looker
Good looking person of either sex especially a women [315]
look-out

Main article: Lookout

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 [316]
lounge lizard

Main article: Lounge lizard

Guy that is sexually active; ladies man [317]

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 [91]
lousy with
Have abundance of [23]
lug

Main article: Bullet

Bullet [23]

M

m
Morphine [88]
mac

Main article: Man

Man; see also bo buster pal [318]
mad money
Carfare home used by a flapper if she has a fight with her date [268]
made
Recognized [23]
main drag
Most important street in a town or city [10]
main squeeze
Primary female companion or girlfriend; lover; sweetheart; see squeeze [319]
manacle
Wedding ring [268]
map
Face [23]
marbles
Pearls [23]
mark

Main article: Scam

1.  Targeted individual in a swindle or rigged game [320]
2.  Search for a probable location for a theft [320]
maroon
An idiot; a fool; Gullible person [321]
mazuma
Money, cash, dollar bills [322]
mawkish
Sentimental in an exaggerated or insincere way [323]

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 [324]
meal ticket
When he calls, the flapper invites the man to have dinner [268]
meat wagon

Main article: Meat wagon

Ambulance [23]
meller

Main article: Melodrama

Melodrama film; see melodrama [325]
mellerdrammer
Familiar or humorous name and spelling given to melodrama [326]
Poster for The Perils of Pauline (1914), a classic melodramatic film series Perilsofpauline.jpg
Poster for The Perils of Pauline (1914), a classic melodramatic film series
melodrama

Main article:Melodrama

Emotional drama featuring passionate love and heart-wrenching situations; any situation or action that is exaggerated [326]
meringue
Personality [268]
michigan bankroll
Fake bankroll consists of a large denomination bill wrapped around several smaller denomination banknotes; also michigan roll; michigan stake [327]
mick

Main article: List of ethnic slurs

Derogatory term for irishmen [328]
mickey finn
strong hypnotic or barbiturate put secretly into a drink [328]
middle aisle
Marry [329]
mill

Main article: Typewriter

Typewriter [330]
Milquetoast in Webster's The Timid Soul (Boston Daily Globe, January 13, 1926) The Timid Soul 1926-01-13.webp
Milquetoast in Webster's The Timid Soul (Boston Daily Globe, January 13, 1926)
milquetoast

Main article:Caspar Milquetoast

1.  Henpecked male based on the Comic book character Caspar Milquetoast; very timid person; wimpy [330]
mind your potatoes
mind your own business [329]
mitt

Main article: Hand

Hand [331]
mob

Main article: Organized crime

Organized crime family or gang (not necessarily mafia) [331]
mohaska
Gun, Firearm, Piece; see heat; also mohoska [332]
moll
Gangster's girlfriend [10]
moniker

Main article: Nickname

Name [333]
monogolist
Young man who hates himself [25]
mooch
Leave [268]
A historical moonshine distilling-apparatus in a museum Moonshine apparatus Estes-Winn Antique Car Museum.JPG
A historical moonshine distilling-apparatus in a museum
moonshine
{{defn|defn=

Main article: Moonshine

Homemade alcohol; whiskey made from unlicensed distillers [334]
mop
Handkerchief [268]
Clarence Darrow is considered one of the greatest defense attorney of the 20th century Clarence Darrow.jpg
Clarence Darrow is considered one of the greatest defense attorney of the 20th century
mouthpiece

Main article: Criminal defense lawyer

Lawyer especially criminal defense attorney [335]
mrs. grundy

Main article: 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 [336]
mud pipe
Opium pipe [23]
mug(s)
Men – especially refers to dumb ones; low, crude, fellow; lout [337]
munitions
Face powder [268]
mulligan
Irish cop; police officer; prison guard [338]
mustard plaster
A boy who lingers around and is not wanted [268]

N

nailed
Caught by the police [23]
neck
Kiss passionately [339]
necker(s)
Girl who wraps her arms around her boyfriend's neck while dancing [268]
nerts!
That's Amazing [268]
nevada gas
Cyanide [23]
newshawk
Reporter [23]
Headline news selling quickly in London, April 1912, following the Titanic disaster Titanic newsboy.jpg
Headline news selling quickly in London, April 1912, following the Titanic disaster
newsie

Main article: Newspaper hawker

person who sells or delivers newspapers; reporter [23]
nibble one
Have a drink [340]
nicked
Stolen [341]
nifty
Great, excellent; competently [268]
nippers
Handcuffs [342]
nobody home
Used to describe someone who is perceived as unintelligent or mentally challenged [343]
noodle juice
Tea [268]
noodle
Head [344]
nookie

Main article: Sexual intercourse

Sex act; sexual activity [344]
nosebaggery
Restaurant [268]
not so good!
Personally disapprove [268]
now you're on the trolley
Now you're right; now you've got it! (1920) i.e. Now you're on board [235]
number
clever resourceful Person [345]

O

oatmeal mush
The superficial conversation of a cake eater [268]
obituary notice
Eviction declaration [268]
off the track
This person becomes insanely violent when they go off the track [23]
oh yeah!
I doubt it! [268]
oil burner
Person who chews gum [268]
oilcan
An imposter [268]
old fops
People who are older than middle age [268]
old man
term of address; also old fruit; also old boy e.g."How's everything old boy?" [346]
oliver twist
Skilled dancer [268]
omnibibulous
Able to consume almost any alcoholic beverage, or likely to do so [347]
on a toot
On a drinking spree [346]
on the lam

Main article: Fugitive

Running away, usually from the police; see lam, on the [10]

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 [348]
on the level
Legitimate, honest [346]
on the up and up
On the level [346]
op

Main article: Private investigator

Detective [349]
orchid
Expensive item [268]
orphan paper
Bad checks [23]
ossified
Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk [350] [b]
ostrich
Person who is a Know-it-all [268]
out on parole
Divorced [268]
out on the roof
Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk [350] [b]
owl
Person who's out late or stays up late [268]
owled
Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk [351] [b]
oyster fruit
Pearls [350]

P

packing heat
Carrying a gun [23]
pal

Main article: Friendship

Man; see also bo buster mac [352]
palooka

Main article: Joe Palooka

1.  Social outsider based on comic strip character joe palooka first devised in 1921; also paluka; palooker [352]
2.  Large, below-average or stupid man; mediocre or inferior boxer [23]
panther piss
Raw or inferior whiskey; rotgut; see panther sweat [353]
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 [354]
pan
Face [23]
panic
Produce big favorable reaction from one's audience [353]
panther sweat
Raw or inferior whiskey; rotgut; see panther piss [353]
paste

Main article: Punch

Hit; Strike very hard;Punch [355]
pathos

Main article: Pathos

The characteristic of something that stirs emotions and passions, particularly evoking tender feelings like pity and sorrow [356]

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 [357]
patsy

Main article: Patsy

Person who is set up i.e. person takes the blame for a crime; victim; fool or chump [355]
paw

Main article: Hand

Hand [355]
peaching
Informing [358]
peeper

Main article:Private investigator

Detective [359]
peepers

Main article: eye

Eyes [359]
pen
Penitentiary, jail [359]
pen yen
Opium [360]
peppy
Energetic and full of vitality [361]
percolate
1.  To happen [362]
2.  As of 1925, to run smoothly and well [363]
pet
1.  Necking [363]
2.  Making out [364]
peterman

Main article: Safe-cracking

Safecracker who uses Nitroglycerin [363]
petting pantry
Movie theater or cinema [365]
petting party

Main article: Petting parties

1.  One or more couples making out in a room; Devoted to hugging, or kissing games [366]
2.  Social event devoted to hugging [25]
phonus balonus
Complete nonsense [366]
pickpocket

Main article: Pickpocket

Pickpocketing involves the stealing of money or other valuables from the person or a victim's pocket without them noticing the theft [367]

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 [179]
piece
Gun [368]
piffle
Baloney [366]
pigeon

Main article: Informant

Stool-pigeon [23]
piker
1.  Grasping person; cheapskate [369]
2.  One who will take the least risk especially to help others; coward [369]
3.  lazy person [369]
4.  small time burglar; cheat [369]
pill
1.  Someone who irritates you e.g. "That person is being a real pill" [370]
2.  Teacher [361]
3.  bullet [23]
4.  see Cigarette [23]
pillowcase
Young man who is full of feathers [361]
pinch(ed)
Arrested e.g. He was pinched by the coppers [23]
pinko

Main article: Pinko

Liberal; freespirit [364]
pins
Legs [23]
pipe
See or notice [23]
pipe down
Stop talking [361]
pipes
Throat [23]
pipe that
Did you listen to that [23]
pitching woo

Main article: Sexual intercourse

Making love [23]
plastered
Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk [364] [b]
plant
Someone who disguises themselves as neutral or affiliated with an organization, yet covertly works with another person or external group [371]
playboy
Older boyfriend [361]
plug(s)
1.  Blow, punch; bullet wound [372]
2.  People [372]
poke

Main article: Currency

Bankroll; roll of money; money in general [373]
police-dog
Young woman's fiance [25]
poop(ed)
1.  Shoot or kill someone [374]
2.  Information; the low-down [375]
pop

Main article: Murder

Shoot or kill someone; poop [376]
potted

Main article: Alcohol intoxication

Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk [377] [b]
pos-i-lute-ly
Affirmative see pos-i-tive-ly [361]
primed
Approaching a state of drunkenness; see § drunk [378] [b]
priscilla
Stay-at-home girl [361]
pro skirt
Prostitute [379]
produce the cash
Kiss me! [361]
prune pit
Anything that is traditional [361]
puffing
smoke opium [380]
pug
Pugilist, Boxer [381]
pull a daniel boone
Vomit [364]
pump
Heart [382]
pump metal
Shoot bullets; see squirt metal [151]
punch the bag
Small talk [361]
punch rustler
Individual who spends the majority of their time at parties near the refreshments [361]
punk

Main article: Hoodlum

Hood, Thug [23]
pushover
Person easily convinced or seduced [383]
puss
Face [383]
put down
Drink [384]
put the bee on
To beg from; to borrow money from [385]
put the screws on
1.  Harass using extreme coercive pressure [386]
putting on the ritz

Main article:Puttin' 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 [387]
2.  Wear fashionable and attention-grabbing clothing: Ritzy; also put on the dog [387]
3.   Puttin' On the Ritz is a song written by Irving Berlin in 1927 [388]

Q

queer
1.  Counterfeit [23]
2.  Mishandle something [23]
quiff
1.  Cheap prostitute e.g. I'm no quiff! [389]
quilt
Drink that warms one up [389]

R

rag-a-muffin
Disheveled, Dirty individual; hooligan, lout [390]
rags
Clothes [23]
rain pitchforks
Downpour; rain heavily [391]
ranked
Observed; Given the once-over [23]
rap
Criminal charge [392]
rappers
Informers; professional perjurer [393]
rat

Main article: Informant

Treacherous; disgusting person; stool pigeon [394]
rate
Merit; deserve; count for something [394]
rats and mice
Dice, e.g. craps [23]
rattler
Train [23]
rhatz
Exclamation of disappointment; darn! [395]
razz

Main article:Blowing a raspberry

To make fun of someone [361]
real mccoy
Genuine item [361]
redhot
Sort of criminal [23]
red-light
Eject from a car or train [23]
Reefer Madness (originally made as Tell Your Children and sometimes titled The Burning Question, Dope Addict, Doped Youth, and Love Madness) is a 1936 American exploitation film about drugs Reefer Madness (1936).jpg
Reefer Madness (originally made as Tell Your Children and sometimes titled The Burning Question, Dope Addict, Doped Youth, and Love Madness) is a 1936 American exploitation film about drugs
reefer

Main article: Cannabis

marijuana cigarette [88]
regular
Real; genuine; normal; average i.e. Regular fella [396]
reel boy
Man who likes to watch movies [361]
reuben
Unsophisticated country bumpkin; rube; fool [397]
rhatz!
Disappointing [361]
rhino
Money [397]
Indicating quality [23]
right gee
Quality guy [23]
ringers
Fakes [23]
ritz
Stuck up [361]
ritzy
Elegant; luxurious i.e. from the hotel [398]
rock of ages
Woman over the age of 30 [361]
rock, the
Alcatraz [399]
rod

Main article: Gun

Gun [23]
roscoe
Gun [23]

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: [23]
rotgut
Bad or cheap or bootleg liquor; see panther sweat [400]
rub
Dancing party [401]
rube(s)

Main article: Yokel

Bumpkin; Easy mark [402]
rub-out
Killing [23]
rughopper
Man who does not date [361]
rug shaking
Dancing the shimmy [361]
rumble, The
News [23]
rummy
Alternate names for intoxicated; § drunk; also rum seller; bootlegger [403] [b]
Rum runner sloop "Kirk and Sweeney" with contraband stacked on deck 1924 Rumrunner cargo.jpg
Rum runner sloop "Kirk and Sweeney" with contraband stacked on deck 1924
rumrunner

Main article: Rumrunner

1.  Individual who smuggles any form of alcohol [404]
2.  Vessel employed for the illegal transportation of alcoholic beverages [404]
run one's gums
Argue; talk excessively; see bump gums [79]
rube
Bumpkin; Easy mark [23]
run out
Leave or escape [23]

S

sap
Fool, stupid person; see Finale hopper [405]
sap poison
Getting hit with a sap [23]
sappy
1.  Emotional, nostalgic, mushy; see mawkish [405]
2.  Foolish, stupid; see sap [405]
savvy
Understand [23]
sawbuck

Main article: Sawbuck

$10 bill e.g. a double sawbuck is a $20 bill or half-sawbuck is $5.00 [406]
says you
A response of skepticism; A defiant exclamation! [406]
scatter
1.  Saloon or speakeasy [23]
2.  Hideout; room; lodging [23]
schnozzle

Main article: Nose

Nose; see also beezer smeller [23]
scofflaw

Main article: Scofflaw

A person who openly violates the law, particularly by not adhering to a law that is challenging to enforce [407]
scram
Leave immediately; flee; also scram out [408]
screaming meemies
State of anxiety; jitters; state of nervous hysteria; see heebie jeebies [409]
scratch

Main article: Money

Money [23]
scratcher
Forger [23]
screw
1.  In pre-1930 talkies, screw is used to tell a character to leave [23]
2.  Get lost, get out [409]
3.  Prison guards [410]
screwy
Crazy; eccentric e.g. "you're screwy!" [411]
scrooched
Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk [412] [b]
see a man about a dog

Main article: See a man about a dog

I've got to leave now i.e. to have a drink [413]
seetie
Things that flappers despise [361]
send over
Send to jail [23]
sentiment

Main article: Sentimentality

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 [414]
shamus

Main article: Private investigator

Private detective [415]
sharper(s)

Main article: Sharper

1.  Swindlers, especially at cards [23]
2.  Sneaky person [23]

Example
The two sharpers escape and join another member of the confidence game.

— 1916 The Moving Picture World [416]
sharpshooter
A good dancer who spends his money freely [361]
shatting on your uppers
To be in financial despair; see uppers [23]
sheba
Stylish and attractive woman; woman with sex appeal; originates from the film The Queen of Sheba [417]
sheik

Main article: The Sheik

1.  A man who believes he is irresistible to women (from the Valentino movies) [418]
2.  I'm going out in search of female conquests [418]
3.  Young man dressed in a fashionable manner [418]
shells

Main article: bullet

Bullets [23]
shifter
Grafter [25]
shine box
Club showcasing live performances by black jazz musicians [419]
shiv

Main article: Shiv

Knife [420]
show case
Wealthy man's wife decked out in jewels [361]
shylock
Unscrupulous moneylender [421]
shyster
Untrustworthy and despicable lawyer or politician [421]
simoleon(s)
Dollar(s) [422]
sing
Inform; incriminate oneself and others; see canary [422]
sinker
Doughnut or biscuit [423]
sip
Female dancer [361]
sister
Woman, girl [423]
sitting pretty
Being in a superior and extremely pleasant position [424]
skate around
Woman of easy virtue [425]
skee
1.  Scotch Whiskey; see jorum of skee [426]
2.  Opium (1930) [426]
skid row

Main article: Skid row

Area or neighborhood often visited by homeless individuals, vagrants, wanderers; Struggling and without resources [427]
skirt
Attractive female [428]
slat
Young man or boyfriend [361]
slant, get a
Take a look [23]
slapper
Reformer or the antithesis of a flapper [361]
sleuth

Main article: Private investigator

Detective [23]
slug
1.  Knock unconscious [429]
2.  bullet [429]
smeller

Main article: Nose

Nose; see also schnozzle beezer [23]
smith brother
Man who never pays i.e. coughs up [361]
smoked
1.  Consuming inexpensive low-quality alcoholic beverages and becoming intoxicated; see § drunk [430] [b]
2.  Engaging in the act of smoking opium or a marijuana cigarette [430]
smoke-eater
Any Smoker [361]
smooth
Man who cannot be trusted [361]
smudger
Close dancer [361]
snake charmer
Woman involved in bootlegging [361]
snap a cap
Fire a gun shot [431]
snatch
Kidnapping [432]
sneeze
1.  portion of a powered narcotic e,g, cocaine [433]
2.  arrest [433]
3.  kidnapped [433]
4.  steal [433]
sniffer
cocaine addict or user [434]
snitch
Informer, or to inform; see stool pigeon [434]
snooker
Cheat, swindle [434]
snooper

Main article: Private investigator

Private detective [434]
snort(s)
Drink(s) of liquor [434]
snow
cocaine [88]
snowbird
cocaine addict [88]
snugglepup
Young man who frequents petting parties [25]
so's your old man
Reply of irritation; retort to an insult or slur [435]
soak
1.  Pawn used as collateral e.g. put into soak [436]
2.  Drink; heavy drinking session [436]
3.  despised person [436]
sob sister

Main article: Sob sister

Female newshawk attempting to provoke a response from her readers through her emotional reporting [295]
sock
Punch; clobber [437]
sockdollager
An event or action that holds great significance; An individual or object that is extraordinary, marvelous, or exceptional [437]
Soda jerk passing ice cream soda between two soda fountains. USA, 1936 Soda jerk NYWTS.jpg
Soda jerk passing ice cream soda between two soda fountains. USA, 1936
soda jerk

Main article: Soda jerk

Person who works at a soda fountain and dispense soda from a tap; also jerks soda [438]
sodbuster
Undertaker [25]
soft shoe
Trail behind someone [361]
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 [439]
soup man
skilled criminal specializing in using nitroglycerin to crack open safes [439]
spade(s)
Derogatory term for African-Americans [440]
Patrons await the opening of the Krazy Kat Klub, a Speakeasy, 1921 Krazy Kat LOC npcc.04658.jpg
Patrons await the opening of the Krazy Kat Klub, a Speakeasy, 1921
speakeasy

Main article: Speakeasy

Illegal establishment selling liquor; see blind pig, bootleg [441]
spifflicated
Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk [442] [b]
spiffy
Elegant appearance; smart; fashionable [443]
spill

Main article: Informant

Talk, inform; tell everything one knows [443]
spinach
1.  Money [444]
2.  nonsense, worthless matter [443]
spoon
To neck, or talk of love; flirtation [445]
square
Honest; regular man or women; respectable, upright [446]
squeeze

Main article: Girlfriend

Female companion or girlfriend; lover; sweetheart; see main squeeze [319]
squirrel
Hide [361]
squirt metal
Shoot bullets [23]

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: [23]
static
Conflicting opinion; difficulties, impudent; argumentative talk [447]
statts
Conversation that means nothing [25]
step off
1.  To be executed; die [448]
2.  To get married [448]
step off a wharf
Ordering drinks and then refusing to pay the bill [361]
stiff

Main article: Alcohol intoxication

1.  Corpse, dead human body [449]
2.  drunk passed out cold [449]
stilts
Legs [361]
sting

Main article: Scam

Culmination of a con game; swindle [450]
stool pigeon

Main article: Informant

Informer; see canary [451]
stoolie

Main article: Informant

Stool-pigeon; criminal informer [452]
strangler
What a spendthrift isn't [25]
streeted
Thrown out of a party [453]
strike breaker
Young woman who goes with her friend's "steady" while there is a coolness [453]
struggle
Modern dance [453]
struggle buggy
Backseat of a car; Parent's worst nightmare [295]
stuck on
You have a crush on someone [453]
stutter bus
Truck [453]
stutter-tub
Motor boat [25]
sucker

Main article: Gullibility

Someone who is vulnerable to being swindled by a scam artist [454]
sugar
Money [25]
sugar daddy

Main article: Sugar dating

Older boyfriend who showers girlfriend with gifts [453]
swanky
Good, Elegant, Ritzy [453]
sweetie
Anybody she hates [25]
swell
Great [453]
swindler(s)

Main article: Swindler

Individual(s) who deceive with the intention of stealing money or possessions from others [455]

T

tail
Shadow or follow [23]
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 [33]
take a powder
Leave; depart hastily [456]
take for a ride
Transport someone to an isolated area with the intention of killing them [457]
take on
Eat [23]
take the air
Leave [453]
take the bounce
To get kicked out [23]
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 [13]
2.  Taking an opportunity and following it [13]
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 [458]
tanked
Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk [459] [b]
tasty
Appealing; sexually alluring [460]
tea
1.  Marijuana [461]
2.  Whisky [461]
tearjerker

Main article: Tearjerker

It's a tear-inducing performance in a film, novel, song, or opera that evokes strong emotions; a fomenter of pathos [462]
teetotaler

Main article: Teetotalism

Individual who refrains from consuming any form of alcohol [463]
tell it to sweeney
Expressing skepticism by dismissing a previous unrealistic claim [464]
ten cent box
Taxi cab; see hack [465]
the advantage bulls
Plainclothes railroad cops [466]
the money man
Man with the bankroll [467]
the nuts
Good! [465]
the real mccoy

Main article: The real McCoy

The genuine thing, neither a substitute nor an imitation [468]
they
Refers to objecting parents [25]
three letter man
Homosexual [469]
three-spot
Three-year jail term [151]
throw lead
Shoot bullets [470]
ticket
Private Investigator License (PI) [470]
tiger milk
Some sort of liquor [471]
tight
Attractive [465]
tighten the screws
To forcefully pressure someone through coercion, force, or violent threats [472]
tin
Police officers badge [473]
tin pan alley

Main article: Tin Pan Alley

Music industry in New York, located between 48th and 52nd streets [474]
tip a few
Have a few drinks [151]
tomato
Attractive woman or Good looking girl with no brains [10]
toddler
Related to someone who shows up once everything has already been paid for; see finale hopper [465]
tooting The Wrong Ringer
Asking the wrong person [151]
torpedo(s)

Main article: Torpedo

Hired thug or hitman [475]
toss and hike
Decide to pursue a new girl and reject the current one [465]
trap

Main article: Mouth

Mouth [476]
trigger man
Man whose job is to use a gun [471]
trip for biscuits
Wild goose chase [477]
trotzky
Mature woman with facial hair [465]
trouble boys
Groups of young men known for causing mischief or getting into minor legal troubles [151]
turn up
Give up or turn in to law enforcement officers [23]
twist

Main article: woman

Woman [23]
two bits

Main article: Quarter (United States coin)

Twenty-five cents ($.25) or Twenty-five dollars ($25) [478]

U

under glass
In jail [479]
unreal
Special [465]
up and down
Gazing intently at someone [23]
uppers
To be in financial despair; see shatting on your uppers [23]
upchuck

Main article: Vomiting

Vomit, yak, spew, especially after consuming too much Giggle juice [465]
upstage
Sobby [465]
urban set
New gown [465]

V

vag
Vagrancy; Homelessness [23]
vamp
Female seducer of men; Aggressive female flirt [480]
voot
Money [480]

W

walk in
Party crasher [465]
wallop(s)
1.  A heavy blow, punch; thrash e.g. he gave him a mighty wallop [481]
2.  Emotional impact; emotionally excited reaction; psychological force e.g. that film has some serious wallop [482]

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 [255]
waster
A person who wastes or lavishly spends money; wastrel [483]

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 [270]
water-proof
Face that doesn't require make-up [465]
weak sister
Push-over [23]
wear iron
Carry a gun [151]
weasel
1.  Young man who steals a girl from her boyfriend [465]
2.  Informer; squeals; see Canary [484]
Weepie

Main article: Weepie

Film designed to elicit a tearful emotional response from its audience; Sad or sentimental film, often portraying troubled romance; see tear jerker [485]
weeping willow
1.  Pessimist; one who doubts; see crepehanger; [25]
2.  See killjoy; wet blanket [485]
wet
1.  Place where liquor is available or person who is in favor of legal alcohol sales [486]
2.  Incorrect, mistaken e.g. you're all wet (1920) [486]
wet blanket
Person who spoils a fun moment i.e. Killjoy [465]

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 [487]
whaled
Heavy drinker who is drunk [488]
whangdoodle

Main article: Jazz

Jazz music [489]
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? [490]
whiskbroom
A man who cultivates whiskers [465]
white lightning

Main article: Moonshine

Moonshine; inferior whiskey e,g, they had a pint of bootleg white lighting [491]
white stuff
1.  Morphine [88]
2.  Grain alcohol used for making bootleg liquor [491]
whoopee

Main article: sex

1.  Boisterous, convivial fun; wild celebration [492]
2.  Having fun had with a romantic partner; making whoopee i.e. having sexual intercourse [493]
windsucker
Braggart [465]
wise guy
Smart aleck; individual who is showy and arrogantly knowledgeable [494]
wise Head
Smart person [23]
wise to be
To have a good understanding e.g. put us wise [23]
wooden kimono
Coffin [23]
woof! woof!
Ridicule [465]
wop

Main article: Wop

Derogatory term for an Italian; term means without papers [495]
worker
Woman who takes a guy for his money e.g. She Sizes Up As A Worker [23]
wrestle
Dance variant of Shimmy dance [465]
wrinkle
Girl's mother [465]
wrong guy
A person who is incompetent and untrustworthy; criminal; also wrong gee,wrong ghee,wrong Injun [496]
wrong number
Not a good fellow; dangerous person [497]
wrong person
Used in secretive conversations to indicate a mistake in identity, especially in dealings that required discretion [151]
wurp
socially inadequate; see Killjoy [498]

Y

ya follow
Do you understand? [499]
yap

Main article: mouth

Mouth [23]
yard
One hundred dollars ($100) [23]
yegg

Main article: Safe-cracking

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 [500]
yen
opium [501]
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 [501]
Yenshee
Opium; see yen [502]
Yenshee baby
Opium addict [502]
you slay me!
That's so funny; also you kill me [503]

Z

zotzed
Individual is murdered [23]
zozzled
Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk [504] [b]

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 Animal alternatives having the same meaning as Bee's Knees [505]
    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 fallen 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,
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 In the early 20th century, people commonly used these terms to describe being inebriated: Dalzell 2012, pp. 12

References

  1. ↑ Fitzgerald, F.S.; West, J.L.W. (2005). Fitzgerald: My Lost City: Personal Essays, 1920-1940. The Cambridge Edition of the Works of F. Scott Fitzgerald (in Basque). Cambridge University Press. p. 112. ISBN   978-0-521-40239-2 . Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Slang of the 1920's" (PDF). center.uoregon.edu. University of Oregon. 2024. Retrieved September 21, 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!
  3. ↑ Brooks, P. (1995). The Melodramatic Imagination: Balzac, Henry James, Melodrama, and the Mode of Excess. Yale University Press. ISBN   978-0-300-06553-4 . Retrieved July 14, 2024.
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  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Wood & Goddard 1926, p. 4.
  19. 1 2 Geneviene 2018, p. 5.
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  21. 1 2 3 4 5 Geneviene 2018, p. 6.
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  53. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Wood & Goddard 1926, p. 8.
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  55. 1 2 3 Chapman 1987, p. 159.
  56. ↑ Lighter 1994, p. 246.
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  58. ↑ Partridge 1984, p. 126.
  59. ↑ Green 2008, p. 168.
  60. ↑ Chapman 1987, p. 42.
  61. ↑ Green 2008, p. 171.
  62. ↑ Chapman 1987, p. 44.
  63. 1 2 Chapman 1987, p. 45.
  64. ↑ Partridge 1984, p. 133.
  65. ↑ Green 2008, p. 177.
  66. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Wood & Goddard 1926, p. 9.
  67. 1 2 Chapman 1987, p. 46.
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  69. ↑ Chapman 1987, p. 189.
  70. ↑ Chapman 1987, p. 192.
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  72. ↑ cute as a bug's ear as defined in Wiktionary
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  74. 1 2 Geneviene 2018, p. 10.
  75. ↑ Tradii 2018, p. 8.
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  77. 1 2 Chapman 1987, p. 202.
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  79. 1 2 Green 2008, p. 207.
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  85. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Wood & Goddard 1926, p. 10.
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  117. ↑ Green 2008, p. 294.
  118. ↑ Green 2008, p. 298.
  119. ↑ Green 2008, p. 297.
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  121. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Wood & Goddard 1926, p. 12.
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  137. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Wood & Goddard 1926, p. 13.
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  156. 1 2 3 Tradii 2018, p. 16.
  157. 1 2 Geneviene 2018, p. 21.
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  161. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 Dalzell 2012, p. 13.
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  166. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Wood & Goddard 1926, p. 16.
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  173. 1 2 3 Geneviene 2018, p. 27.
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  175. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Wood & Goddard 1926, p. 17.
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  186. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Wood & Goddard 1926, p. 18.
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  188. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Chapman 1987, p. 507.
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  197. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Wood & Goddard 1926, p. 19.
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  201. 1 2 Chapman 1987, p. 158.
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  205. 1 2 Tradii 2018, p. 24.
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  208. 1 2 3 4 5 Geneviene 2018, p. 33.
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  210. 1 2 Chapman 1987, p. 177.
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  222. 1 2 "NON-STOP FLIGHT". Variety. July 7, 1926. p. 17. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  223. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Dalzell 2012, p. 14.
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  227. 1 2 Geneviene 2018, p. 36.
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  229. ↑ Geneviene 2018, p. 35.
  230. ↑ Chapman 1987, p. 195.
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  237. ↑ Green 2008, p. 638.
  238. 1 2 Chapman 1987, p. 208.
  239. ↑ heat as defined in Wiktionary
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  241. ↑ Kipfer & Chapman 2007, p. 254.
  242. 1 2 Chapman 1987, p. 211.
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  254. ↑ Chapman 1987, p. 218.
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  267. ↑ Tradii 2018, p. 30.
  268. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 Dalzell 2012, p. 15.
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  279. ↑ "Fred Hamm and his band have an unusual record" . Kirksville Daily Express and Kirksville Daily News. Kirksville, Missouri. February 14, 1926. p. 3. Retrieved August 25, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
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  281. ↑ Green 2008, p. 729.
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  295. 1 2 3 "1920s Slang – The Language of The Jazz Age". 1920s-fashion-and-music.com. April 15, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
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  297. 1 2 Green 2008, p. 764.
  298. ↑ Green 2008, p. 770.
  299. 1 2 3 Green 2008, p. 772.
  300. 1 2 3 4 5 Green 2008, p. 773.
  301. ↑ Geneviene 2018, p. 47.
  302. ↑ know one's onions as defined in Wiktionary
  303. ↑ Green 2008, p. 785.
  304. 1 2 3 4 Green 2008, p. 787.
  305. 1 2 3 4 Green 2008, p. 788.
  306. ↑ left holding The Bag as defined in Wiktionary
  307. 1 2 Geneviene 2018, p. 48.
  308. 1 2 Green 2008, p. 795.
  309. ↑ Green 2008, p. 802.
  310. ↑ limey as defined in Wiktionary
  311. ↑ line as defined in Wiktionary
  312. 1 2 Chapman 1987, p. 268.
  313. ↑ Tradii 2018, p. 36.
  314. ↑ lollygagger as defined in Wiktionary
  315. ↑ Chapman 1987, p. 270.
  316. ↑ lookout as defined in Wiktionary
  317. ↑ Chapman 1987, p. 272.
  318. ↑ Chapman 1987, p. 276.
  319. 1 2 Green 2008, p. 1260.
  320. 1 2 Chapman 1987, p. 280.
  321. ↑ maroon as defined in Wiktionary
  322. ↑ Chapman 1987, p. 281.
  323. ↑ mawkish as defined in Wiktionary
  324. ↑ "Wandering Husbands". Photoplay. MacFadden Publishing Inc. August 1, 1924. p. 88. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  325. ↑ meller as defined in Wiktionary
  326. 1 2 melodrama as defined in Wiktionary
  327. ↑ Lighter 1997, p. 547.
  328. 1 2 Chapman 1987, p. 284.
  329. 1 2 Geneviene 2018, p. 52.
  330. 1 2 Chapman 1987, p. 285.
  331. 1 2 Chapman 1987, p. 287.
  332. ↑ Lighter 1997, p. 499.
  333. ↑ Chapman 1987, p. 299.
  334. ↑ Chapman 1987, p. 289.
  335. ↑ Lighter 1997, p. 602.
  336. ↑ grundy as defined in Wiktionary
  337. ↑ Lighter 1997, p. 612.
  338. ↑ Lighter 1997, p. 618.
  339. ↑ Chapman 1987, p. 296.
  340. ↑ Green 2008, p. 911.
  341. ↑ Partridge 1984, p. 790.
  342. ↑ Partridge 1984, p. 794.
  343. ↑ "nobody home". idioms.thefreedictionary.com. Farlex. 2024. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  344. 1 2 Chapman 1987, p. 300.
  345. ↑ Chapman 1987, p. 304.
  346. 1 2 3 4 Geneviene 2018, p. 58.
  347. ↑ omnibibulous as defined in Wiktionary
  348. ↑ Thorpe, Dunham (December 1, 1928). "Muttling "The Racket" – the underworld has sat to silence this film fusillade trained on it". Motion Picture Classic. New York: New York, Motion Picture Publications, Inc. p. 63. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  349. ↑ Tradii 2018, p. 44.
  350. 1 2 3 Geneviene 2018, p. 59.
  351. ↑ "owled". idioms.thefreedictionary.com. Farlex. 2024. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  352. 1 2 Chapman 1987, p. 320.
  353. 1 2 3 Chapman 1987, p. 321.
  354. ↑ paint the town red as defined in Wiktionary
  355. 1 2 3 Chapman 1987, p. 323.
  356. ↑ pathos as defined in Wiktionary
  357. ↑ "The Other Woman – Two-Reel Gold Seal Offering Presents Entertaining Little Study of Artistic Temperament". The Moving Picture World. Chicago, Exhibitors Herald. May 6, 1918. p. 109. Retrieved August 5, 2024. Reviewed by Robert C. McElravy.
  358. ↑ Geneviene 2018, p. 61.
  359. 1 2 3 Chapman 1987, p. 325.
  360. ↑ "Green's Dictionary of Slang". 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024. Green's Dictionary of Slang is the largest historical dictionary of English slang
  361. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 Dalzell 2012, p. 16.
  362. ↑ Green 2008, p. 981.
  363. 1 2 3 Chapman 1987, p. 326.
  364. 1 2 3 4 Geneviene 2018, p. 63.
  365. ↑ Dalzell 2012.
  366. 1 2 3 Geneviene 2018, p. 62.
  367. ↑ "Pickpocket". Merriam-Webster.com. An Encyclopædia Britannica Company. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  368. ↑ Green 2008, p. 990.
  369. 1 2 3 4 Green 2008, p. 993.
  370. ↑ Green 2008, p. 994.
  371. ↑ Green 2008, p. 1006.
  372. 1 2 Green 2008, p. 1011.
  373. ↑ Green 2008, p. 1015.
  374. ↑ Green 2008, p. 1020.
  375. ↑ Tradii 2018, p. 47.
  376. ↑ Green 2008, p. 1021.
  377. ↑ Geneviene 2018.
  378. ↑ primed as defined in Wiktionary
  379. ↑ pro skirt as defined in Wiktionary
  380. ↑ Green 2008, p. 1040.
  381. ↑ Chapman 1987, p. 347.
  382. ↑ Chapman 1987, p. 349.
  383. 1 2 Geneviene 2018, p. 64.
  384. ↑ put down as defined in Wiktionary
  385. ↑ wikt: put the bee on as defined in Wiktionary
  386. ↑ Chapman 1987, p. 355.
  387. 1 2 Chapman 1987, p. 354.
  388. ↑ Kimball, Robert; Emmet, Linda, eds. (2001). The Complete Lyrics of Irving Berlin. Knopf. ISBN   0679419438.
  389. 1 2 Geneviene 2018, p. 66.
  390. ↑ "rag-a-muffin". 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024. Green's Dictionary of Slang is the largest historical dictionary of English slang
  391. ↑ rain pitchforks as defined in Wiktionary
  392. ↑ Chapman 1987, p. 360.
  393. ↑ Green 2008, p. 1068.
  394. 1 2 Chapman 1987, p. 361.
  395. ↑ Geneviene 2018, p. 68.
  396. ↑ Chapman 1987, p. 364.
  397. 1 2 Green 2008, p. 1081.
  398. ↑ Chapman 1987, p. 368.
  399. ↑ Chapman 1987, p. 369.
  400. ↑ Chapman 1987, p. 370.
  401. ↑ Green 2008, p. 1195.
  402. ↑ Chapman 1987, p. 372.
  403. ↑ "rummy". 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024. Green's Dictionary of Slang is the largest historical dictionary of English slang
  404. 1 2 rumrunner as defined in Wiktionary
  405. 1 2 3 Chapman 1987, p. 376.
  406. 1 2 Chapman 1987, p. 377.
  407. ↑ Harper, Douglas (October 25, 2017). "scofflaw". etymonline.com. Douglas Harper. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  408. ↑ Chapman 1987, p. 381.
  409. 1 2 Chapman 1987, p. 382.
  410. ↑ screw as defined in Wiktionary
  411. ↑ Chapman 1987, p. 383.
  412. ↑ Green 2008, p. 1141.
  413. ↑ Green 2008, p. 1145.
  414. ↑ sentiment as defined in Wiktionary
  415. ↑ Chapman 1987, p. 388.
  416. ↑ "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.
  417. ↑ Green 2008, p. 1157.
  418. 1 2 3 Green 2008, p. 1158.
  419. ↑ Green 2008, p. 1162.
  420. ↑ Chapman 1987, p. 393.
  421. 1 2 Chapman 1987, p. 398.
  422. 1 2 Chapman 1987, p. 399.
  423. 1 2 Chapman 1987, p. 400.
  424. ↑ Chapman 1987, p. 401.
  425. ↑ Tradii 2018, p. 54.
  426. 1 2 Green 2008, p. 1191.
  427. ↑ Chapman 1987, p. 402.
  428. ↑ Chapman 1987, p. 403.
  429. 1 2 Chapman 1987, p. 406.
  430. 1 2 Green 2008, p. 1216.
  431. ↑ "Snap a Cap". 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024. Green's Dictionary of Slang is the largest historical dictionary of English slang
  432. ↑ Green 2008, p. 1222.
  433. 1 2 3 4 Green 2008, p. 1223.
  434. 1 2 3 4 5 Chapman 1987.
  435. ↑ "Green's Dictionary of Slang". 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024. Green's Dictionary of Slang is the largest historical dictionary of English slang
  436. 1 2 3 Green 2008, p. 1230.
  437. 1 2 Chapman 1987, p. 413.
  438. ↑ Soda Jerk as defined in Wiktionary
  439. 1 2 Green 2008, p. 1238.
  440. ↑ Chapman 1987, p. 417.
  441. ↑ Chapman 1987, p. 1244.
  442. ↑ Green 2008, p. 1247.
  443. 1 2 3 Chapman 1987, p. 418.
  444. ↑ Green 2008, p. 1248.
  445. ↑ Green 2008, p. 1253.
  446. ↑ Green 2008, p. 1258.
  447. ↑ Green 2008, p. 1269.
  448. 1 2 Green 2008, p. 1272.
  449. 1 2 Green 2008, p. 1276.
  450. ↑ Partridge 1984, p. 1156.
  451. ↑ Partridge 1984, p. 1160.
  452. ↑ Partridge 1984, p. 1161.
  453. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Dalzell 2012, p. 17.
  454. ↑ Green 2008, p. 1297.
  455. ↑ Partridge 1984, p. 1187.
  456. ↑ Chapman 1987, p. 441.
  457. ↑ take for a ride as defined in Wiktionary
  458. ↑ "Take a fall for". idioms.thefreedictionary.com. Farlex. 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  459. ↑ Chapman 1987, p. 444.
  460. ↑ Green 2008, p. 1324.
  461. 1 2 Green 2008, p. 1326.
  462. ↑ Chapman 1987, p. 445.
  463. ↑ teetotaler as defined in Wiktionary
  464. ↑ tell it to sweeney as defined in Wiktionary
  465. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Dalzell 2012, p. 18.
  466. ↑ "Miscellaneous Slang of the 1920s". Lighthouse Translations. 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2024. Speakeasies and Jazz
  467. ↑ "Miscellaneous Slang of the 1920s – Money Man". Lighthouse Translations. 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2024. Speakeasies and Jazz
  468. ↑ the real mccoy as defined in Wiktionary
  469. ↑ "Green's Dictionary of Slang". 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024. Green's Dictionary of Slang is the largest historical dictionary of English slang
  470. 1 2 Geneviene 2018, p. 78.
  471. 1 2 Tradii 2018, p. 61.
  472. ↑ "Tighten the screws". idioms.thefreedictionary.com. Farlex. 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  473. ↑ Chapman 1987, p. 451.
  474. ↑ Chapman 1987, p. 452.
  475. ↑ Chapman 1987, p. 455.
  476. ↑ Chapman 1987, p. 458.
  477. ↑ Tradii 2018, p. 62.
  478. ↑ Chapman 1987, p. 463.
  479. ↑ Geneviene 2018, p. 79.
  480. 1 2 Geneviene 2018, p. 81.
  481. ↑ Green 2008, p. 1414.
  482. ↑ wallop as defined in Wiktionary
  483. ↑ waster as defined in Wiktionary
  484. ↑ Chapman 1987, p. 475.
  485. 1 2 Green 2008, p. 1424.
  486. 1 2 Green 2008, p. 1426.
  487. ↑ "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.
  488. ↑ "Green's Dictionary of Slang – whaled". 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024. Green's Dictionary of Slang is the largest historical dictionary of English slang
  489. ↑ Green 2008, p. 1430.
  490. ↑ what's eating you as defined in Wiktionary
  491. 1 2 Chapman 1987, p. 480.
  492. ↑ Chapman 1987, p. 482.
  493. ↑ Green 2008, p. 1440.
  494. ↑ Chapman 1987, p. 486.
  495. ↑ Chapman 1987, p. 487.
  496. ↑ "Wrong Guy". 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024. Green's Dictionary of Slang is the largest historical dictionary of English slang
  497. ↑ Green 2008, p. 1460.
  498. ↑ Green 2008, p. 1461.
  499. ↑ "English Slang Terms and Phrases of the 1920s". Penlighten & Buzzle.com, Inc. 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024. penlighten is a website about books
  500. ↑ Green 2008, p. 1466.
  501. 1 2 Green 2008, p. 1467.
  502. 1 2 Green 2008, p. 1468.
  503. ↑ Partridge 1984, p. 1365.
  504. ↑ Geneviene 2018, p. 89.
  505. Dalzell 2012, pp. 19

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