Slang of the 1920

Slang of the 1920's And How - I strongly agree! Applesauce- an expletive same as horsefeathers, As in "Ah applesauce!" Baby - sweetheart. Also denotes something of high value or respect. Balled Up - confused, messed up Baloney - nonsense! Beat it - scam or get lost Beat one's gums - idle chatter Bee's Knees - An extraordinary person, thing, idea; the ultimate Beef - a complaint or to complain Beeswax - business, i.e. None of your beeswax." Bell bottom - a sailor Berries - That which is attractive or pleasing; similar to bee's knees, As in "It's the berries." Bible Belt - Area in the South and Midwest where Fundamentalism flourishes Big Cheese - The most important or influential person; boss. Same as big shot Big six - a strong man; from auto advertising, for the new and powerful; six cylinder engines Blind Date - going out with someone you do not know Bluenose - An excessively puritanical person, a prude, Creator of "the Blue Nozzle Curse." Bootleg - illegal liquor Breezer - an convertible car Bronx Cheer - A loud spluttering noise, used to indicate disapproval. Same as raspberry Bull - (1) a policeman or law-enforcement officer including FBI (2) nonsense (3) to chat idly, to exaggerate Bull Session - Male talkfest, gossip, stories of sexual exploits Bum's rush - ejection by force from an establishment Bump Off - To murder, To kill Caper - a criminal act or robber Carry a Torch - To have a crush on someone Cat's Meow - Something splendid or stylish; similar to bee's knees; The best or greatest, wonderful. Cheaters - Eyeglasses Clam - a dollar Copacetic - Wonderful, fine, all right Crush - An infatuation Dame - a female Darb - excellent person or thing (as in "the Darb" - a person with money who can be relied on to pay the check) Deb - an debutant Dogs - feet Doll - an attractive woman Dolled up - dressed up Don't know from nothing - don't have any information Don't take any wooden nickels - Don't do anything stupid Double-cross - to cheat, stab in the back Dough - money Drugstore Cowboy - a guy that hangs around on a street corner trying to pick up girls Dry up - shut up, get lost Dumb Dora - a stupid female Earful - enough Egg - a person who lives the big life Fall Guy - Victim of a frame Fire extinguisher - a chaperone Fish -(1) a college freshman (2) a first timer in prison Flat Tire - A dull witted, insipid, disappointing date. Same as pill, pickle, drag, rag, oilcan Flapper - A stylish, brash, hedonistic young woman with short skirts & shorter hair Fly boy - a glamorous term for an aviator Frame - To give false evidence , to set up someone Gams - A woman's legs Get a wiggle on - get a move on, get going Giggle Water - An intoxicating beverage; alcohol Gin Mill - An establishment where hard liquor is sold; bar Glad rags - "going out on the town" clothes Gold Digger - A woman who associates with or marries a man for his wealth Goofy - in love Handcuff - an engagement ring Hard Boiled - a tough, strong guy Hayburner - (1) a gas guzzling car (2) a horse one loses money on Heebie-Jeebies - The jitters High-Hat - To snub Hit on all sixes - to perform 100 per cent; as "hitting on all six cyclinders" Hooch - Bootleg liquor Hood - hoodlum Hoofer - Dancer Horsefeathers - an expletive ; same usage as applesauce Hotsy - Totsy - Pleasing Iron - a motorcycle Jack - money Jake - OK, as in , "Everything is Jake." Jalopy - Old car Jane - any female Java - coffee Jitney - a car employed as a private bus. Fare was usually five cents; also called a "nickel" Joe - coffee John - a toilet Joint - an establishment Juice Joint - a speakeasy Joint - A club, usually selling alcohol Keen - Attractive or appealing Kisser - Mouth Left holding the bag - (1) to be cheated out of one's fair share (2) to be blamed for something Level with me - be honest Line - Insincere flattery Live wire - a lively person Middle Aisle - To marry Moll - A gangster's girl Nifty - great, excellent "Now you're on the trolley!" - Now you've got it, now you're right! On the lam - fleeing from police On the level - legitimate, honest On the up and up - on the level Owl - a person who's out late Pinch - To arrest Pipe down - stop talking Pushover - A person easily convinced or seduced Rag-a-muffin - a dirty or disheveled individual Razz- to make fun of Real McCoy - The genuine article Ritzy - Elegant (from the hotel) Rubes - money or dollars Sap - a fool Says you - a reaction of disbelief Scram - Ask someone to leave immediately Shiv - a knife Sinker - a doughnut Speakeasy - An illicit bar selling bootleg liquor Spifflicated - Drunk. The same as canned, corked, tanked, primed, scrooched, jazzed, zozzled, plastered, owled, embalmed, lit, potted, ossified or fried to the hat Spiffy - An elegant appearance Stuck On - Having a crush on Swanky - Ritzy Swell - Wonderful. Also: a rich man Torpedo - A hired gun Upchuck - To vomit when one has drunk too much Wet Blanket - a solemn person, a killjoy What's eating you? - What's wrong Whoopee - To have a good time You slay me - that's funny