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Ab-so-lute-ly - affirmative
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All Wet - describes an erroneous idea or individual, as in, "he's all wet." |
| And How - I strongly agree!
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Applesauce- an expletive same as horsefeathers, As in "Ah applesauce!" |
| Attaboy - well done!; also Attagirl!
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Baby - sweetheart. Also denotes something of high value or respect. |
| Balled Up - confused, messed up
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| Baloney - nonsense!
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Bank's Closed - no kissing or making out - i.e. - "Sorry, Mac, the bank's closed."
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| Bearcat - a hot-blooded or fiery girl
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| Beat it - scam or get lost
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| Beat one's gums - idle chatter
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Bee's Knees - An extraordinary person, thing, idea; the ultimate |
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| Beef - a complaint or to complain
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| Beeswax - business, i.e. None of your beeswax."
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| Bell bottom - a sailor
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Berries - That which is attractive or pleasing; similar to bee's knees, As in "It's the berries." |
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Bible Belt - Area in the South and Midwest where Fundamentalism flourishes |
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Big Cheese - The most important or influential person; boss. Same as big shot |
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Big six - a strong man; from auto advertising, for
the new and powerful; six cylinder engines
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| Bimbo - a tough guy
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Bird - general term for a man or woman, sometimes
meaning "odd," i.e. "What a
funny old bird."
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Blind Date - going out with someone you do not know |
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Bluenose - An excessively puritanical person, a prude, Creator of "the Blue Nozzle Curse." |
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Bootleg - illegal liquor
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Breezer - an convertible car
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Bronx Cheer - A loud
spluttering noise, used to indicate disapproval. Same as raspberry |
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Bull - (1) a policeman
or law-enforcement officer including FBI (2) nonsense (3) to chat idly, to
exaggerate
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Bull Session - Male talkfest, gossip, stories of sexual exploits |
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Bum's rush - ejection by force from an establishment
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Bump Off - To murder, To kill |
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Butt me - I'll take a cigarette
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| Caper - a criminal act or robbery
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| Carry a Torch - To have a crush on someone |
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| Cash - a kiss
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| Cash or check? - Do you kiss now or later?
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Cat's Meow - Something splendid or stylish; similar to bee's knees; The best or greatest, wonderful. |
| Cat's Pajamas - Same as cat's meow |
| Chassis - the female body
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| Cheaters - Eyeglasses |
| Check - kiss me later
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| Ciggy - cigarette
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| Clam - a dollar
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| Copacetic - Wonderful, fine, all right |
| Crush - An infatuation |
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Daddy - a young woman's boyfriend or lover,
especially if he's rich |
| Dame - a female
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| Dapper - a Flapper's dad
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Darb - An excellent person or thing (as in "the Darb" - a person with money who can be relied on to pay the check) |
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| Dead soldier - an empty bear bottle
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| Deb - an debutant
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| Dick - a private investigator
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| Dogs - feet |
| Doll - an attractive woman
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| Dolled up - dressed up
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| 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
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| Dough - money
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Drugstore Cowboy - a guy that hangs around on a street corner trying to pick up girls |
| Dry up - shut up, get lost
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| Ducky - very good
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| Dumb Dora - a stupid female |
| Fall Guy - Victim of a frame |
| Earful - enough
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| Edge - intoxication, a buzz. i.e. "I've
got an edge." |
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| Egg - a person who lives the big life
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| Fire extinguisher - a chaperone
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Fish -(1) a college freshman (2) a first timer in
prison |
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Flat Tire - A dull witted, insipid, disappointing date. Same as pill, pickle, drag, rag, oilcan |
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Flivver - a Model T; after 1928, could mean any old
broken down car |
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Flapper - A stylish, brash, hedonistic young woman with short skirts & shorter hair |
| Fly boy - a glamorous term for an aviator
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Frame - To give false evidence , to set up someone |
| Gams - A woman's legs |
| Get a wiggle on - get a move on, get going
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| Giggle Water - An intoxicating beverage; alcohol |
| Gin Mill - An establishment where hard liquor is sold; bar |
| Glad rags - "going out on the town" clothes
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Gold Digger - A woman who associates with or marries a man for his wealth |
| Goofy - in love
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| Hair of the Dog - a shot of alchol
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| Handcuff - an engagement ring
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| Hard Boiled - a tough, strong guy |
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Hayburner - (1) a gas guzzling car (2) a horse one
loses money on |
| Heebie-Jeebies - The jitters |
| High-Hat - To snub |
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Hit on all sixes - to perform 100 per cent; as
"hitting on all six cyclinders" |
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| Hooch - Bootleg liquor |
| Hood - hoodlum
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| Hoofer - Dancer |
| Horsefeathers - an expletive ; same usage as applesauce |
| Hotsy - Totsy - Pleasing |
| It - Sex appeal |
| Iron - a motorcycle
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| Jack - money
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| Jake - OK, as in , "Everything is Jake." |
| Jalopy - Old carl |
| Jane - any female
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| Java - coffee
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Jitney - a car employed as a private bus. Fare was
usually five cents; also called a "nickel"
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| Joe - coffee
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| John - a toilet |
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Joint - an establishment |
| Juice Joint - a speakeasy |
| Joint - A club, usually selling alcohol |
| Keen - Attractive or appealing |
| Kisser - Mouth |
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Left holding the bag - (1) to be cheated out of
one's fair share (2) to be blamed for something
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| Level with me - be honest |
| Line - Insincere flattery |
| Live wire - a lively person |
| Lounge Lizard - a guy that is sexually active |
| Middle Aisle - To marry |
| Mrs. Grundy - A priggish or extremely tight-laced person |
| Moll - A gangster's girl |
| Neck - Kissing with passion |
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| Nifty - great, excellent |
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"Now you're on the trolley!" - Now you've got it,
now you're right! |
| Nobody Home - Describes some one who is dumb |
| On the lam - fleeing from police |
| On the level - legitimate, honest |
| On the up and up - on the level |
| Orchid - an expensive item |
| Ossified - a drunk personl |
| Owl - a person who's out late |
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Palooka (1) a below-average or average boxer (2) a
social outsider, from the comic strip character Joe Palooka |
| Pet - Same as neck, but more so |
| Piker - (1) a cheapskate (2) a coward |
| Pill - (1) a teacher (2) an unlikable person |
| Pinch - To arrest |
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| Pipe down - stop talking |
| Pushover - A person easily convinced or seduced |
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Putting on the ritz - after the Ritz hotel in
Paris; doing something in high style |
| Rag-a-muffin - a dirty or disheveled individual |
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| 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 |
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Sheba - A woman with sex appeal (from the move Queen of Sheba) or (e.g. Clara Bow) |
| Sheik - A man with sex appeal (from the Valentino movies) |
| Shiv - a knife |
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| Sinker - a doughnut |
| Speakeasy - An illicit bar selling bootleg liquor |
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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 |
| Spoon - to neck, or at least talk of love |
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Struggle Buggy - the backseat of a car. A parent's worst nightmare |
| Stuck On - Having a crush on |
| Swanky - Ritzy |
| Swell - Wonderful. Also: a rich man |
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Take for a Ride - To drive off with someone in order to bump them off |
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Tin Pan Alley - the music industry in
New York, located between 48th and 52th street |
| Tomato - a female |
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| 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 |
