TEXT: Slang 
  of 
  the 
  1920s 
   
  A 
   
  1. ab-so-lute-ly: affirmative, yes 
  2. absent treatment: dancing with a timid partner 
  3. air tight: very attractive 
  4. Airedale: an unattractive man 
  5. alarm clock: a chaperone 
  6. all wet: incorrect 
  7. And how!: I strongly agree! 
  8. ankle: to walk, i.e.. "Let's ankle!" 
  9. applesauce: flattery, nonsense, i.e.. "Aw, applesauce!" 
  10. Attaboy!: well done!; also, Attagirl! 
   
  B 
   
  11. baby: sweetheart. Also denotes something of high value or respect. 
  12. baby grand: heavily built man 
  13. baby vamp: an attractive or popular female, student. 
  14. balled up: confused, messed up. 
  15. baloney: Nonsense! 
  16. banana oil!: I doubt that! 
  17. Bank's closed: no kissing or making out i.e. "Sorry, mac, bank's closed." 
  18. bearcat: a fiery girl 
  19. beat it: scram, get lost. 
  20. beat one's gums: idle chatter 
  21. bee's knee's: terrific; a fad expression. Dozens of "animal anatomy" variations existed 
  such as: elephant's eyebrows, gnat's whistle, eel's hips, etc. 
  22. beef: a complaint or to complain. 
  23. beeswax: business, i.e. "None of your beeswax."  
  24. bell bottom: a sailor 
  25. bent: drunk 
  26. berries: (1) perfect (2) money 
  27. Bible Belt: Area in the South and Midwest where Fundamentalism flourishes 
  28. big cheese: important person 
  29. big six: a strong man; from auto advertising, for the new and powerful six cylinder 
  engines. 
  30. big timer: A charming and romantic man 
  
  31. billboard: a flashy man or woman 
  32. bimbo: a tough guy 
  33. bird: general term for a man or woman, sometimes meaning "odd," i.e. "What a funny 
  old bird." 
  34. Blind Date: going out with someone you do not know 
  35. blooey: the condition when one has gone to pieces  
  36. Bluenose: An excessively puritanical person, a prude, Creator of "the Blue Nozzle 
  Curse." 
  37. blotto: drunk, especially to an extreme 
  38. blow: (1) a crazy party (2) to leave 
  39. blue serge: a sweetheart 
  40. bootleg: illegal liquor 
  41. breezer: a convertible car 
  42. Bronx Cheer: A loud spluttering noise, used to indicate disapproval. Same as raspberry 
  43. bug-eyed Betty: an unattractive girl, student. 
  44. bull: (1) a policeman or law-enforcement official, including FBI. (2) nonsense (3) to chat 
  idly, to exaggerate 
  45. bump off: to murder, to kill 
  46. bum's rush, the: ejection by force from an establishment 
  47. bunk: nonsense 
  48. bunny: a term of endearment applied to the lost, confused, etc. Often coupled with "poor 
  little." 
  49. bus: any old or worn out car. 
  50. Butt me: I'll take a cigarette. 
   
  C 
   
   
  51. cake-eater: a lady's man 
  52. canceled stamp: A shy girl at a dance or party 
  53. caper: a criminal act or robbery. 
  54. Carry a Torch: To have a crush on someone 
  55. cash: a kiss 
  56. Cash or check?: Do we kiss now or later? 
  57. cast a kitten: to have a fit. Used in both humorous and serious situations. i.e. "Stop 
  tickling me or I'll cast a kitten!" Also, "have kittens." 
  58. cat's meow: great, also "cat's pajamas" and "cat's whiskers" 
  59. Cat's Pajamas:  Same as cat's meow 
  60. Charlie: a man with a mustache 
  61. chassis: the female body 
  62. cheaters: eye glasses 
  63. check: Kiss me later. 
  64. chewing gum: double-speak, or ambiguous talk. 
  65. chin music: gossip 
  66. choice bit of calico: attractive female, student. 
  67. chopper: a Thompson Sub-Machine Gun, due to the damage its 
  heavy .45 caliber rounds did to the human body.  
  
  68. chunk of lead: an unattractive female, student. 
  69. ciggy: cigarette 
  70. clam: a dollar 
  71. coffin varnish: bootleg liquor, often poisonous. 
  72. copacetic: excellent 
  73. crasher: a person who attends a party uninvited 
  74. crush: infatuation 
  75. cuddler: one who likes to make out 
   
  D 
   
  76. Daddy: a young woman's boyfriend, especially if he's rich 
  77. daddy-o: a term of address 
  78. dame: a female. Did not gain widespread use until the 1930's. 
  79. dapper: a Flapper's dad 
  80. darb: a great person or thing. "That movie was darb." 
  81. dead soldier: an empty beer bottle. 
  82. deb: a debutant. 
  83. declaration of independence: a divorce 
  84. dewdropper: a young man who sleeps all day and doesn't have a job 
  85. dick: a private investigator. Coined around 1900, the term finds major recognition in the 
  20's. 
  86. dimbox: a taxi 
  87. dimbox jaunt: a taxi ride 
  88. dogs: feet 
  89. doll: an attractive woman. 
  90. dolled up: dressed up 
  91. don't know from nothing: doesn't have any information 
  92. don't take any wooden nickels: don't do anything stupid. 
  93. dope: drugs, esp. cocaine or opium. 
  94. doublecross: to cheat, stab in the back. 
  95. dough: money 
  96. drugstore cowboy: A well-dressed man who loiters in public areas trying to pick up 
  women. 
  97. dry up: shut up, get lost 
  98. ducky: very good 
  99. dud up: to dress up 
  100. 
  dumb Dora: an absolute idiot, a dumbbell, especially a woman; flapper. 
   
  E 
   
  101. 
  earful: enough 
  102. 
  edge: intoxication, a buzz. i.e. "I've got an edge." 
  103. 
  Edisoned: questioned 
  104. 
  egg: a person who lives the big life 
  
  105. 
  embalmer: a bootlegger 
   
  F 
   
  106. 
  face stretcher: an old woman trying to look young 
  107. 
  fag: a cigarette.  
  108. 
  Father Time: any man over 30 
  109. 
  fella: fellow. As common in its day as "man," 
  "dude," or "guy" is today. "That John sure is a swell fella." 
  110. 
  fire extinguisher: a chaperone 
  111. 
  fish: (1) a college freshman (2) a first timer in 
  prison 
  112. 
  flapper: the modern woman of the 1920s. 
  113. 
  flat tire: a bore 
  114. 
  flivver: a Ford Model T; after 1928, also could 
  mean any broken down car. 
  115. 
  floorflusher: an insatiable dancer 
  116. 
  flour lover: a girl with too much face powder 
  117. 
  fly boy: a glamorous term for an aviator 
  118. 
  For crying out loud!: same usage as today 
  119. 
  four-flusher: a person who feigns wealth while mooching off others. 
  120. 
  Frame: To give false evidence , to set up someone 
  121. 
  fried: drunk 
   
  G 
   
  122. 
  gams: legs 
  123. 
  gatecrasher: see "crasher" 
  124. 
  gay: happy or lively  
  125. 
  get-up: an outfit. 
  126. 
  get a wiggle on: get a move 
  on, get going 
  127. 
  get in a lather: get worked up, 
  angry 
  128. 
  giggle water: booze 
  129. 
  gigolo: dancing partner 
  130. 
  gimp: cripple; one who walks 
  with a limp.  Gangster Dion 
  O’Bannion was called Gimpy due to 
  his noticeable limp. 
  131. 
  gin mill: a seller of hard 
  liquor; a cheap speakeasy 
  132. 
  glad rags: "going out on the 
  town" clothes 
  133. 
  go chase yourself: get lost, scram. 
  
  134. 
  gold-digger: a woman who pursues men for their money. 
  135. 
  goods, the: (1) the right material, or a person who has it (2) the facts, the truth, 
  i.e. "Make sure the cops don't get the goods on you." 
  136. 
  goof: (1) a stupid or bumbling person, (2) a boyfriend, flapper. 
  137. 
  goofy: in love 
  138. 
  greenland: a park 
  139. 
  grubber: one who borrows cigarettes 
  140. 
  grummy: depressed 
  141. 
  grungy: envious 
   
  H 
   
  142. 
  hair of the dog: a shot of alcohol. 
  143. 
  half seas over: drunk, also "half under." 
  144. 
  handcuff: engagement ring 
  145. 
  hard-boiled: tough, as in, a tough guy, ie: "he sure is hard-boiled!" 
  146. 
  harp: an Irishman 
  147. 
  hayburner: (1) a gas guzzling car (2) a horse one loses money on 
  148. 
  heavy sugar: a lot of money 
  149. 
  heebie-jeebies: "the shakes," named after a hit song. 
  150. 
  heeler: a poor dancer 
  151. 
  hen coup: a beauty parlor 
  152. 
  high hat: a snob, haughty, unapproachable 
  153. 
  hike: a walk. 
  154. 
  hip to the jive: cool, trendy 
  155. 
  hit on all sixes: to perform 100 per cent; as "hitting on all six cylinders"; perhaps 
  a more common variation in these days of four cylinder engines was "hit on all fours".  
  See "big six". 
  156. 
  hokum: nonsense 
  157. 
  hooch: booze 
  158. 
  hood: hoodlum 
  159. 
  hooey: nonsense. 
  160. 
  hoof: to walk 
  161. 
  Hoofer:  Dancer or chorus girl 
  162. 
  hope chest: pack of cigarettes 
  163. 
  hopped up: under the influence of drugs 
  164. 
  hopper: a dancer 
  165. 
  horn in: to get into a dance without an invitation 
  166. 
  Hot dawg!: Great!; also: "Hot socks!"  Rarely spelled as shown outside of flapper 
  circles until popularized by 1940s comic strips. 
  167. 
  hot sketch: a card or cut-up 
  168. 
  Hotsy – Totsy:  Pleasing 
   
   
   
  
  I 
   
  169. 
  "I have to go see a man about a dog.": "I've got to leave 
  now," often meaning to go buy whiskey. 
  170. 
  icy mitt: rejection 
  171. 
  insured: engaged 
  172. 
  iron: a motorcycle, among motorcycle enthusiasts 
  173. 
  iron one’s shoelaces: to go to the restroom 
  174. 
  ish kabibble: a retort meaning "I should care." 
  175. 
  It: Sex appeal.  Actress Clara Bow was the ‘it’ girl.   
   
  J 
   
  176. 
  jack: money 
  177. 
  Jake: great, ie. "Everything's Jake." 
  178. 
  Jalopy: a dumpy old car 
  179. 
  Jane: any female 
  180. 
  java: coffee 
  181. 
  jeepers creepers: exclamation  
  182. 
  jerk soda: to dispense soda from a tap; thus, "soda jerk" 
  183. 
  jitney: a car employed as a private bus. Fare was usually five-cents; also called a 
  "nickel." 
  184. 
  joe: coffee 
  185. 
  Joe Brooks: a perfectly dressed person; student. 
  186. 
  john: a toilet 
  187. 
  joint: establishment or club, usually selling alcohol  
  188. 
  juice joint: a speakeasy 
   
  K 
   
  189. 
  kale: money 
  190. 
  keen: appealing 
  191. 
  killjoy: a solemn person 
  192. 
  kisser: mouth 
  193. 
  kneeduster: skirt 
  194. 
  know one's onions: to know one's business or what one is talking about 
   
  L 
   
  195. 
  lalapazaza: a good sport 
  196. 
  lay off: cut the nonsense 
  197. 
  left holding the bag: (1) to be cheated out of one's fair share (2) to be blamed for 
  something 
  
  198. 
  let George do it: a work evading phrase 
  199. 
  level with me: be honest 
  200. 
  limey: a British soldier or citizen, from World War I 
  201. 
  line: a false story, as in "to feed one a line." 
  202. 
  lip stick: a cigarette 
  203. 
  live wire: a lively person 
  204. 
  lollygagger: an idle person 
   
  M 
   
  205. 
  mad money: carfare home to be used by a flapper if she has a fight with her date. 
  206. 
  manacle: wedding ring 
  207. 
  mazuma: money 
  208. 
  meringue: personality 
  209. 
  Mick: a derogatory term for Irishmen 
  210. 
  Middle Aisle: To marry 
  211. 
  milquetoast: a very timid person; from the 
  comic book character Casper Milquetoast, a hen-
  pecked male. 
  212. 
  mind your potatoes: mind your own 
  business. 
  213. 
  Moll: A gangster's girl 
  214. 
  mooch: to leave 
  215. 
  moonshine: homemade whiskey 
  216. 
  mop: a handkerchief 
  217. 
  Mrs. Grundy: A priggish or extremely 
  tight-laced person 
  218. 
  munitions: face powder 
   
  N 
   
  219. 
  neck: to kiss passionately 
  220. 
  necker: a girl who wraps her arms around her boyfriend's neck. 
  221. 
  Nerts!: I am amazed! 
  222. 
  nifty: great, excellent 
  223. 
  Nobody Home: Describes some one who is dumb 
  224. 
  noodle juice: tea 
  225. 
  Not so good!: I personally disapprove. 
  226. 
  "Now you're on the trolley!” Now you've got it, now you're right. 
   
  O 
   
  227. 
  Oh yeah!: I doubt it! 
  228. 
  oil burner: a person who chews gum 
  
  229. 
  old boy: a male term of address, used in conversation with other males. Denoted 
  acceptance in a social environment.  Also "old man" "old fruit." "How's everything old 
  boy?" 
  230. 
  Oliver Twist: a 
  skilled dancer 
  231. 
  on a toot: a drinking 
  binge 
  232. 
  on the lam: fleeing 
  from police 
  233. 
  on the level: 
  legitimate, honest 
  234. 
  on the up and up: on 
  the level 
  235. 
  orchid: an expensive 
  item 
  236. 
  ossified: drunk 
  237. 
  owl: a person who's 
  out late 
   
  P 
   
  238. 
  palooka: (1) a below-average or average boxer (2) a social outsider, from the 
  comic strip character Joe Palooka, who came from humble ethnic roots 
  239. 
  panic: to produce a big reaction from one's audience 
  240. 
  panther sweat: whiskey 
  241. 
  peppy: vigorous, energetic 
  242. 
  percolate: (1) to boil over (2) As of 1925, to run smoothly; "perk" 
  243. 
  pet: necking 
  244. 
  petting pantry: movie theater 
  245. 
  petting party: one or more couples making out in a room or auto 
  246. 
  piffle: baloney 
  247. 
  piker: (1) a cheapskate (2) a coward 
  248. 
  pill: (1) a teacher (2) an unlikable person 
  249. 
  pinch: to arrest. Pinched: to be arrested. 
  250. 
  pinko: liberal 
  251. 
  pipe down: stop talking 
  252. 
  prom-trotter: a student who attends all school social functions 
  253. 
  pos-i-lute-ly: affirmative, also "pos-i-tive-ly" 
  254. 
  prune pit: anything that is old-fashioned 
  255. 
  punch the bag: small talk 
  256. 
  Pushover: A person easily convinced 
  257. 
  putting on the ritz: after the Ritz Hotel in Paris (and its namesake Caesar Ritz); 
  doing something in high style. Also "ritzy." 
   
  
  Q 
   
  258. 
  quilt: a drink that warms one up 
   
  R 
   
  259. 
  rag-a-muffin: a dirty or disheveled individual 
  260. 
  rain pitchforks: a downpour 
  261. 
  razz: to make fun of 
  262. 
  Real McCoy: a genuine item 
  263. 
  regular: normal, typical, average; "Regular fella." 
  264. 
  Reuben: an unsophisticated country bumpkin. Also "rube" 
  265. 
  Rhatz!: How disappointing! 
  266. 
  Ritzy: Elegant (from the hotel) 
  267. 
  Rock of Ages: a woman over the age of 30. 
  268. 
  rub: a student dance party 
  269. 
  rubes: money or dollars 
  270. 
  rummy: a drunken bum 
   
  S 
   
  271. 
  sap: a fool, an idiot. Very common term in the 20s. 
  272. 
  says you: a reaction of disbelief 
  273. 
  Scram: Ask someone to leave immediately 
  274. 
  scratch: money 
  275. 
  screaming meemies: the shakes 
  276. 
  screw: get lost, get out, etc. Occasionally, in pre 1930 talkies (such as The 
  Broadway Melody) screw is used to tell a character to leave.  
  277. 
  screwy: crazy; "You're screwy!" 
  278. 
  sheba: one's girlfriend 
  279. 
  sheik: one's boyfriend 
  280. 
  shiv: a knife 
  281. 
  simolean: a dollar 
  282. 
  sinker: a doughnut 
  283. 
  sitting pretty: in a prime 
  position 
  284. 
  skirt: an attractive female 
  285. 
  smarty: a cute flapper 
  286. 
  smoke-eater: a smoker 
  287. 
  smudger: a close dancer 
  288. 
  snake charmer: a woman 
  involved in bootlegging 
  289. 
  sockdollager: an action having 
  a great impact 
  
  290. 
  so's your old man: a reply of irritation 
  291. 
  speakeasy: a bar selling illegal liquor 
  292. 
  Spiffy: An elegant appearance 
  293. 
  spill: to talk 
  294. 
  splifficated: drunk 
  295. 
  spoon: to neck, or at least talk of love 
  296. 
  squirrel: to hide 
  297. 
  static: (1) empty talk (2) conflicting opinion 
  298. 
  stilts: legs 
  299. 
  streeted: thrown out of a party 
  300. 
  struggle: modern dance 
  301. 
  Struggle Buggy: the backseat of a car. 
  302. 
  stuck on: having a crush on; in love. 
  303. 
  stutter bus: a truck 
  304. 
  sugar daddy: older boyfriend who showers girlfriend with gifts 
  305. 
  swanky: (1) good (2) elegant 
  306. 
  swell: (1) good (2) a high class person 
   
  T 
   
  307. 
  take someone for a ride: to take someone to a deserted location and murder 
  them. 
  308. 
  tasty: appealing 
  309. 
  teenager: not a common term until 
  1930; before then, the term was "young 
  adults." 
  310. 
  ten cent box: a taxi cab 
  311. 
  tell it to Sweeney: tell it to 
  someone who'll believe it. 
  312. 
  tight: attractive 
  313. 
  Tin Pan Alley: the music industry 
  in New York, located between 48th and 
  52nd Streets 
  314. 
  tomato: a female 
  315. 
  torpedo: a hired thug or hitman 
   
  U 
   
  316. 
  unreal: special 
  317. 
  upchuck: to vomit 
  318. 
  upstage: snobby 
   
  V 
   
  
  319. 
  vamp: a seducer of men, an aggressive flirt 
  320. 
  voot: money 
   
  W 
   
  321. 
  water-proof: a face that doesn't require make-up 
  322. 
  weasel: a young man who steals a girl from her boyfriend 
  323. 
  wet blanket: see Killjoy 
  324. 
  wife: dorm roommate, student. 
  325. 
  What's eating you?: What's wrong? 
  326. 
  whoopee: wild fun 
  327. 
  windsucker: a braggart 
  328. 
  Woof! Woof!: ridicule 
  329. 
  wurp: a killjoy 
   
  X 
   
  Y 
   
  330. 
  You slay me!: That's funny! 
   
  Z 
  331. 
  zozzled: drunk 
   
  Sources:   
  http://home.earthlink.net/~dlarkins/slang-pg.htm;  
  http://local.aaca.org/bntc/slang/slang.htm;  
  Flappers 2 Rappers, American Youth Slang, by Tom Dalzell. 
   
  
SOURCE: textdata/thevault/Call of Cthulhu (CoC) (BRP) [multi]/Cthulhu 1920s/CoC - 1920's Slang.pdf