Slang of the 1920s

All Wet – Describes an erroneous idea or individual, as in, “he’s all wet.”

Applesauce – an expletive; same as horsefeathers; as in “Ah applesauce!”

Bee’s Knees – An extraordinary person, thing, idea; the ultimate

Berries – That which is attractive or pleasing; similar to bee’s knees; as in “It’s the berries.”

Big Cheese – The most important or influential person; boss. Same as big shot

Blind Date – going out with someone you do not know

Bluenose – An excessively puritanical person, a prude, Creator of “the Blue Nozzle Curse. ”

Bump Off – To murder; to kill.

Cake-Eater – an effete ladies‘ man or someone who attends tea parties.

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

Cat’s Pajamas – Same as cat’s meow.

Cheaters – Eyeglasses

Crush – An infatuation.

Darb – An excellent person or thing (as in “the Darb” – a person with money who can be relied on to pay the check).

Dogs – feet.

Drugstore Cowboy – a guy that hangs around on a street corner trying to pick up girls

Dumb Dora – a stupid female

Fall Guy – Victim of a frame.

Flapper – A stylish, brash, hedonistic young woman with short skirts and shorter hair.

Flat Tire – A dull witted, insipid, disappointing date; same as pill, pickle, drag, rag, oilcan

Frame – To give false evidence, to set up someone.

Gams – A woman’s legs.

Giggle Water – An intoxicating beverage;

Gin Mill – An establishment where hard liquor is sold; bar.

Hard Boiled – a tough, strong guy

Heebie-Jeebies – The jitters.

High-Hat – To snub.

Hooch – Bootleg liquor

Hoofer – Dancer

Horsefeathers – an expletive; same usage as applesauce.

Hotsy-Totsy – Pleasing

Jake – OK, as in, “Everything is Jake.”

Jalopy – Old car

Joint – A club, usually selling alcohol.

Keen – Attractive or appealing

Kisser – Mouth

Line – Insincere flattery.

Lounge Lizard – a guy that is sexually active

Moll – A gangster’s girl.

Neck – Kissing with passion.

Ossified – a drunk person.

Pet – Same as neck, but more so.

Pinch – To arrest.

Pushover – A person easily convinced or seduced.

Ritzy – Elegant (from the hotel)

Scram – Ask someone to leave immediately)

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)

Speakeasy – An illicit bar selling bootleg liquor.

Spiffy – An elegant appearance.

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.

Take for a Ride – To drive off with someone in order to bump them off.

Torpedo – A hired gun.

Upchuck – To vomit when one has drunk too much.

Whoopee – To have a good time alcohol.