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.

– F. Scott Fitzgerald

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. Like a Dragon

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.

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.

Glossary of early twentieth century slang in the United states

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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.

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86: Main article: 86; 1. Soda-counter term meaning an item was no longer available; 2. "Eighty-six" means to discard, eliminate, or deny service

A

abe's cabe: 1. Five dollar bill; 2. See fin, a fiver, half a sawbuck
absent treatment: Engaging in dance with a cautious partner
ab-so-lute-ly: Affirmative, Yes
ace: One dollar bill; see clam
air tight: Very attractive
airedale: Unattractive man
alarm clock: Chaperone
alderman: Man's pot-belly or simply a prominent belly of a man; see bay window
alibi: Box of flowers or candy
all to the good: Everything is all right
all wet: Erroneous idea or individual e.g. "He's all Wet"
alley worker: A woman thief who robs men in alleys
and how!: I Strongly agree!
ankle: To walk, e.g. "Let's ankle!"
anyhoo: used when you want to change the topic of conversation
ankle excursion: Walk i.e. walk home
apple-knocker: 1. Farm laborer mostly a Fruit picker; 2. country bumpkin or Hick
applesauce: 1. Flattery; 2. Nonsense, e.g."Aw, Applesauce!"
armchair: Love nest
attaboy!: Well done! or Attagirl!

B

babe: Attractive person usually a woman and sometimes meaning a significant other
baby: Something of high value or respect including your sweetheart
baby grand: Heavily built man
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.
balled up: Confused, messed up
bally nipper: Tomboy
baloney: Nonsense
banana oil: The act of using insincere flattery and deception, particularly with the intention to deceive
bang to rights: Caught in the act
bangtails: Race horses who's tail is cut horizontally to resemble a tassel e.g. "I wagered on those bangtails in the third race."
bank's closed: No kissing or making out e.g. Sorry, Mac, the bank's closed!
barber: Talkative individual
barney: Scandal walker
barneymugging: Love-making
barrelhouse: Main article: Juke joint; cheap saloon speakeasy or brothel
bathtub gin: Main article: Bathtub gin; Homemade spirit, made in a bathtub
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
be on then nut: To be broke
bean-picker: Person who tries to patch up trouble
bean-shooter: Gun
bearcat: Hot-blooded, vivacious woman
beat It: Scram, get lost
beat one's gums: Idle chatter e.g. someone "beats one's gums"or "Flap one's gums"
bee's knees, the: Something or someone outstanding, remarkably fantastic, or awesome
beef: Problem, e.g. "What's your beef?"
beeswax: Business, e.g. "none of your beeswax"
beezer: Nose; see also schnozzle smeller
behind the eight ball: Main article: Behind the eight ball; In a difficult position e.g. In a § Jam
bell bottom: Main article: Bell-bottoms; Sailor
bell polisher: Man who lingers in apartment vestibule late at night
belly laugh: Deep, full-bodied laugh
belt: Drink, swallow or swig of liquor
bent: 1. Individual who is intoxicated or inebriated; see § drunk; also derivative bent outta of shape; see bent outta of shape; 2. Spoiled and ruined 1910s; 3. Person who is criminal and corrupt 1910s
bent cars: Stolen Automobiles; 1930s
bent outta of shape: Alternate name for intoxicated; see § drunk
bent hairpin: Elderly maid
berries: Great or Money e.g. "It's the Berries"
berry patch: 1. A man's special attraction to a girl; 2. The intimate area of a woman e.g."You won't be seeing my berry patch tonight, pal."
bible belt: Main article: Bible Belt
Area in the south and midwest where fundamentalism flourishes
big cheese: Main article: Supervisor; Someone of importance and influence e.g. the big boss;
big house: Main article: Prison
Prison
big one: Death
big shot: Someone of importance and influence; Big boss; see big cheese
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
big sleep: Death
big timer: Charming and romantic man
billboard: Flashy man or woman
bim: Woman
bimbo: Main article: Bimbo
Tough guy or strong man; see also hard-boiled Bruno
bindle: Main article: Bindle; The bundle containing cloths and possessions usually carried by a tramp
bindle Punk Or Bindle Stiff: Tramps or hobos; Migratory harvest workers
bing: Solitary confinement cell used for punishment
bird: Broad term for a man or woman, sometimes indicating "unusual," behavior e.g. "what a funny old bird"
biscuit: Pettable flapper
bit: Prison sentence
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
blaah: No good
blind: 1. Alternate names for intoxicated; Drunken bout; see § drunk
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
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
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
blip off: Kill someone
blooey: Condition when one has gone to pieces
blotto: Alternate names for intoxicated; § drunk
blouse: Leave from somewhere
blow: 1. Crazy party; 2. Leave; 3. Big wad in nightclubs; spend one's money excessively or irresponsibly; 4. Cocaine
blow someone down: Kill or murder someone; blow someone away
blower: Main article: Telephone; Telephone
blue serge: Sweetheart
bluenose: Excessively puritanical person; prude
blushing violet: Publicity hound
bo: Man; see also buster mac pal
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
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; 2. Stupid, clumsy person
boiled as an owl: Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk
boiler: Automobile
boob: Dumb guy
boob-tickler: Girl who has to entertain her father's customers from out of town
bookkeeping: The art of making a date
booklegger: Main article: Rum-running; Dealer in suppressed novels
bootleg: Illegal alcohol
bootlegger: Someone who makes or sells alcohol illegally
booze: Main article: Alcoholic beverage; Drink or shot of Alcohol
boozehound: Heavy consumer of alcohol
bop: To kill
box: Safe or a bar
box job: Safecracking
brace: Interrogate informally; confront someone; Beg for money
bracelets: Handcuffs (term originated before the 20th century) e.g. The house dick slapped a pair of bracelets on me
break It up: Stop that; quit the nonsense; stop quarreling and fighting
breeze: 1. Breeze Off i.e. leave; depart; 2. Leave; move; go quickly
breezer: Convertible car
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
brillo: Someone who lives fast and is a big spender
broad: Main article: Woman; Expression used solely by men to refer to a woman and widely considered offensive by women
bronx cheer: Main article:Blowing a raspberry; 1. Loud spluttering noise mimicking fluctuance that expresses complete disapproval; 2. see raspberry
brown: Whiskey in the 1920s
bruno: Tough guy, strong man, enforcer; see also bimbo hard-boiled
brush-ape: Anyone from the sticks; hayshaker, farmer
bub(s: Female breast(s)
bucket: Automobile; see also cowpie crate heap jalopy
bug's ear: 1. Always with the connotation of being small e.g.Your baby is cuter than a bug's ear; 2. Attractive, Charming i.e. cute as a bug's ear
bug eyed: Amazed: astounded in the 1920s i.e. He looked all bug-eyed
bulge, the: Advantage e.g. have the bulge on
bull(s): 1. Uniformed policeman; law-enforcement official; plainclothes cop; 2. Chat idly, to exaggerate; 3. railroad security guard
bull session: Male talkfest, gossip, stories of sexual exploits
bum's rush: Thrown out of an establishment
bump: Kill, murder, assassination
bump gums: Argue; talk excessively; see run one's gums
bump off: Kill, murder, assassinate
bunk: Nonsense
bunny: Term of endearment applied to the lost, confused, etc often coupled with "poor little"
burn powder: Fire a gun
bus: Automobile, airplane, boat, large truck; 1910s
bust: Boxer
bushwa: Euphemism for "bulls#*%"
buster: Man; see also bo mac pal
busthead: Main article: Moonshine; Illicitly distilled liquor
butt me: Main article: Cigarette
Give me a cigarette
butter and egg man: 1. Man with the bankroll or money; 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
button: The chin; point of the chin
button man: Main article: Contract killing; Professional killer
buttons: Police
button shining: Dancing very close to each other
butt(s): Main article: Cigarette; 1. Cigarettes; 2. Remainder of smoked cigarette or a cigarette
buzz: Searches for person and arrives at their doorstep
buzzer: Policeman or private detective's badge

1920s Slang

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C

C: Main article: Cocaine; cocaine
c note: Main article: United States one-hundred-dollar bill; $100 e.g. pair of c's = $200
cabbage: Main article: Federal Reserve Note; Money
caboose: Jail
cake basket: Limousine
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; 2. Spoiled rich person; Playboy; 3. Lady's man; 4. self-indulgent effeminate young man
can: 1. Prison; holding cell at a police station; being imprisoned 1910s; 2. Dilapidated, run-down automobile; 1920s
canary: 1. Informer; stool pigeon; 2. Female vocalist typically fronting a band
can house: Bordello; brothel
canned: Main article: Alcohol intoxication; Intoxicated; § drunk
cannery: prison
canceled stamp: Shy girl at a dance or party
can-opener: Safecracker who opens cheap safes
caper: 1. Criminal act or robbery; 2. Drunken spree
carry a torch: Developing strong emotions for someone, yet enduring unrequited love
case dough: Using one's last remaining funds
cash: Kiss
cash or check: Do we kiss now or later?
cast a kitten: 1. Expressing intense and unexpected emotions; see have kittens; 2. Experience a sudden outburst of laughter, fear, or anger e.g. "He got so upset, I thought he was going to have kittens."
cat: Man
cat's meow: Someone who is smug and content with themselves; see bee's knee's
cat's pajamas: see bee's knee's
cellar smeller: Man with a penchant for showing up where liquor is being served
celestial: Main article: Celestial Empire; Derogatory term for Chinese or East Asians
century: One hundred dollars i.e. $100
charlie: Man with a mustache
chassis: Female body
cheaters: Main article: Reading Glasses; Eyeglasses
check: Kiss me later
check your hat: Call me later
cherry smashes: Weak kisses
chewing gum: Doublespeak, or ambiguous talk
chicago lightning: Gunfire
chicago overcoat: Coffin
chicago typewriter: Main article: Thompson submachine gun; Thompson submachine gun; see chopper
chick: Main article: Woman; Young woman
chilled off: Killed; murdered
chin: Conversation; talking
chin music: Main article: Chin music; Punch on the jaw
chinese squeeze: Grafting by skimming profits off the top
chippy: Woman of easy virtue
chisel: Swindle or cheat
chiv: knife; stabbing or cutting weapon
choice bit of calico: Desirable female
chopper: Main article: Thompson submachine gun; Nickname because of the damage its heavy .45 caliber rounds did to the human body; see chicago typewriter
chop squad: A squad of hitmen wielding Thompson submachine guns; also chopper squad
chump: Person marked for a con or a gullible person
ciggy: Main article: Cigarette; Cigarette
cinemagoer: Frequently attends motion pictures (1920)
clam: Money i.e. One Dollar bills; see ace
clammed: Close-mouthed e.g. he really clammed up!
clean sneak: Escape from a robbery with no clues left behind
clip joint: Main article: Clip joint; Nightclub where the prices are high and the patrons are fleeced
clipped: 1. Shoot dead; 2. cheated or fleeced
close your head: Shut up
clothesline: Person who tells neighborhood stories
clout: Shoplifter
clubhouse: Police station
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
coffin varnish: Bootleg liquor, often poisonous
coin: Money; loot
coke: Main article: Cocaine; cocaine; cocaine addict
cokehead: Main article: Cocaine dependence; Someone who engages in frequent and uncontrollable cocaine consumption
come to time: 1. The term was employed in prizefighting, specifically boxing; 2. The contestants are expected to resume the competition once the rest period is over and time is called; 3. Meet expectations; keep an appointment
con: Confidence game, swindle
con artist: Person who cheats or tricks others by persuading them to believe something that is not true
con game: Scam in which the victim is persuaded to trust the swindler in some way
conk: Head
cooler: solitary confinement cell in a prison
cop: Main article: Police officer; 1. Police officer; 2. Catch; capture; 3. Steal; swipe
copacetic: Wonderful, fine, all right e.g."everything is copacetic"
copped: Catch; Capture: Arrested by the cops
copper: Policeman
corn: Bourbon; corn liquor; rum
corn shredder: Bad dancer i.e. young man who dances on lady's feet
corked: Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk
corridor vamp: Someone who ogles the opposite sex
cowpie: Automobile; see also bucket crate heap jalopy
cowpie warmup: Car ride
crab: Figure out
crabhanger: Reformer
crack wise: Make a sarcastic, flippant, or sardonic comment
crape hanger: Zealous reformer
crasher: Main article: Gate crashing; Person who attends a party uninvited
crate: Automobile; see also bucket cowpie heap jalopy
croak: To die; to be Killed; murdered
croaker: Doctor
crush: Main article: Infatuation; Have romantic interest; Infatuation
crushed out: Escaped i.e. from jail:Prison break
cuddle-cootie: Young man who takes a girl for a ride usually on a bus
cuddler: One who likes to make out
cut down: Strike down; kill; incapacitate
cutie-pie: Typically a young woman who is charming or attractive; also Cutesie pie
cutting yourself a piece of cake: Making yourself wait patiently

1920s Slang

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D

daddy: Young woman's wealthy boyfriend or lover (sugar daddy)
daddy-o: Term of address usually directed towards older males
daisy: None too masculine
dame: Female. did not gain widespread use until the 1930's
dance: To be hanged
dangle: Leave, get lost
dapper: 1. Fashionably attired, impeccably dressed; 2. Flapper's dad
darb: Man who pays the check; gink with a roll of coin
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
dead soldier: Empty beer bottle
deb: Main article: Debutante; Debutant
deck: 1. Refers to a single-dose packet, bag, or glassine envelope of cocaine e.g. deck of cocaine; 2. Pack of cigarettes e.g. Deck of Luckies
declaration Of Independence: Divorce
derrick: Shoplifter
dewdropper: Young man who sleeps all day and doesn't have a job
dib: Share of the proceeds
dick: Main article: Detective; Private investigator coined around 1900, the term finds major recognition in the 20's
dimbox: Main article: Taxi; Taxicab; see Hack
dimbox Jaunt: Taxi ride
dincher: Half smoked cigarette
dingledangler: Person who persists in telephoning
dingus: Thing
dip: Pickpocket
dip the bill: Have a drink
ditzek: Anything funny
dish: 1. Pretty woman; 2. Provide information to talk
dive: Disreputable or low quality bar
dive ducat: Subway ticket
dizzy: 1. Deeply in love with a woman e.g. Are you dizzy with that dame; 2. Stupid; making a bad decision e.g. Don't do that – are you dizzy?
do the dance: To be hanged
dog kennels: Pair of shoes
dogs: Feet
dog jock: Man who walks his wife's dogs
doll: Attractive woman
dolled Up: Dressed up
don't know from nothing: Doesn't have any information
don't take any wooden nickels: Don't do anything stupid; also don't take any wooden dimes
dope: Main article: Narcotic; Any form of illicit drugs
dope fiend: Drug addict usually cocaine or opium
dope peddler: Drug dealer
doublecross: Main article: Double cross; Cheat, stab in the back
dough: Money
drag a sock: Walk or dance
drift: Go i.e. leave
drill: Shoot
drop a nickel: Main article: Informant; 1. Place a phone call to the police and provide information about someone; Alternative expression – "drop a dime"; 2. Actually making a phone call
droppers: Hired killers
dropping the pilot: Getting a divorce
drugstore cowboy: Well-dressed man who loiters in public areas trying to pick up women
drum: Speakeasy
dry: Main article: Prohibition; Place where alcohol is not served or person opposed to the legal sale of alcohol
dry Up: Cover up; Keep quiet about; stop talking
dry-gulch: Murder or kill someone
ducat: Ticket
duck soup: Easy Ticket
ducky: Very good
dud: Wall flower or dress up
dud up: Dress up
dumb dora: Main article: Dumb Dora; 1. Stupid, especially a woman; 2. Foolish woman often applied to a flapper
dummer: 1. Thug who robs drunks; 2. Thief who robs homes when the occupants are away
dumkuff: Nutty
dump: Roadhouse, club; more generally, any place
dust out: Leave, depart

1920s Slang

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E

ear muffs: Radio receivers
earful: Enough
edged: Intoxication, a buzz e.g. When he was edged, his personality completely changed
edisoned: Questioned
egg: 1. Person who lives the big life; 2. Man
egg harbor: Fall dance
eggs in the coffee: Easy
elbows: Cops
electric cure: Electrocution
elephant ears: Police officer or detective
embalmed: Intoxicated; see § drunk
embalmer: Bootlegger
ethel: Effeminate man; male homosexual
eye opener: Marriage

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F

face stretcher: Older woman trying to look younger
fade: Go away, get lost
fag: Main article: Cigarette; Main article: Faggot; 1. Cigarette; 2. Sometime around 1920, the term meant a homosexual
fakeloo artist: Con man
fall guy: Main article: Fall guy; Victim of a frame
father time: Any man over 30
feathers: Small talk
feet: Clumsy dancer
fella: Man, Guy, Fellow e.g. That john sure is a swell fella ; see also bo buster mac pal
few drinks, a: Common euphemism for drinking an unspecified amount of alcohol usually in the context of attending a Speakeasy
fig leaf: One piece bathing suit
filches: Steal or pilfer someone's possession, especially if it's something small
fin: $5 bill and abe's cabe
finale hopper: 1. Young man who arrives after all bills are paid; 2. Always eager to make empty promises and never present when it matters
finder: The individual responsible for detonating the safe as part of a safe blowing crew; see yegg
finger: Identify or direct someone, especially to a professional killer; Put the finger on or to finger someone
finger man: finger man snitch inside person find the finger man
fink: Main article: Informant; Informant; stool pigeon
fire alarm: Divorced woman
fire bell: Married woman
fire extinguisher: Chaperone at a dance or party
fish: 1. First timer in prison i.e. a new fish; 2. Heavy drinker e.g. You drink like a fish
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
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
flat: Broke
flatfoot: Policeman esp officer who walks a beat
flat shoe: Dispute between flapper and her goof
flat tire: Dull insipid, disappointing date; see Drag, Oilcan, Pickle, Pill, Rag
flattie: Flatfoot, cop
flatwheeler: Young man who takes a young lady to an egg harbor
flimflam: Main article: Scam; Swindle
flippers: Hands
flivver: 1. Ford model T; 2. After 1928, could mean broken down car
floater: Person making trouble and then disappears
flogger: Overcoat
floorflusher: Insatiable dancer
flop: 1. Go to bed; fall asleep; 2. Grown-up who is disagreeable, socially awkward, and unsuccessful; 1920s; 3. Intentionally lose a fight by taking a dive; 1920s; 4. Woman who is fat, clumsy, and lacks cleanliness; 1900-1930s; 5. Cheap room in hotel or bed; 1910s; 6. Abrupt change in political policy; 7. Seat; 8. Hit; knock down; 1910s
flophouse: Main article: Flophouse; 1. Cheap transient hotel used by people down on their luck
flour lover: Girl with too much face powder
fluky: Odd; Different
fly boy: Main article: Airman; Glamorous term for an aviator
fog: Attack; Assault;Shoot
foot juice: Cheap red wine
for a row of: Distance
for crying out loud: Another way of saying – are you for real?
forty-niner: Man who is prospecting for a rich wife
four flusher: Main article: Four flush; Person who feigns wealth while mooching off others
frail: Woman
frame: Giving false evidence to set up someone
frau: Main article: German honorifics; Wife
freebie: This offer can be used for a free sample or promotion; Also spelled freebie, freeby, freebee freebye
fried: Alternate names for intoxicated e.g. fried to the hat; see § drunk
frog's eyebrows: Nice; fine; outstanding
fry: Main article: Electric chair; To be electrocuted
futz: Euphemism for f*%k e.g. Don't futz around
fuzz: Main article: List of police-related slang terms; Police officers(1930s)

1920s Slang

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G

g man: Government man; FBI employee
gal: Woman assistant, secretary; female factotum
gams: Woman's legs
gander: 1. Dressing up; Getting ready and duding up; 2. Look, close scrutiny, glance e.g. Take a gander at those gams; 3. Criminal lookout
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
gashouse: rough
gas station: Place that sells gasoline; term was coined in 1925
gasper: Cigarette
gat: Pistol, Hand gun; see roscoe
gatecrasher: Attending party, type of entertainment without an invitation or ticket i.e. uninvited guest; see crasher
get-hot!: Encouragement for a hot dancer
gay: 1. Happy or lively Happy, joyful, and lively; 2. No connection to homosexuality in 1920
get a wiggle On: Get a move on, get going
get in a lather: Get worked up; angry; agitated e.g. Stay away from Eddy when he get's into a lather
get sore: Get mad; angry
getaway sticks: Women's Legs; see gams
get it: Killed; Murdered
get-up: Outfit
giggle water: Main article: Alcohol; Intoxicating beverage; alcohol; also Giggle Juice
gigolo: Hired escort or dancing partner for a woman
gimp: Cripple i.e. One who walks with a limp; Gangster Dion O'Bannion was called gimpy due to his noticeable limp
gimlet: Chronic bore
gin mill: Seller of hard liquor; Cheap speakeasy
gink: Man or fellow
give the air: Break a date
give the knee: Dance cheek-to-cheek and Toe-to-Toe
glad rags: Clothing to 'go out on the town; Attire to wear to parties or special occasions
glom: The act of stealing; also glaum
glorious regalia: Chic clothing of a flapper
go chase yourself: Get lost; Scram
gold digger: Main article: Gold digger; Woman who associates or marries a man for his wealth (1915)
goods, The: 1. Incrimination evidence, the facts, the truth, e.g. make sure the cops don't get the goods on you; 2. Narcotics of any sort
goof: 1. Bumbling, stupid person; 2. Flapper's boyfriend
goofy: 1. Crazy, Silly, foolish; 2. In love
goog: Black eye inflicted by a blow to the head
goon: strong imitating man; compensated troublemaker
gooseberry lay: Stealing clothes from a clothesline
gowed-up: High on dope
grab some air: Put your hands up
grab a flop: Sit down on a seat
graft: Obtaining money through dishonest means, especially bribery
grand: One thousand dollars; $1000
green apples: Homely woman
green glorious: Money and checks
greenland: A park
grift: Confidence game or swindle; also grifter i.e. Con man
grill(ed): Interrogation; intense and prolonged questioning
grindhouse(s): Main article: Grindhouse; 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
grubber: One who borrows cigarettes
grubstake: Invitation to dinner
grummy: Depressed
grungy: Envious
gum: Opium
gumshoe: Detective or private investigator; also gumshoeing i.e. pertaining to a undercover investigation
gun for: Searching for someone with the intention of causing them significant harm. e.g. He was out gunning for Tom
guns: Pickpockets; Hoodlums
gussie: Shy person
guy: A gender-neutral way to address any individual (1910)

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hack

Taxicab

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

half

Fifty-cents; 50 cents i.e. $.50

half cut

Happily intoxicated

half seas over

Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk

half under

Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk

handcuff

Engagement ring or wedding band

happy-dust

cocaine

hard

Tough; see also bimbo hard-boiled Bruno

hard-boiled

Main article: Hardboiled

Tough i.e. tough guy, e.g. "He sure is hard-boiled!" ; see also bimbo Bruno

harlem sunset

Fatal injury caused by knife (1930s)

harp

Irishman

hash house

Cheap restaurant

hatchet man

Killers, gunmen

heartwrenching

Appealing to one's deepest emotions or inner feelings; Tug at one's heartstrings; also heart-tugging

have the bees

To be rich

have kittens

1. Expressing intense and unexpected emotions; see cast a kitten

2. Experience a sudden outburst of laughter, fear, or anger e.g. "He got so upset, I thought he was going to have kittens"

hayburner

1. Gas guzzling car i.e. automobile that uses a lot of fuel and gets poor gas mileage

2. race Horse one loses money on

3. Someone who smokes marijuana

head doctors

Psychiatrists

heap

Old automobile; see also bucket, cowpie, crate, jalopy

heat

1. The police

2. Pursuit by law enforcement

heater

Gun, pistol, revolver; see gat; see roscoe

heavy sugar

Indicator of wealth through possession or condition

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

heeler

Poor dancer

hen coup

Beauty parlor

hep

1. Wise; up-to-date

2. Jazz musician

highbrow

Main article: Highbrow

Intellectually stimulating, highly cultured, sophisticated, cultured or learned person

high hat

Haughty, Snobbish, Unapproachable

highjohn

Boyfriend

high pillow

Person at the top; Individual in charge; the boss

highbinders

Corrupt politician or functionary; highly pretentious, arrogant

hike

Walk

hikers

Knickerbockers

hinky

Suspicious; curious

hiphound

One who drinks hooch

hipster

1. During Prohibition – person who wears a hip flask of alcohol dating from the 1920s

2. A dancer, particularly a female one

3. one who espouses the bohemian life style of the period

his blue serge

His girl

histrionics

Main article: Histrionics

Intentionally exaggerated, overly emotional behavior designed to provoke a response

hit on all sixes

To perform 100 per cent e.g. "hitting on all six cylinders"; also hitting on all cylinders

hitch

a period of time spent in prison or jail

hitting on all eight

In good shape, going well

hitting the pipe

Smoking opium

hoary-eyed

Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk

hock shop

Pawnshop

hogs

Engines

hoaky

1. Excessively contrived; Hackneyed; also hoakier, hoakiest, hoak

2. Sentimental material in a film; alt spelling of hokey; see hokum

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

hoity-toity

Behaviour adopted to demonstrate one's superiority; Pretentious or snobbish behaviour

hokum

Main article: Nonsense

1. An instance of excessively contrived, hackneyed, or sentimental material in a film

2. Pretentious; nonsense; insane trash

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

holaholy

Person that objects to necking

holy smokes

Probation officer

hombre

Main article: Man

Man or fellow

honest squeeze

Female companion or girlfriend;see squeeze

hooch

Main article: Liquor

Main article: hooch

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

hood

Main article: Hoodlum

Hoodlum

hooey

Nonsense; Bullsh*t; Popular from 1925 through 1930 and used sparingly later on

hoof

Walk

hoofer

Main article: Tap dance

Dancer or chorus girl

hoosegow

Main article: Prison

Jail

hop

Main article: Swing Dance

Main article: Lindy Hop

1. Type of swing dance e.g. Lindy Hop; organized dance (1900s)

2. Opiate, marijuana, morphine or other type of narcotics

hophead

Main article: Narcotic

Morphine addict

hope chest

Pack of cigarettes

hopped up

Under the influence of drugs

hopper

Main article: Lindy Hop

Dancer

horn in

Get into a dance without an invitation

horsefeathers

Exclamation of disbelief contempt; Inoffensive expletive e.g. darn; see Applesauce

hot

Stolen; Recently stolen illegal goods

hot dawg

Great!

hot dog

Relishing something with much delight!

hot sketch

Card or cut-up

hotsy totsy

Fancy or sophisticated

house dick

Security officer employed by a hotel or similar establishment; Hotel detective

houdini

Arrive on time for a date

house peeper

House or hotel detective

hush money

Allowance from father

hype

Shortchange artist

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ice: 1. Diamonds e.g. That gal has more ice than the North Pole!; 2. Kill e.g. That mug better be careful or he's gonna get iced!
icy mitt: When you have one-sided feelings for someone or when one is given the cold shoulder in a romantic relationships
idler(s): 1. A person who wastes time doing nothing; lazy person; sluggard
indian hay: Marijuana
ing-bing: As in to throw a fit
in stir: In jail
insured: Engaged
irish goodbye(s): Main article: Irish goodbye; Ethnophobic term used for someone who leaves a social gathering without saying goodbye; also irish exit
iron: 1. Motorcycle, among motorcycle enthusiasts 1920s; 2. older automobile; 3. handcuffs; 4. carry iron i.e. armed
iron your shoelaces: Go to the restroom e.g. It's time for me to iron my shoelaces
ish kabibble: Retort e.g. I should care from the name of the musician in the Kay Kyser Orchestra
it: Sex appeal; Actress Clara Bow was the "It" girl
it's the bunk: I doubt that!

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jack: Money
jake: Great, e.g. Everything's jake; see Copacetic
jalopy: Main article: Decrepit car; Dumpy old car; see also bucket cowpie crate heap
jam: Trouble; Tight spot
jane: Female
jasper: Man; hick
jay bird: Person who takes risks
java: Coffee
jaw: Talk
jazzman: Main article: Jazz; Performer of jazz
jeepers creepers: 1. Polite expletive for Jesus Christ; 2. Exclamation!
jingle-brained: 1. Addled or intoxicated (1910); 2. Not that bright, muddled
jigaboo: Derogatory term for African-American (1920s)
jitney: 1. Car employed as a private bus i.e. travel by bus or small car; 2. Bus charging a fixed fare usually five-cents i.e. "Nickel"
jobbie: Man or woman
joe: Coffee, e.g. A cup of Joe
joe brooks: Perfectly dressed person
john: 1. Prostitute's client; 2. Toilet or restroom
john d: Individuals who use an abundance of polite language and insincere compliments
johnson brother: Professional Criminal
joint: 1. Establishment, bar, tavern or club selling alcohol; 2. Place e.g. My Joint
jorum of skee: Drink of hard liquor usually scotch whiskey; see skee
jug: Jail
juice: Money from bribery, corruption, or loan sharking
juice joint: Main article: Speakeasy; Establishment for serving illegal liquor during prohibition
junk: Opium or Morphine
jump the gun: Act prematurely
jumping tintypes: Moving pictures
junk head: Morphine addict
junkie: Drug addict, especially a heroin user (1923)

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kale: Money
keen: Something or someone attractive or appealing
kick off: Die
kicking the stem: smoking opium
kiddo: A casual way for a man to address a woman he knows
killjoy: Solemn person
kike: Derogatory label for Jewish people, specifically those who immigrated from Eastern Europe as opposed to older German immigrants from previous decades
kippy: Neat or Nice
kiss: 1. Land a blow or punch; 2. Drink from a bottle
kisser: Mouth
kitten: Woman
kneeduster: Skirt
knock: Prison sentence
knock off: 1. Stolen; 2. Killed, murdered; 3. Beaten, defeated
knockover: 1. Murder, kill; 2. Rob or steal with violence; 3. Arrest especially after a raid; 4. Intentionally get someone in trouble
knock up: Make a woman pregnant; impregnate
know your onions: 1. Know one's stuff e.g. Joe really knows his onions when it comes to cooking; 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

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lalapazaza: Good sport
lam, on the: Main article: Fugitive; On the run
lammed off: Ran away or escaped
large: $1,000 e.g.Twenty large would be $20,000
law, the: Police officer
Laying on the hip: smoking opium
lay off: Smoke of opium
lay out: 1. Defeat or overcome i.e. to lay out someone; 2. Knock someone out in a fight; 3. Kill someone
lead: Term used for bullets e.g. Fill ya full of lead
lead cocktail: To be shot; Bullets, specifically when embedded in the victim's body; also poisoning
lead poisoning: To be shot; Bullets, specifically when embedded in the victim's body; also lead cocktail
lead pusher: gun; gat
left holding The Bag: Leave someone holding the responsibility or blame is to abandon them
lens louise: The person who dominated all the conversations
let george do it: Work evading phrase i.e.Let someone else cover the cost of achieving the shared benefit
let's blouse: Work evading phrase e.g.Let's blouse this clambake!
lettuce: Green folding money i.e. lettuce leaves
level with me: Be honest, trustworth, true
lid: Hat
limey: 1. Englishman, Briton, or person of British descent; an English or British immigrant; 2. English or British ship
line: 1. Untruth or exaggeration, often told to seek or maintain approval from others e.g. "to feed one a line"; 2. Insincere flattery
lip: 1. Underworld attorney i.e. criminal attorney e.g. Why don't you use Louie the Lip?; 2. backtalk
lip stick: Cigarette
live wire: Energetic, vibrant, individual e.g That joe is a real live wire
lollygagger: 1. Young man who enjoys making out; 2. Lazy person; slacker; see idler
loogan: Man with a gun
looker: Good looking person of either sex especially a women
look-out: 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
lounge lizard: Guy that is sexually active; ladies man
lousy with: Have abundance of
lug: Bullet

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m: Morphine
mac: Man; see also bo buster pal
mad money: Carfare home used by a flapper if she has a fight with her date
made: Recognized
main drag: Most important street in a town or city
main squeeze: Primary female companion or girlfriend; lover; sweetheart; see squeeze
manacle: Wedding ring
map: Face
marbles: Pearls
mark: 1. Targeted individual in a swindle or rigged game; 2. Search for a probable location for a theft
maroon: An idiot; a fool; Gullible person
mazuma: Money, cash, dollar bills
mawkish: Sentimental in an exaggerated or insincere way
meal ticket: When he calls, the flapper invites the man to have dinner
meat wagon: Ambulance
meller: Melodrama film; see melodrama
mellerdrammer: Familiar or humorous name and spelling given to melodrama
melodrama: Main article:Melodrama; Emotional drama featuring passionate love and heart-wrenching situations; any situation or action that is exaggerated
meringue: Personality
michigan bankroll: Fake bankroll consists of a large denomination bill wrapped around several smaller denomination banknotes; also michigan roll; michigan stake
mick: Derogatory term for irishmen
mickey finn: strong hypnotic or barbiturate put secretly into a drink
middle aisle: Marry
mill: Typewriter
milquetoast: Main article:Caspar Milquetoast; 1. Henpecked male based on the Comic book character Caspar Milquetoast; very timid person; wimpy
mind your potatoes: mind your own business
mitt: Hand
mob: Organized crime family or gang (not necessarily mafia)
mohaska: Gun, Firearm, Piece; see heat; also mohoska
moll: Gangster's girlfriend
moniker: Name
monogolist: Young man who hates himself
mooch: Leave
moonshine: Homemade alcohol; whiskey made from unlicensed distillers
mop: Handkerchief
mouthpiece: Lawyer especially criminal defense attorney
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
mud pipe: Opium pipe
mug(s): Men – especially refers to dumb ones; low, crude, fellow; lout
munitions: Face powder
mulligan: Irish cop; police officer; prison guard
mustard plaster: A boy who lingers around and is not wanted

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nailed: Caught by the police
neck: Kiss passionately
necker(s): Girl who wraps her arms around her boyfriend's neck while dancing
nerts!: That's Amazing
nevada gas: Cyanide
newshawk: Reporter
newsie: person who sells or delivers newspapers; reporter
nibble one: Have a drink
nicked: Stolen
nifty: Great, excellent; competently
nippers: Handcuffs
nobody home: Used to describe someone who is perceived as unintelligent or mentally challenged
noodle juice: Tea
noodle: Head
nookie: Sex act; sexual activity
nosebaggery: Restaurant
not so good!: Personally disapprove
now you're on the trolley: Now you're right; now you've got it! (1920) i.e. Now you're on board
number: clever resourceful Person

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oatmeal mush: The superficial conversation of a cake eater
obituary notice: Eviction declaration
off the track: This person becomes insanely violent when they go off the track
oh yeah!: I doubt it!
oil burner: Person who chews gum
oilcan: An imposter
old fops: People who are older than middle age
old man: term of address; also old fruit; also old boy e.g."How's everything old boy?"
oliver twist: Skilled dancer
omnibibulous: Able to consume almost any alcoholic beverage, or likely to do so
on a toot: On a drinking spree
on the lam: Main article: Fugitive; Running away, usually from the police; see lam, on the
on the level: Legitimate, honest
on the up and up: On the level
op: Detective
orchid: Expensive item
orphan paper: Bad checks
ossified: Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk
ostrich: Person who is a Know-it-all
out on parole: Divorced
out on the roof: Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk
owl: Person who's out late or stays up late
owled: Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk
oyster fruit: Pearls

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packing heat: Carrying a gun
pal: Man; see also bo buster mac
palooka: Main article: Joe Palooka; 1. Social outsider based on comic strip character joe palooka first devised in 1921; also paluka; palooker; 2. Large, below-average or stupid man; mediocre or inferior boxer
panther piss: Raw or inferior whiskey; rotgut; see panther sweat
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
pan: Face
panic: Produce big favorable reaction from one's audience
panther sweat: Raw or inferior whiskey; rotgut; see panther piss
paste: Hit; Strike very hard;Punch
pathos: The characteristic of something that stirs emotions and passions, particularly evoking tender feelings like pity and sorrow
patsy: Person who is set up i.e. person takes the blame for a crime; victim; fool or chump
paw: Hand
peaching: Informing
peeper: Detective
peepers: Eyes
pen: Penitentiary, jail
pen yen: Opium
peppy: Energetic and full of vitality
percolate: 1. To happen; 2. As of 1925, to run smoothly and well
pet: 1. Necking; 2. Making out
peterman: Safecracker who uses Nitroglycerin
petting pantry: Movie theater or cinema
petting party: 1. One or more couples making out in a room; Devoted to hugging, or kissing games; 2. Social event devoted to hugging
phonus balonus: Complete nonsense
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
piece: Gun
piffle: Baloney
pigeon: Stool-pigeon
piker: 1. Grasping person; cheapskate; 2. One who will take the least risk especially to help others; coward; 3. lazy person; 4. small time burglar; cheat
pill: 1. Someone who irritates you e.g. "That person is being a real pill"; 2. Teacher; 3. bullet; 4. see Cigarette
pillowcase: Young man who is full of feathers
pinch(ed): Arrested e.g. He was pinched by the coppers
pinko: Liberal; freespirit
pins: Legs
pipe: See or notice
pipe down: Stop talking
pipes: Throat
pipe that: Did you listen to that
pitching woo: Making love
plastered: Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk
plant: Someone who disguises themselves as neutral or affiliated with an organization, yet covertly works with another person or external group
playboy: Older boyfriend
plug(s): 1. Blow, punch; bullet wound; 2. People
poke: Bankroll; roll of money; money in general
police-dog: Young woman's fiance
poop(ed): 1. Shoot or kill someone; 2. Information; the low-down
pop: Shoot or kill someone; poop
potted: Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk
pos-i-lute-ly: Affirmative see pos-i-tive-ly
primed: Approaching a state of drunkenness; see § drunk
priscilla: Stay-at-home girl
pro skirt: Prostitute
produce the cash: Kiss me!
prune pit: Anything that is traditional
puffing: smoke opium
pug: Pugilist, Boxer
pull a daniel boone: Vomit
pump: Heart
pump metal: Shoot bullets; see squirt metal
punch the bag: Small talk
punch rustler: Individual who spends the majority of their time at parties near the refreshments
punk: Hood, Thug
pushover: Person easily convinced or seduced
puss: Face
put down: Drink
put the bee on: To beg from; to borrow money from
put the screws on: 1. Harass using extreme coercive pressure
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; 2. Wear fashionable and attention-grabbing clothing: Ritzy; also put on the dog; 3. Puttin' On the Ritz is a song written by Irving Berlin in 1927

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queer: 1. Counterfeit; 2. Mishandle something
quiff: 1. Cheap prostitute e.g. I'm no quiff!
quilt: Drink that warms one up

R

rag-a-muffin: Disheveled, Dirty individual; hooligan, lout
rags: Clothes
rain pitchforks: Downpour; rain heavily
ranked: Observed; Given the once-over
rap: Criminal charge
rappers: Informers; professional perjurer
rat: Treacherous; disgusting person; stool pigeon
rate: Merit; deserve; count for something
rats and mice: Dice, e.g. craps
rattler: Train
rhatz: Exclamation of disappointment; darn!
razz: Main article:Blowing a raspberry; To make fun of someone
real mccoy: Genuine item
redhot: Sort of criminal
red-light: Eject from a car or train
reefer: marijuana cigarette
regular: Real; genuine; normal; average i.e. Regular fella
reel boy: Man who likes to watch movies
reuben: Unsophisticated country bumpkin; rube; fool
rhatz!: Disappointing
rhino: Money
right: Indicating quality
right gee: Quality guy
ringers: Fakes
ritz: Stuck up
ritzy: Elegant; luxurious i.e. from the hotel
rock of ages: Woman over the age of 30
rock, the: Alcatraz
rod: Gun
roscoe: Gun
rotgut: Bad or cheap or bootleg liquor; see panther sweat
rub: Dancing party
rube(s): Bumpkin; Easy mark
rub-out: Killing
rughopper: Man who does not date
rug shaking: Dancing the shimmy
rumble, The: News
rummy: Alternate names for intoxicated; § drunk; also rum seller; bootlegger
rumrunner: Main article: Rumrunner; 1. Individual who smuggles any form of alcohol; 2. Vessel employed for the illegal transportation of alcoholic beverages
run one's gums: Argue; talk excessively; see bump gums
rube: Bumpkin; Easy mark
run out: Leave or escape

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sap: Fool, stupid person; see Finale hopper
sap poison: Getting hit with a sap
sappy: 1. Emotional, nostalgic, mushy; see mawkish; 2. Foolish, stupid; see sap
savvy: Understand
sawbuck: Main article: Sawbuck; $10 bill e.g. a double sawbuck is a $20 bill or half-sawbuck is $5.00
says you: A response of skepticism; A defiant exclamation!
scatter: 1. Saloon or speakeasy; 2. Hideout; room; lodging
schnozzle: Nose; see also beezer smeller
scofflaw: Main article: Scofflaw; A person who openly violates the law, particularly by not adhering to a law that is challenging to enforce
scram: Leave immediately; flee; also scram out
screaming meemies: State of anxiety; jitters; state of nervous hysteria; see heebie jeebies
scratch: Money
scratcher: Forger
screw: 1. In pre-1930 talkies, screw is used to tell a character to leave; 2. Get lost, get out; 3. Prison guards
screwy: Crazy; eccentric e.g. "you're screwy!"
scrooched: Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk
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
seetie: Things that flappers despise
send over: Send to jail
sentiment: 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
shamus: Private detective
sharper(s): Main article: Sharper; 1. Swindlers, especially at cards; 2. Sneaky person
sharpshooter: A good dancer who spends his money freely
shatting on your uppers: To be in financial despair; see uppers
sheba: Stylish and attractive woman; woman with sex appeal; originates from the film The Queen of Sheba
sheik: Main article: The Sheik; 1. A man who believes he is irresistible to women (from the Valentino movies); 2. I'm going out in search of female conquests; 3. Young man dressed in a fashionable manner
shells: Bullets
shifter: Grafter
shine box: Club showcasing live performances by black jazz musicians
shiv: Knife
show case: Wealthy man's wife decked out in jewels
shylock: Unscrupulous moneylender
shyster: Untrustworthy and despicable lawyer or politician
simoleon(s): Dollar(s)
sing: Inform; incriminate oneself and others; see canary
sinker: Doughnut or biscuit
sip: Female dancer
sister: Woman, girl
sitting pretty: Being in a superior and extremely pleasant position
skate around: Woman of easy virtue
skee: 1. Scotch Whiskey; see jorum of skee; 2. Opium (1930)
skid row: Area or neighborhood often visited by homeless individuals, vagrants, wanderers; Struggling and without resources
skirt: Attractive female
slat: Young man or boyfriend
slant, get a: Take a look
slapper: Reformer or the antithesis of a flapper
sleuth: Detective
slug: 1. Knock unconscious; 2. bullet
smeller: Nose; see also schnozzle beezer
smith brother: Man who never pays i.e. coughs up
smoked: 1. Consuming inexpensive low-quality alcoholic beverages and becoming intoxicated; see § drunk; 2. Engaging in the act of smoking opium or a marijuana cigarette
smoke-eater: Any Smoker
smooth: Man who cannot be trusted
smudger: Close dancer
snake charmer: Woman involved in bootlegging
snap a cap: Fire a gun shot
snatch: Kidnapping
sneeze: 1. portion of a powered narcotic e,g, cocaine; 2. arrest; 3. kidnapped; 4. steal
sniffer: cocaine addict or user
snitch: Informer, or to inform; see stool pigeon
snooker: Cheat, swindle
snooper: Private detective
snort(s): Drink(s) of liquor
snow: cocaine
snowbird: cocaine addict
snugglepup: Young man who frequents petting parties
so's your old man: Reply of irritation; retort to an insult or slur
soak: 1. Pawn used as collateral e.g. put into soak; 2. Drink; heavy drinking session; 3. despised person
sob sister: Female newshawk attempting to provoke a response from her readers through her emotional reporting
sock: Punch; clobber
sockdollager: An event or action that holds great significance; An individual or object that is extraordinary, marvelous, or exceptional
soda jerk: Person who works at a soda fountain and dispense soda from a tap; also jerks soda
sodbuster: Undertaker
soft shoe: Trail behind someone
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
soup man: skilled criminal specializing in using nitroglycerin to crack open safes
spade(s): Derogatory term for African-Americans
speakeasy: Main article: Speakeasy; Illegal establishment selling liquor; see blind pig, bootleg
spifflicated: Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk
spiffy: Elegant appearance; smart; fashionable
spill: Talk, inform; tell everything one knows
spinach: 1. Money; 2. nonsense, worthless matter
spoon: To neck, or talk of love; flirtation
square: Honest; regular man or women; respectable, upright
squeeze: Female companion or girlfriend; lover; sweetheart; see main squeeze
squirrel: Hide
squirt metal: Shoot bullets
static: Conflicting opinion; difficulties, impudent; argumentative talk
statts: Conversation that means nothing
step off: 1. To be executed; die; 2. To get married
step off a wharf: Ordering drinks and then refusing to pay the bill
stiff: 1. Corpse, dead human body; 2. drunk passed out cold
stilts: Legs
sting: Culmination of a con game; swindle
stool pigeon: Informer; see canary
stoolie: Stool-pigeon; criminal informer
strangler: What a spendthrift isn't
streeted: Thrown out of a party
strike breaker: Young woman who goes with her friend's "steady" while there is a coolness
struggle: Modern dance
struggle buggy: Backseat of a car; Parent's worst nightmare
stuck on: You have a crush on someone
stutter bus: Truck
stutter-tub: Motor boat
sucker: Someone who is vulnerable to being swindled by a scam artist
sugar: Money
sugar daddy: Older boyfriend who showers girlfriend with gifts
swanky: Good, Elegant, Ritzy
sweetie: Anybody she hates
swell: Great
swindler(s): Main article: Swindler; Individual(s) who deceive with the intention of stealing money or possessions from others

1920s Slang

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T

tail: Shadow or follow
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
take a powder: Leave; depart hastily
take for a ride: Transport someone to an isolated area with the intention of killing them
take on: Eat
take the air: Leave
take the bounce: To get kicked out
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; 2. Taking an opportunity and following it
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
tanked: Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk
tasty: Appealing; sexually alluring
tea: 1. Marijuana; 2. Whisky
tearjerker: It's a tear-inducing performance in a film, novel, song, or opera that evokes strong emotions; a fomenter of pathos
teetotaler: Individual who refrains from consuming any form of alcohol
tell it to sweeney: Expressing skepticism by dismissing a previous unrealistic claim
ten cent box: Taxi cab; see hack
the advantage bulls: Plainclothes railroad cops
the money man: Man with the bankroll
the nuts: Good!
the real mccoy: The genuine thing, neither a substitute nor an imitation
they: Refers to objecting parents
three letter man: Homosexual
three-spot: Three-year jail term
throw lead: Shoot bullets
ticket: Private Investigator License (PI)
tiger milk: Some sort of liquor
tight: Attractive
tighten the screws: To forcefully pressure someone through coercion, force, or violent threats
tin: Police officers badge
tin pan alley: Music industry in New York, located between 48th and 52nd streets
tip a few: Have a few drinks
tomato: Attractive woman or Good looking girl with no brains
toddler: Related to someone who shows up once everything has already been paid for; see finale hopper
tooting The Wrong Ringer: Asking the wrong person
torpedo(s): Main article: Torpedo; Hired thug or hitman
toss and hike: Decide to pursue a new girl and reject the current one
trap: Mouth
trigger man: Man whose job is to use a gun
trip for biscuits: Wild goose chase
trotzky: Mature woman with facial hair
trouble boys: Groups of young men known for causing mischief or getting into minor legal troubles
turn up: Give up or turn in to law enforcement officers
twist: Woman
two bits: Twenty-five cents ($.25) or Twenty-five dollars ($25)

1920s Slang

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U

under glass: In jail
unreal: Special
up and down: Gazing intently at someone
uppers: To be in financial despair; see shatting on your uppers
upchuck: Vomit, yak, spew, especially after consuming too much Giggle juice
upstage: Sobby
urban set: New gown

V

vag: Vagrancy; Homelessness
vamp: Female seducer of men; Aggressive female flirt
voot: Money

W

walk in: Party crasher
wallop(s): 1. A heavy blow, punch; thrash e.g. he gave him a mighty wallop; 2. Emotional impact; emotionally excited reaction; psychological force e.g. that film has some serious wallop
waster: A person who wastes or lavishly spends money; wastrel
water-proof: Face that doesn't require make-up
weak sister: Push-over
wear iron: Carry a gun
weasel: 1. Young man who steals a girl from her boyfriend; 2. Informer; squeals; see Canary
Weepie: Film designed to elicit a tearful emotional response from its audience; Sad or sentimental film, often portraying troubled romance; see tear jerker
weeping willow: 1. Pessimist; one who doubts; see crepehanger;; 2. See killjoy; wet blanket
wet: 1. Place where liquor is available or person who is in favor of legal alcohol sales; 2. Incorrect, mistaken e.g. you're all wet (1920)
wet blanket: Person who spoils a fun moment i.e. Killjoy
whaled: Heavy drinker who is drunk
whangdoodle: Jazz music
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?
whiskbroom: A man who cultivates whiskers
white lightning: Moonshine; inferior whiskey e,g, they had a pint of bootleg white lighting
white stuff: 1. Morphine; 2. Grain alcohol used for making bootleg liquor
whoopee: 1. Boisterous, convivial fun; wild celebration; 2. Having fun had with a romantic partner; making whoopee i.e. having sexual intercourse
windsucker: Braggart
wise guy: Smart aleck; individual who is showy and arrogantly knowledgeable
wise Head: Smart person
wise to be: To have a good understanding e.g. put us wise
wooden kimono: Coffin
woof! woof!: Ridicule
wop: Derogatory term for an Italian; term means without papers
worker: Woman who takes a guy for his money e.g. She Sizes Up As A Worker
wrestle: Dance variant of Shimmy dance
wrinkle: Girl's mother
wrong guy: A person who is incompetent and untrustworthy; criminal; also wrong gee, wrong ghee, wrong Injun
wrong number: Not a good fellow; dangerous person
wrong person: Used in secretive conversations to indicate a mistake in identity, especially in dealings that required discretion
wurp: socially inadequate; see Killjoy

1920s Slang

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Y

ya follow: Do you understand?
yap: Mouth
yard: One hundred dollars ($100)
yegg: 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
yen: opium
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
Yenshee: Opium; see yen
Yenshee baby: Opium addict
you slay me!: That's so funny; also you kill me

Z

zotzed: Individual is murdered
zozzled: Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk

1920s Slang

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Notes

^ Animal alternatives having the same meaning as Bee's Knees

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 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,

^ In the early 20th century, people commonly used these terms to describe being inebriated: Dalzell 2012, pp. 12

Bent
Blind
Blotto
Bolognied
Canned
Crocked
Boiled as an owl
Corked
Embalmed
Fried
Fried to the Hat
Half Seas Over

Half Under
Hoary-eyed
Jammed
Jazzed
Jiggered
Juiced
Lit
Oiled
Out like a light
Out on the roof
Ossified
Owled
Pie-eyed

Piffled
Plastered
Polluted
Potted
Primed
Shellacked
Shot
Stew to the hat.
Scrooched
Smoked
Spifficated
Tanked
Zozzled

References

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cat's meow as defined in Wiktionary
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cocaine addict as defined in Wiktionary
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"Wanted: love; Abe has coin; girls kid him". Los Angeles Evening Post-Record (Los Angeles, California). January 4, 1915. p. 7. Retrieved August 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Abe Deuce's letter to the editor of Los Angeles Record
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^ come to time as defined in Wiktionary
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gandy dancer as defined in Wiktionary
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^ gay as defined in Wiktionary
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gigolo as defined in Wiktionary
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Harlem sunset as defined in Wiktionary
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heart wrenching as defined in Wiktionary
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^ "Slang of the 1920's" (PDF). center.uoregon.edu. University of Oregon. 2024. Retrieved July 22, 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!
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heat as defined in Wiktionary
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high pillow as defined in Wiktionary
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^ hipster as defined in Wiktionary
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histrionics as defined in Wiktionary
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house dick as defined in Wiktionary
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idler as defined in Wiktionary
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irish goodbye as defined in Wiktionary
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Lighter 1997, p. 226.
^ Chapman 1987, p. 702.
"iron (one's) shoelaces". idioms.thefreedictionary.com. Farlex. 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
Chapman 1987, p. 703.
Green 2008, p. 713.
"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.
^ Green 2008, p. 718.
Green 2008, p. 729.
Tradii 2018, p. 31.
Green 2008, p. 725.
^ Green 2008, p. 730.
Green 2008, p. 732.
Tradii 2018, p. 32.
^ Green 2008, p. 735.
Geneviene 2018, p. 42.
^ Green 2008, p. 738.
Geneviene 2018, p. 43.
Chapman 1987, p. 247.
^ Green 2008, p. 743.
Chapman 1987, p. 248.
Green 2008, p. 747.
^ "1920s Slang – The Language of The Jazz Age". 1920s-fashion-and-music.com. April 15, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
Green 2008, p. 761.
^ Green 2008, p. 764.
Green 2008, p. 770.
^ Green 2008, p. 772.
^ Green 2008, p. 773.
Geneviene 2018, p. 47.
know one's onions as defined in Wiktionary
Green 2008, p. 785.
^ Green 2008, p. 787.
^ Green 2008, p. 788.
left holding The Bag as defined in Wiktionary
^ Geneviene 2018, p. 48.
^ Green 2008, p. 795.
Green 2008, p. 802.
limey as defined in Wiktionary
line as defined in Wiktionary
^ Chapman 1987, p. 268.
Tradii 2018, p. 36.
lollygagger as defined in Wiktionary
Chapman 1987, p. 270.
lookout as defined in Wiktionary
Chapman 1987, p. 272.
Chapman 1987, p. 276.
^ Green 2008, p. 1260.
^ Chapman 1987, p. 280.
maroon as defined in Wiktionary
Chapman 1987, p. 281.
mawkish as defined in Wiktionary
"Wandering Husbands". Photoplay. MacFadden Publishing Inc. August 1, 1924. p. 88. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
meller as defined in Wiktionary
^ melodrama as defined in Wiktionary
Lighter 1997, p. 547.
^ Chapman 1987, p. 284.
^ Geneviene 2018, p. 52.
^ Chapman 1987, p. 285.
^ Chapman 1987, p. 287.
Lighter 1997, p. 499.
Chapman 1987, p. 299.
Chapman 1987, p. 289.
Lighter 1997, p. 602.
grundy as defined in Wiktionary
Lighter 1997, p. 612.
Lighter 1997, p. 618.
Chapman 1987, p. 296.
Green 2008, p. 911.
Partridge 1984, p. 790.
Partridge 1984, p. 794.
"nobody home". idioms.thefreedictionary.com. Farlex. 2024. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
^ Chapman 1987, p. 300.
Chapman 1987, p. 304.
^ Geneviene 2018, p. 58.
omnibibulous as defined in Wiktionary
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.
Tradii 2018, p. 44.
^ Geneviene 2018, p. 59.
"owled". idioms.thefreedictionary.com. Farlex. 2024. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
^ Chapman 1987, p. 320.
^ Chapman 1987, p. 321.
paint the town red as defined in Wiktionary
^ Chapman 1987, p. 323.
pathos as defined in Wiktionary
"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.
Geneviene 2018, p. 61.
^ Chapman 1987, p. 325.
"Green's Dictionary of Slang". 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024. Green's Dictionary of Slang is the largest historical dictionary of English slang
^ Dalzell 2012, p. 16.
Green 2008, p. 981.
^ Chapman 1987, p. 326.
^ Geneviene 2018, p. 63.
Dalzell 2012.
^ Geneviene 2018, p. 62.
"Pickpocket". Merriam-Webster.com. An Encyclopædia Britannica Company. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
Green 2008, p. 990.
^ Green 2008, p. 993.
Green 2008, p. 994.
Green 2008, p. 1006.
^ Green 2008, p. 1011.
Green 2008, p. 1015.
Green 2008, p. 1020.
Tradii 2018, p. 47.
Green 2008, p. 1021.
Geneviene 2018.
primed as defined in Wiktionary
pro skirt as defined in Wiktionary
Green 2008, p. 1040.
Chapman 1987, p. 347.
Chapman 1987, p. 349.
^ Geneviene 2018, p. 64.
put down as defined in Wiktionary
wikt: put the bee on as defined in Wiktionary
Chapman 1987, p. 355.
^ Chapman 1987, p. 354.
Kimball, Robert; Emmet, Linda, eds. (2001). The Complete Lyrics of Irving Berlin. Knopf. ISBN 0679419438.
^ Geneviene 2018, p. 66.
"rag-a-muffin". 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024. Green's Dictionary of Slang is the largest historical dictionary of English slang
rain pitchforks as defined in Wiktionary
Chapman 1987, p. 360.
Green 2008, p. 1068.
^ Chapman 1987, p. 361.
Geneviene 2018, p. 68.
Chapman 1987, p. 364.
^ Green 2008, p. 1081.
Chapman 1987, p. 368.
Chapman 1987, p. 369.
Chapman 1987, p. 370.
Green 2008, p. 1195.
Chapman 1987, p. 372.
"rummy". 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024. Green's Dictionary of Slang is the largest historical dictionary of English slang
^ rumrunner as defined in Wiktionary
^ Chapman 1987, p. 376.
^ Chapman 1987, p. 377.
Harper, Douglas (October 25, 2017). "scofflaw". etymonline.com. Douglas Harper. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
Chapman 1987, p. 381.
^ Chapman 1987, p. 382.
screw as defined in Wiktionary
Chapman 1987, p. 383.
Green 2008, p. 1141.
Green 2008, p. 1145.
sentiment as defined in Wiktionary
Chapman 1987, p. 388.
"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.
Green 2008, p. 1157.
^ Green 2008, p. 1158.
Green 2008, p. 1162.
Chapman 1987, p. 393.
^ Chapman 1987, p. 398.
^ Chapman 1987, p. 399.
^ Chapman 1987, p. 400.
Chapman 1987, p. 401.
Tradii 2018, p. 54.
^ Green 2008, p. 1191.
Chapman 1987, p. 402.
Chapman 1987, p. 403.
^ Chapman 1987, p. 406.
^ Green 2008, p. 1216.
"Snap a Cap". 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024. Green's Dictionary of Slang is the largest historical dictionary of English slang
Green 2008, p. 1222.
^ Green 2008, p. 1223.
^ Chapman 1987.
"Green's Dictionary of Slang". 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024. Green's Dictionary of Slang is the largest historical dictionary of English slang
^ Green 2008, p. 1230.
^ Chapman 1987, p. 413.
Soda Jerk as defined in Wiktionary
^ Green 2008, p. 1238.
Chapman 1987, p. 417.
Chapman 1987, p. 1244.
Green 2008, p. 1247.
^ Chapman 1987, p. 418.
Green 2008, p. 1248.
Green 2008, p. 1253.
Green 2008, p. 1258.
Green 2008, p. 1269.
^ Green 2008, p. 1272.
^ Green 2008, p. 1276.
Partridge 1984, p. 1156.
Partridge 1984, p. 1160.
Partridge 1984, p. 1161.
^ Dalzell 2012, p. 17.
Green 2008, p. 1297.
Partridge 1984, p. 1187.
Chapman 1987, p. 441.
take for a ride as defined in Wiktionary
"Take a fall for". idioms.thefreedictionary.com. Farlex. 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
Chapman 1987, p. 444.
Green 2008, p. 1324.
^ Green 2008, p. 1326.
Chapman 1987, p. 445.
teetotaler as defined in Wiktionary
tell it to sweeney as defined in Wiktionary
^ Dalzell 2012, p. 18.
"Miscellaneous Slang of the 1920s". Lighthouse Translations. 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2024. Speakeasies and Jazz
"Miscellaneous Slang of the 1920s – Money Man". Lighthouse Translations. 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2024. Speakeasies and Jazz
the real mccoy as defined in Wiktionary
"Green's Dictionary of Slang". 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024. Green's Dictionary of Slang is the largest historical dictionary of English slang
^ Geneviene 2018, p. 78.
^ Tradii 2018, p. 61.
"Tighten the screws". idioms.thefreedictionary.com. Farlex. 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
Chapman 1987, p. 451.
Chapman 1987, p. 452.
Chapman 1987, p. 455.
Chapman 1987, p. 458.
Tradii 2018, p. 62.
Chapman 1987, p. 463.
Geneviene 2018, p. 79.
^ Geneviene 2018, p. 81.
Green 2008, p. 1414.
wallop as defined in Wiktionary
waster as defined in Wiktionary
Chapman 1987, p. 475.
^ Green 2008, p. 1424.
^ Green 2008, p. 1426.
"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.
"Green's Dictionary of Slang – whaled". 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024. Green's Dictionary of Slang is the largest historical dictionary of English slang
Green 2008, p. 1430.
what's eating you as defined in Wiktionary
^ Chapman 1987, p. 480.
Chapman 1987, p. 482.
Green 2008, p. 1440.
Chapman 1987, p. 486.
Chapman 1987, p. 487.
"Wrong Guy". 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024. Green's Dictionary of Slang is the largest historical dictionary of English slang
Green 2008, p. 1460.
Green 2008, p. 1461.
"English Slang Terms and Phrases of the 1920s". Penlighten & Buzzle.com, Inc. 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024. penlighten is a website about books
Green 2008, p. 1466.
^ Green 2008, p. 1467.
^ Green 2008, p. 1468.
Partridge 1984, p. 1365.
Geneviene 2018, p. 89.
Dalzell 2012, pp. 19

Works cited

Books

Chapman, Robert L (1987). American Slang. New York, New York: Harper & Row. p. 499. ISBN 0-06-096160-0. Abridged edition of the New Dictionary of American Slang
Dalzell, T. (2012). Flappers 2 Rappers: American Youth Slang. Dover Publications. ISBN 978-0-486-12162-8. Retrieved July 23, 2024. Unabridged copy of 1996 Meriam-Webster publication of the same name
Geneviene, T.R. (2018). Speak Flapper: Slang of the 1920s. ISBN 978-1-6561-6855-9. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
Green, Jonathon (2008). Chambers Slang Dictionary (1st ed.). London: Chambers. p. 1477. ISBN 978-0550-10563-9.
Kipfer, Barbara Ann; Chapman, Robert L. (2007). The Dictionary of American Slang (4th ed.). New York: HarperCollins puiblisher. p. 592. ISBN 978-0-06-117646-3.
LeFurgy, Bill (2019). Criminal Slang: Annotated Edition of the 1908 Dictionary of the Vernacular of the Underworld. High Kicker Books. p. 110. ISBN 978-1-7345678-2-3. Retrieved September 23, 2024. contents of original Joseph Sullivan's criminal slang: a dictionary of the vernacular of the underworld, first published by the detective pub company in 1908 and edited by Bill LeFurgy.
Lighter, J.E. (1994). Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang: A-G (1st ed.). New York, New York: Random House. p. 1006. ISBN 0-394-54427-7.
Lighter, J.E. (1997). Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang: H-O (1st ed.). New York, New York: Random House. p. 736. ISBN 0-679-43464-X.
McClure's Magazine (1917). McClure's Magazine. S.S. McClure, Limited. p. 62. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
Mitchell, C.R. (2019). 1920s Slang Dictionary (in Tagalog). Independently Published. ISBN 978-1-0728-6161-4. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
Partridge, Eric (1984). A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English: Colloquialisms and Catch-phrases, Solecisms and Catachreses, Nicknames, Vulgarisms (8th ed.). New York, New York: Macmilan Publishing Company. p. 1400. ISBN 0-02-594980-2.
Tradii, Joe (2018). From Ameche to Zozzled: A Glossary of Hard-Boiled Slang of the 1920s Through The 1940s. Amazon Digital Services LLC – Kdp. ISBN 978-1-9833-4745-0. Retrieved August 22, 2024. Glossary of Hard-Boiled slang of the 1920s through the 1940s

Web Slang Dictionaries and PDFs

"Slang of the 1920". local.aaca.org. Archived from the original on June 18, 2010. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
Beard, Robert. "A Historical Dictionary of American Slang". alphadictionary.com. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
"Green's Dictionary of Slang". 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024. Green's Dictionary of Slang is the largest historical dictionary of English slang
Historical Dictionary of American Slang (this version)
Online Etymology Dictionary
"Dictionaries". An Encyclopædia Britannica Company. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
"Time Traveler". An Encyclopædia Britannica Company. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
"Dictionaries and Works Cited: Dictionary of Newfoundland English". Heritage.nf.ca. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
Serrani, Alyssa (December 13, 2021). "Comeback-Worthy 1920s Slang That Only Rag-a-Muffins Won't Appreciate". YourDictionary. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
"Thesaurus and word tools for your creative needs". WordHippo. February 19, 2009. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
"1920's Slang". huffenglish.com. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
Wiktionary – a free standard dictionary
"Slang of the 1920's" (PDF). center.uoregon.edu. University of Oregon. 2024. Retrieved July 22, 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!
"slang_of_the_1920s.pdf" (PDF). Retrieved August 3, 2024.

Websites

Brockway, Laura Hale (March 25, 2021). "phrases from the 1920s". PR Daily. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
"1920s Slang". Smoky Hill Museum. 2024. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
"1920s and 1930s Slang Dictionary". Orlando Dinner Show. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
"1920s Slang". Lighthouse Translations. February 5, 2024. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
"Learn 1920s Speakeasy Prohibition Slang!". Shot In The Dark Mysteries Murder. February 6, 2011. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
"The LSC After Dark Guide to 1920s Slang". Liberty Science Center. November 15, 2016. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
Ross, Scott (2013). "Early 20th Century American Slang". Reader's Digest. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
Smith, Sam Benson (September 10, 2019). "30 Slang Words from the 1920s That Are Worth Bringing Back". Reader's Digest. Retrieved August 9, 2024.

External links

Slang of the 1920s on YouTube
Video (48:15) − America in color: The 1920s on YouTube
The Jazz Age In America
Roaring Twenties from U S History.com
The Roaring Twenties – History.com
Roaring Twenties Archived May 17, 2019, at the Wayback Machine study guide and teacher resources – timeline, quotes, analysis, multimedia

Glossary of early twentieth century slang in the United States at Misplaced Pages's sister projects:

Data from Wikidata

Portals:

Categories:

Misplaced Pages