Thread:Bubblegum25217/@comment-30953185-20170422151505/@comment-31595317-20170423054104

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 henpecked 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