1920s

/kats puh-JAH-muhz/

Excellent; the best

Origin: 1920s American flapper slang

"That speakeasy is the cat's pajamas!"

/beez neez/

Something wonderful

Origin: Nonsense phrase popular 1920s

"Her new dress is the bee's knees."

/SPEEK-ee-zee/

Illicit bar during Prohibition

Origin: From speaking softly to gain entry

"Meet me at the speakeasy on 52nd."

/gamz/

Legs (usually a woman's)

Origin: From Italian 'gamba'

"Look at the gams on her!"

/hooch/

Bootleg liquor

Origin: From Hoochinoo, an Alaskan tribe known for distilling

"Where'd you score this hooch?"

/GIG-uhl waw-tuhr/

Alcohol; champagne

Origin: 1920s flapper slang

"Pour me some giggle water, would ya?"

/dold up/

Dressed elegantly

Origin: From 'doll' as ornament

"She got all dolled up for the Charleston."

/BER-eez/

Excellent (similar to 'bee's knees')

Origin: 1920s American

"That jazz band is the berries."

/BOOT-leg-uhr/

Illegal liquor seller

Origin: From hiding flasks in boot tops

"My uncle's a bootlegger out of Chicago."

/AP-uhl-saws/

Nonsense

Origin: 1920s

"Aw, applesauce! I don't believe a word."

/DOO-drop-per/

A young man who has no job and sleeps all day.

Origin: 1920s American urban slang likely referring to the morning dew disappearing before they wake.

""That flat tire is nothing but a dewdropper; he's never worked a day in his life.""

/snayks HIPS/

Something or someone considered outstanding or the best.

Origin: Part of the 1920s trend of combining animals with anatomical parts to denote excellence.

""The party was the snake's hips until the feds showed up.""

/FOH-nus buh-LOH-nus/

Nonsense, bunk, or something fake/fraudulent.

Origin: A combination of 'phony' and 'bologna' emerging in the mid-1920s.

""He tried to sell me a real diamond, but I knew it was just phonus balonus.""

/pyp DOWN/

An order to be quiet or stop talking.

Origin: Derived from 19th-century nautical terminology regarding steam pipes.

""Pipe down or you'll wake the whole flophouse!""

/KRUM/

A person considered to be a loser, low-life, or unworthy of respect.

Origin: Circa 1918-1920, referring to someone as low as a bread crumb.

""I wish that crumb would stop following us to the dance hall.""

/BOOLZ/

Uniformed police officers or plainclothes detectives.

Origin: Late 19th-century railroad slang that became mainstream in the 1920s underworld.

""Keep your eyes peeled for the bulls; they’re patrolling the alley.""

/SHOO-ger DAD-ee/

A wealthy, usually older man who spends money on a younger woman.

Origin: Popularized in the early 1920s, specifically in New York social circles.

""She was looking for a sugar daddy at the Ritz, but only found a bankroll.""

/PED-uhl yur FISH/

A command to go away or stop trying to sell a lie.

Origin: Derived from street vendors (fishmongers) crying their wares.

""Go pedal your fish somewhere else, I'm not buying that story.""

/KAYL/

Paper money or currency.

Origin: Slang referencing the green color of U.S. banknotes.

""He had plenty of kale after the horse race, so he bought us all dinner.""

/duks KWAK/

The absolute best; something highly fashionable or wonderful.

Origin: Part of the 1920s 'animal superlative' linguistic trend.

""The dance at the Country Club was the duck's quack.""

/STRUH-guhl BUG-ee/

A car used by teenagers or young couples for making out.

Origin: 1920s youth slang referring to the 'struggle' for virtue within the vehicle.

""Check out the struggle buggy parked down by the pier.""

/BLOO-nohz/

A prude, a puritanical person, or a killjoy.

Origin: Originally used to describe Nova Scotians, it became a general term for reformers during Prohibition.

""Tell that bluenose to stop complaining about the music; it's only midnight.""

/woh-den NIK-uhls/

A cautionary phrase meaning 'don't be swindled' or 'look out for yourself.'

Origin: Early 20th-century American folk warning.

""Don't take any wooden nickels while you're in the big city, kid.""

/big CHEEZ/

The most important person or the boss.

Origin: Derived from the Persian/Urdu 'chiz' meaning 'thing,' adapted by British colonials and then Americans.

""He's the big cheese in the city council, so he can get the permit.""

/JIN mil/

An establishment that sells hard liquor, often illegally.

Origin: 19th-century term that saw a massive resurgence during the Prohibition era.

""Let's go find a gin mill that doesn't water down the scotch.""

/DARB/

An excellent person or thing; someone who is very attractive.

Origin: Unknown origin, likely Australian or American carnival slang from the early 1920s.

""She looks like a real darb in that silk fringe dress.""

/spif-li-KAY-ted/

Extremely drunk or intoxicated.

Origin: Likely a mock-Latin Victorian word that peaked in popularity in the 20s.

""After the second round of drinks, he was completely spifflicated.""

/fool uhv BEENZ/

To be mistaken, energetic, or talking nonsense.

Origin: Originally a horse-breeding term (well-fed horses), it shifted to meaning 'incorrect' by the 1920s.

""You're full of beans if you think you can beat me in a race.""

/LOWNJ liz-urd/

A man who frequents social gala and dance halls to meet wealthy women.

Origin: Circa 1917, referring to men who 'crawled' around high-society lounges.

""That lounge lizard has been leaning against the piano asking for drinks all night.""

/HOT-see TOT-see/

Pleasing, fashionable, or attractive.

Origin: Coined by the cartoonist Billy DeBeck in the comic strip 'Barney Google.'

""She's a real hotsy-totsy gal with a bright future on Broadway.""

/HEV-ee SHOO-ger/

A large amount of money.

Origin: Metaphorical use of 'sugar' for something sweet or desirable (money).

""The heavy sugar he made from the stocks allowed him to buy a mansion.""

/NOO-duhl hed/

A foolish or stupid person.

Origin: 1920s variation on 'empty-headed' or 'soft-headed.'

""Don't worry about the waiter; he's just a noodle head.""

/DUK-ee/

Excellent, wonderful, or fine.

Origin: British colloquialism that became highly popular in the U.S. during the 1920s.

""Your new hat is just ducky; where did you buy it?""

/tel it too SWEE-nee/

A phrase used to express disbelief in a story or excuse.

Origin: Based on the idea that a person named Sweeney is gullible enough to believe anything.

""Tell him to tell it to Sweeney, because I don't believe a word of it.""

/SHEEK/

An attractive, charming, and sexually persuasive man.

Origin: From the 1921 film 'The Sheik' starring Rudolph Valentino.

""Look at that fella; he's all dressed up like a real sheik.""

/SOK-uh-TY-ming/

A forceful blow or a punch.

Origin: Onomatopoeic slang popular in sports writing and comics of the era.

""If you keep talking like that, you'll get a choice sock-a-tiaming to the jaw.""

/flat BROHK/

Having no money at all.

Origin: The term 'flat' added for emphasis to the 19th-century 'broke.'

""I can't go to the cinema tonight; I'm completely flat broke.""

/kats mee-OW/

Something highly pleasing, stylish, or impressive.

Origin: One of the many animal-themed superlatives coined by cartoonist Thomas 'Tad' Dorgan.

""That flapper sure is the cat's meow in her bobbed hair.""

/DISH/

Recent news or gossip.

Origin: Likely referring to serving up a 'dish' of information.

""What's the dish? I heard Joe and Rita split up.""

/juh-LOP-ee/

A rickety, old, or battered automobile.

Origin: Obscure origin, possibly from the port of Jalapa, Mexico, where scrapped cars were sent.

""Wait for me by the curb; I'll be there in a flamboyant jallopy.""

/buh-LOH-nee/

Nonsense or something that is not true.

Origin: Refers to the cheap sausage, popularized as a synonym for 'bunk' by Alfred E. Smith.

""That performance was pure bologna; he forgot half his lines.""

/SEE a man uh-bowt a DOG/

A common excuse used when going to buy or drink illegal alcohol.

Origin: 19th-century phrase that took on secret meaning during Prohibition.

""I have to go see a man about a dog, so don't wait up for me.""

/BANKS bair-ee/

Someone who is perfect or highly dependable.

Origin: Variation of the 'berries' theme, often used for people.

""He’s a real bank’s berry when it comes to keeping a secret.""

/PIL/

A boring, disagreeable, or annoying person.

Origin: Metaphor for something 'hard to swallow' or unpleasant.

""Don't be such a pill; come out to the club with us!""

/SWANG-kee/

High-class, stylish, or ostentatiously costly.

Origin: Likely a combination of 'swank' and 'ritzy,' gaining popularity in the mid-20s.

""The swanky decorations at the gala were truly breathtaking.""

/HIT-ing on awl AYT/

To be working perfectly or performing at maximum efficiency.

Origin: A reference to a V-8 engine running on all cylinders.

""You're hitting on all eight today, finishing that report so fast.""

/JIT-nee/

A five-cent piece or a nickel.

Origin: Possibly from the French 'jeton' or Louisiana Creole, used for nickel-fare buses.

""I haven't got a jitney to my name until payday.""

/beez NEEZ/

Something or someone that is wonderful or excellent.

Origin: 1920s nonsense animal superlative.

""You're the bee's knees to me, doll.""

/uh-NUH-ther THINK KUM-ing/

To be mistaken (often used as 'you've got another think coming').

Origin: Grammatically correct version of the later 'another thing coming,' common in 1920s speech.

""If she thinks I'm paying for her brother too, she's got another think coming.""

/hit the HAY/

To go to bed or go to sleep.

Origin: Reference to mattresses that were commonly stuffed with hay or straw.

""I'm going to hit the hay; I've got an early shift at the factory.""