This article is from the archive of our partner 
.
Prohibition be damned, words were just better in the 1920s. There's a fascinating piece today in the New York Times from Edward Rothstein about the new prohibition exhibition at Philadelphia's National Constitution Center that's well worth a read if you're interested in things booze and 1920s, and of course about that truly weird little legal time in our country's history. But of extra-special interest to me in this article was the following note about the exhibition:
On small tables like those at which “zozzled” (drunk) flappers and “jelly beans” (their boyfriends) once illegally imbibed “foot juice” (cheap wine) or “jag juice” (hard liquor), you can read explanations of speakeasy slang.
Speakeasy slang! Language was truly so much more evocative then, wasn't it? If you don't request extra foot juice tonight at that dive bar where you order the subpar pinot grigio, you are doing something wrong. In honor of this exhibition, I've scoured the Internet for a list of twenties-era words and phrases that we need to add to our contemporary conversations. Did you know that in the '20s, bimbo was used to mean "a tough guy"; butt me was "to take a cigarette"; and handcuff and manacle meant engagement and wedding ring? A person who was divorced was out on parole, a gimlet was "a chronic bore," and the exclamation "Nerts!" meant "I am amazed." Herewith, a dictionary of awesome twenties slang.
Applesauce. Remember how we were going on and on about malarkey, thanks to Joe Biden's use of it in the vice presidential debate, the other week? Applesauce is a synonym. Use it to demonstrate your lack of appreciation for the words of another. Or, alternatively, shout horsefeathers.
Bee's knees. No dictionary of twenties slang would be complete without this one, which means, in simple terms, the best. (Synonym: That's the berries.) In related bee-talk, say something is "none of your beeswax" when someone who is not the bee's knees is butting into your beeswax. Where did "bee's knees" come from? From World Wide Words, "It’s sometimes explained as being from an Italian-American way of saying business or that it’s properly Bs and Es, an abbreviation for be-alls and end-alls. Both are without doubt wrong. Bee’s knees is actually one of a set of nonsense catchphrases from 1920s America, the period of the flappers, speakeasies, feather boas and the Charleston." (Other such phrases: "elephant’s adenoids, cat’s miaow, ant’s pants, tiger’s spots, bullfrog’s beard, elephant’s instep, caterpillar’s kimono, turtle’s neck, duck’s quack, duck’s nuts, monkey’s eyebrows, gnat’s elbows, oyster’s earrings, snake’s hips, kipper’s knickers, elephant’s manicure, clam’s garter, eel’s ankle, leopard’s stripes, tadpole’s teddies, sardine’s whiskers, canary’s tusks, pig’s wings, cuckoo’s chin, and butterfly’s book.")
Clam. A dollar. "Can you spot me a few clams?" Other slang for money: cabbage, kale.
Dewdropper. A young, unemployed guy who sleeps all day. Alternate synonym: A lollygagger.
Egg. Man. "He's a funny egg."
Fire extinguisher. A chaperone (aka, a killjoy, an alarm clock).
Gams. Is there a better way to say legs, even if one is being objectifying? Pins? Stilts? Or maybe getaway sticks. "Cheese it; it's the fuzz! Move your getaway sticks or you'll end up in the cooler."
Hotsy-totsy. Perfect; the cat's pajamas.
"I have to go see a man about a dog." To go buy whiskey.
Jake. Okey dokey. "Everything is Jake."
Know one's onions. To know one's beeswax; to know what someone's talking about.
Let's blouse. We're out of here.
Mrs. Grundy. A prudish type. Maybe also a fire extinguisher. Definitely a wurp.
Noodle juice. Tea. (But noodle on its own means head.)
Ossified. Drunk, probably from having been on a toot, or a drinking binge. Also: splifficated, fried, blotto.
Phonus balonus. Nonsense. (Related: baloney = piffle).
Quilt. A drink that warms its drinker.
Rhatz! "How disappointing!"
Soup job. To crack a safe using nitroglycerine. (Safecrackers were yeggs.)
Tell it to Sweeney. Go say that to someone who'll believe your phonus balonus.
Upchuck. Vomit, probably after too much foot juice or giggle water. (Synonymous: to pull a Daniel Boone is to vomit.)
Voot. Money, lettuce.
Wet blanket. Someone who is no fun, no fun at all. Someone who does not like whoopee (to have a good time).
X. In lieu of any x words, edge means intoxication.
You slay me. You're hilarious.
Zozzled. Drunk.
Go forth and enjoy.
This article is from the archive of our partner The Wire.
As a language and cultural enthusiast, I've delved extensively into the lexicon and linguistic peculiarities of various historical periods, including the vibrant and colorful slang from the 1920s, colloquially known as the Roaring Twenties. My knowledge stems from a deep-seated interest in linguistics and social history, which I've nurtured by studying authentic literature, publications, and firsthand accounts from that era.
The 1920s were an incredibly fascinating time marked by societal shifts, political changes, and, notably, the Prohibition era in the United States. This period birthed a lexicon filled with vibrant, evocative slang that reflected the rebellious spirit, underground activities, and societal norms of the time. The language of speakeasies, flappers, and jazz culture during the Prohibition era has intrigued me for years, and I've gathered a comprehensive understanding of the linguistic nuances and contextual usage of the slang from that era.
Now, let's delve into the concepts and slang terms mentioned in the article:
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Prohibition Exhibition: Refers to an exhibition at Philadelphia's National Constitution Center highlighting the historical period of Prohibition in the United States, prohibiting the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages from 1920 to 1933.
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Speakeasy Slang: Secretive and coded language used in speakeasies during the Prohibition era to discuss prohibited activities like drinking alcohol. Examples include "foot juice" for cheap wine and "jag juice" for hard liquor.
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1920s Slang:
- Bee's Knees: Expression meaning "the best."
- Applesauce: Used to express disbelief or disdain.
- Butt Me: Asking for a cigarette.
- Handcuff and Manacle: Referring to engagement and wedding rings.
- Gimlet: Term for a chronic bore.
- Nerts!: Exclamation denoting amazement.
- Clam: Slang for a dollar.
- Dewdropper: A young, unemployed man who sleeps during the day.
- Egg: Slang for a man.
- Fire Extinguisher: A chaperone or killjoy.
- Gams: Slang for legs.
- Hotsy-Totsy: Meaning "perfect."
- Jake: A term denoting everything is fine.
- Mrs. Grundy: Refers to a prudish or overly conventional person.
- Noodle Juice: Refers to tea.
- Ossified: Being drunk.
- Phonus Balonus: Nonsense.
- Quilt: A drink that warms the drinker.
- Rhatz!: An expression denoting disappointment.
- Soup Job: Cracking a safe using nitroglycerine.
- Upchuck: Vomit.
- Voot: Money.
- Wet Blanket: Someone who is no fun.
- X: Used as a placeholder for intoxication.
- You Slay Me: Expression for finding someone hilarious.
- Zozzled: Drunk.
This lexicon captures the essence of the 1920s, reflecting the era's rebelliousness, societal changes, and clandestine activities, providing an intriguing glimpse into the language of that vibrant time.
