# Glossary of early twentieth century slang in the United States

Short description intentionally set to none — WP:SDNONE
   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.
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.
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.
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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. -->

## 0-9
### 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
### A-1

    First class

### 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

### absotively

    Absolutely and positively

### ace

    1. One dollar bill; see clam
    2. An airplane adept
    3. An artist in any line

### acknowledge the corn

    Admit responsibility for

### ad

    Advertisement; hence ad club

### adam's ale

    Water

### african golf

    The game of craps or dice

### 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

### alibi Ike

    One who excuses all his faults

### all in

    Exhausted

### all to the good

    Everything is all right

### all to the good, the mustard, etc

    Excellent

### all wet

    Erroneous idea or individual e.g. "He's all Wet"

### alley worker

    A woman thief who robs men in alleys

### almighty, dollar

    Money, the god of america

### also ran

    A loser

### altogether, in the

    Nude, naked

### ambulance-chaser

    A shyster lawyer who goes after injured people to solicit their damage suits

### amuck, to run

    To behave crazily

### ananias Club, member of the

    A liar; anyone who differed with theodore roosevelt

### and how!

    I Strongly agree!

### angel

    Man who finances a theatrical or other venture, usuallyfor no angelic reason

### angora, to get one's

    To discomfit or rattle one

### animated ivories or cubes

    Dice

### ankle

    To walk, e.g. "Let's ankle!"

### anvil chorus

    A chorus of knockers or depreciators

### 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. Blah, tripe, nonsense, foolish talk, e.g."Aw, Applesauce!"

### apple strudel

    Concentrated apple sauce

### arkansas toothpick

    A sheath or bowie knife

### armchair

    Love nest

### ass

    A fool

### attaboy!

    Well done! or Attagirl!

### attic

    Empty part of a house; hence head, up per story

### automat

    A nickel-in-the-slot restaurant

### awfully

    Very much

## B
### b.v.d.

    A man's underclothing

### babbitt

    Typical mediocre-brained middle class American, realtor or otherwise

### babe

    Attractive person usually a woman and sometimes meaning a significant other

### baby

    Something of high value or respect including your sweetheart

### baby doll

    One's sweetheart

### baby grand

    Heavily built man

### back-scratcher

    One who praises you for your praise of him, her or it

### bad egg, bad penny, etc

    A good-for-naught

### bad go to the

    Attend Sunday movies, dance, or otherwise offend the rotary methodist god

### bad, to the

    Having suffered loss

### 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.

### bag, to hold the

    To be left responsible while others escape

### baggage smasher

    Hotel porter who handles trunks

### bald-headed row

    Front row at a girlie leg show

### ball, to play

    Go ahead

### balled up

    Confused, messed up

### balty, bats in, the belfry

    Crazy

### bally nipper

    Tomboy

### baloney

    Nonsense

### bamboozle

    Obtain by trickery

### banana oil

    The act of using insincere flattery and deception, particularly with the intention to deceive

### bang-up

    First rate

### bang the ivories

    Play the piano

### 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

### barber shop chord

    Male quartette harmony; barbarous music

### barge

    Walk along

### barleycorn, John

    Spirit of alcohol, exiled by Volstead

### barn-stormer

    Strolling player

### barney

    Scandal walker

### barneymugging

    Love-making

### barnumize

    To advertise in high-faulting' language

### barrelhouse

    Main article: Juke joint
    cheap saloon speakeasy or brothel

### bathtub gin

    Main article: Bathtub gin
    Homemade spirit, made in a bathtub

### battle royal

    Indiscriminate boxing match of three or more

### 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

### beak, beagle

    Nose

### bean-eater

    Bostonian

### bean-picker

    Person who tries to patch up trouble

### bean-shooter

    Gun

### beans, not to know

    To, know nothing

### bear

    One who speculated' for a fall in stocks; opposite of bull

### bear, she's a

    She's a wow, a wonder

### bearcat

    Hot-blooded, vivacious woman

### beat

    In journalism, precedence in news; a scoop

### beat around the bush

    To dodge the issue

### beat it

    Clear a way; vamoose; depart; scram, get lost

### beat one's gums

    Idle chatter e.g. someone "beats one's gums"or "Flap one's gums"

### beats the devil, the dutch

    Beats everything

### beau, beau-lover

    Suitor, lover

### bedbug

    An amorous or uxorious person

### bee in one's bonnet

    To be obsessed with an idea

### bee's knees, the

    Something or someone outstanding, remarkably fantastic, or awesome

### beef

    Problem, e.g. "What's your beef?"

### beer, small

    Anything unimportant

### 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

### believe me

    Expletive, "this is true"

### bell bottom

    Main article: Bell-bottoms
    Sailor

### bell polisher

    Man who lingers in apartment vestibule late at night

### belly laugh

    Deep, full-bodied laugh

### bellyache

    Complain all the time

### belly-bumper, -buster, or -whopper

    Small hand sled used for coasting, lying on one's stomach

### bellywash

    Soft drink, soda water, etc

### 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

### benzine buggy

    Automobile

### 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."

### bet, you

    Absolutely. also bet your boots, last dollar

### better half

    What a man calls his wife in her presence

### biff

    A blow

### bible belt

    Main article: Bible BeltArea in the south and midwest where fundamentalism flourishes

### big burg, big town

    A city

### big cheese

    Main article: Supervisor
    Someone of importance and influence e.g. the big boss;

### big drink

    The Mississippi; any ocean

### big head, to have a

    To be conceited

### big house

    Main article: Prison Prison

### big mouth

    A noisy, bragging person

### big one

    Death

### big pond or puddle

    The Atlantic ocean

### 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 stiff, big cheese

    Anyone who disagrees with you

### big timer

    Charming and romantic man

### bilge

    Bunk, blah, flapdoodle, nonsense

### billboard

    Flashy man or woman

### bim

    Woman

### bimbo

    Main article: BimboTough 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

    1. Broad term for a man or woman, sometimes indicating "unusual," behavior e.g. "what a funny old bird"
    2. A young girl; anything attractive

### birthday suit

    Nature's garb; nudity

### biscuit

    Pettable flapper

### bit

    1. United states money equivalent to 12½ cents
    2. Prison sentence

### bite the dust

    Be slain

### blaah

    No good

### black Hand

    A Spanish, Italian or Sicilian secret society of criminals

### 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

### black Maria

    The calaboose, police wagon to take criminals to jail or station house

### blah

    Bunk, nonsense, spreadeagle talk

### blarney

    Wheedling flattery; pretty talk

### blazes, go to

    Go to hell

### blazes, like

    Violently, impetuously (from the flames of hell)

### bleed, to

    To victimize, extort money from

### blimp

    Any non-rigid balloon

### 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

### blink, on the

    On the fritz; no good

### blip off

    Kill someone

### bloated aristocrat, bloated bondholder

    Wealthy person

### blockhead

    Dunce, fool

### blooey

    Condition when one has gone to pieces

### bloody shirt, to wave the

    To stir up political strife

### blotto

    Alternate names for intoxicated
    § drunk

### blouse

    Leave from somewhere

### blow

    1. Crazy party
    2. To boast or brag
    3. Leave
    3. Big wad in nightclubs; spend one's money excessively or irresponsibly
    4. Cocaine

### blow in

    Come in unexpectedly

### blow one's own horn

    To praise oneself

### blow-out

    Feast, spread; puncture, as of auto tire

### blue funk

    Nervous apprehension or agitation

### blue in the face

    Aghast with amazement or fear

### blue laws

    Severe puritanic laws

### blue moon, once in a

    Hardly ever

### blue pencil, to

    To edit

### blues

    Depression; a jazz or ragtime tune

### blue-sky laws

    Laws concerning corporations so loose that everything gets through; the sky the limit

### blue-stocking

    A puritan, one holier-than-thou

### blow someone down

    Kill or murder someone; blow someone away

### blower

    Main article: Telephone
    Telephone

### blue serge

    Sweetheart

### bluenose

    Excessively puritanical person; prude

### bluff

    Bragging, assertion without foundation

### bluff, to call a

    To call for a show-down

### blurb

    Printed praise, usually excessive

### blushing violet

    Publicity hound

### bo

    Man; see also buster mac pal

### bob

    To cut the hair short

### 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

### bogus

    Spurious, sham

### bohemian

    Artistic, as life in an artists' quarter

### 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

    Drunk, pickled, stewed, stewed to the gills, lit, illuminated, soused

### boiled as an owl

    Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk

### boiler

    Automobile

### bolsheviki, bolshevik

    Anything you disagree with, from Russian communist policies to prohibition

### bonanza

    A profitable investment; a lucky strike

### bone dry

    No liquor available. but see speakeasy, blind pig, blind tiger, bootleg, rum row, etc.

### bone, to pull a

    To make a stupid mistake

### bonehead

    A dull, stupid, or awkward fellow

### bones

    Dice, the ivory cubes, the galloping dominoes

### bones, to make no bones about

    To speak directly

### boob

    Dumb guy

### boob-tickler

    Girl who has to entertain her father's customers from out of town

### boodle

    Illegal gain or graft

### bookkeeping

    The art of making a date

### bootleg

    To sell illegal liquor

### booklegger

    Main article: Rum-running
    1. Dealer in suppressed novels
    2. Someone who makes or sells alcohol illegally

### boom

    To advertise extensively; to puff

### boom

    Inflated values, as in Florida and California real estate

### boost

    To aid by pushing upward. hence booster

### booze

    Main article: Alcoholic beverage
    Drink or shot of Alcohol

### boozehound

    Heavy consumer of alcohol

### bop

    To kill

### bosh

    Nonsense; twaddle

### bosom fly

    A petter or Necker; from "let me to thy bosom fly"

### boss

    Master or employer

### bottle

    The drinking habit

### bounce, get the

    To be discharged-- from a job also, get the sack

### bouncer

    One who throws out objectionable persons

### bourbon

    A stubborn conservative; old rye whiskey

### bowled over

    Put out of commission

### box

    Safe or a bar

### box job

    Safecracking

### bozo

    Person; a term of address

### brace

    Interrogate informally; confront someone; Beg for money

### bracer

    A stimulant, an alcoholic drink

### bracelets

    Main article: Handcuffs
    Handcuffs (term originated before the 20th century) e.g. The house dick slapped a pair of bracelets on me

### brainstorm

    Sudden and violent cerebral disturbance; mental attitude of any rich criminal

### brand-new

    Absolutely new

### brass

    Bare-faced impudence

### bread-and-butter

    One's living

### break it up

    Stop that; quit the nonsense; stop quarreling and fighting

### break the ice

    To overcome diffidence on first meeting

### breeches, to wear the

    To rule the house; said too frequently of women

### 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

### brick

    A first rate person. Also "a regular brick"

### brillo

    Someone who lives fast and is a big spender

### briny, the

    The sea or ocean

### broad

    Main article: Woman
    Expression used solely by men to refer to a woman and widely considered offensive by women

### brodie

    To take a chance; from Steve brodie's successful leap from Brooklyn bridge

### broke, clear, dead, or stone

    Penniless

### bromide

    A commonplace bore; a stale jest

### 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

### bruiser

    A boxer, or pugilist

### bruno

    Tough guy, strong man, enforcer; see also bimbo hard-boiled

### brush-ape

    Anyone from the sticks; hayshaker, farmer

### bub(s

    Female breast(s)

### buck

    A dandy; also, a dollar

### buck the tiger

    Gamble, play against the bank

### buck up

    Be encouraged

### buck, pass the

    To shift responsibility

### bucket

    Automobile; see also cowpie crate heap jalopy

### bucket shop

    A gambling den with faked dealing in stocks and bonds

### bud

    A debutante

### buddy

    Companion in arms; chum

### buff

    The skin; hence, in the buff naked

### bug, a

    A fanatic; as, a radio bug

### bug eyed

    Amazed: astounded in the 1920s i.e. He looked all bug-eyed

### 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

### bugger-lugger

    A factory hand

### bugs

    Go crazy

### bulge, the

    Advantage e.g. have the bulge on

### bull

    1. Nonsense, exaggerated lies; chat idly, to exaggerate; hence, bull thrower, toreador, etc
    2. Stock speculator playing for a rise
    3. Uniformed policeman; law-enforcement official; plainclothes cop
    4. railroad security guard

### bull session

    Male talkfest, gossip, stories of sexual exploits

### bully

    Splendid; excellent

### bullyrag

    To threaten, to scold

### bum

    Hobo. hence, on the bum, ruined, broke

### 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

### bum's rush

    Old method of ejecting bums from saloons

### bunco

    To swindle or rob. hence, bunco-game, bunco-steerer. a bunco man's decoy

### bunk

    Nonsense

### bunny

    Term of endearment applied to the lost, confused, etc often coupled with "poor little"

### burbank

    To create a new hybrid plant or animal

### burn powder

    Fire a gun

### bus

    Automobile, airplane, boat, large truck; 1910s

### bush league

    Second rate

### bushwa

    Euphemism for "bulls#*%"

### bust

    1. A drunken revel, a spree
    2. Boxer

### busthead

    Main article: Moonshine
    Illicitly distilled liquor

### buster

    Man; see also bo mac pal

### busy as a one-arm paper-hanger with the barber's itch

    Very busy

### 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
    3. Well-to-do mid-western salesman in new York, playing with shebas and vamps; a sugar-coated papa.

### buzz-wagon, buzz-buggy

    An automobile

### buzzer

    Policeman or private detective's badge
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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

### c.o.

    Conscientious objector

### c.o.d.

    Cash on delivery; no credit

### cabbage

    Main article: Federal Reserve Note
    Money

### caboodle

    Aggregate, whole collection

### caboose

    Jail

### cadet

    Pimp, pander, procurer; west point undergraduate

### cain, to raise

    To raise hell

### 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
    5. A tea-hound, lounge-lizard, lady-bug

### call down

    To reprove, to censure

### can

    1. Prison; holding cell at a police station; being imprisoned 1910s
    2. Dilapidated, run-down automobile; 1920s

### can house

    Bordello; brothel

### can it

    Forget it. hence, can the chatter. shut up

### can opener

    Safecracker who opens cheap safes

### canary

    1. Informer; stool pigeon
    2. Female vocalist typically fronting a band

### canceled stamp

    Shy girl at a dance or party

### canned

    Main article: Alcohol intoxication
    Intoxicated; § drunk

### canned music

    Phonograph or radio music

### cannery

    prison

### cannon-fodder

    Soldiers

### canoodle

    To bill and coo

### canuck, Kanuck

    A French Canadian

### cap, to set one's cap for

    To try to vamp

### cape Cod turkey

    Salted codfish

### caper

    1. Criminal act or robbery
    2. Drunken spree

### capital

    Splendid, excellent

### captain of industry

    A wholesale human wolf, who buries his bones in profitable investments

### card

    A character; "he's a card"

### carpet-bagger

    A non-resident politician

### carry a torch

    Developing strong emotions for someone, yet enduring unrequited love

### case

    Queer or eccentric character

### case dough

    Using one's last remaining funds

### cash

    Kiss

### cash or check

    Do we kiss now or later?

### cash in

    Settle one's accounts

### cash in one's chips

    To die

### 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

### cat's whiskers, cat's pajamas, cat's meaow, elephant's fallen arches, snake's hips

    Something excellent

### catspaw

    A tool or dupe

### catch

    An eligible unmarried man or girl

### catch-word,

    A popular phrase used to get votes

### cater-cornered

    Placed corner-wise or diagonally

### caveman

    Modern forcible wooer

### 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

### chained lightning

    White mule; southern mountain whiskey

### chair, the

    The electric chair, for electrocution or a permanent wave

### change

    Loose money

### character

    A person of striking peculiarities

### charlie

    Man with a mustache

### chassis

    Female body

### chaw up

    To demolish utterly, smash

### cheaters

    Main article: Reading Glasses
    Eyeglasses

### check

    Kiss me later

### check your hat

    Call me later

### cherry smashes

    Weak kisses

### cheek

    Barefaced impudence

### cheese it

    Beat it

### cherry smashes

    Weak kisses

### chestnut

    An old joke; the ark was cargoed with them

### 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

### chicken

    A broiler, flapper, young girl

### 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

### chip in

    To contribute money to

### chippy

    Woman of easy virtue

### chisel

    Swindle or cheat

### chiv

    knife; stabbing or cutting weapon

### chocolate drop

    A negro

### choice bit of calico

    Desirable female

### chop-suey

    Blah, applesauce, nonsense

### 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

### chorine

    A chorus girl

### chump

    1. A blockhead
    2. Person marked for a con or a gullible person

### ciggy

    Main article: Cigarette
    Cigarette

### cinemagoer

    Frequently attends motion pictures (1920)

### clam

    1. Money i.e. One Dollar bills; see ace
    2. A dumb or taciturn person

### clammed

    Close-mouthed e.g. he really clammed up!

### claptrap

    Cheap unworthy trick to get applause

### claret

    In pugilistic slang, blood

### class, classy

    Ritzy, elegant, swell, fashionable

### claw-hammer coat

    Evening dress coat

### clay-eater, dirt-eater

    Poor whites who eat clay

### clean, to get

    To escape entirely

### 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

### clodhopper

    A country jake, hick, jay, rube, etc

### close

    Stingy

### close your head

    Shut up

### clothesline

    Person who tells neighborhood stories

### clout

    Shoplifter

### cloven foot, to show the

    To betray satanic character

### clover, to be in

    To be well off

### 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

### cocked hat, to knock into

    To knock out of shape

### cocky

    Saucy, impertinent

### coco, koko

    Head, supposititious site of brains

### codfish aristocracy

    Vulgar new-rich; fish baron

### co-ed

    Girl or woman at a college for both sexes

### coffin varnish

    Bootleg liquor, often poisonous

### coin

    Money; loot

### coin money

    To prosper in business

### coke

    Main article: Cocaine
    cocaine; cocaine addict

### cokehead

    Main article: Cocaine dependence
    Someone who engages in frequent and uncontrollable cocaine consumption

### cold

    Distant, frigid, unenthusiastic

### cold deck

    Marked or stacked deck of cards

### cold shoulder

    Same as icy mitt; refusal of a lover

### cold water, to throw on

    To discourage

### collar, hot under the

    To be angry

### 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

### come-uppance, to get one's

    To get one's deserts

### 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

### confidence game; con-game

    A trick for extorting money from the unwary. hence, con-man, etc.

### conk

    Head

### cooler

    solitary confinement cell in a prison

### coon

    In a bad predicament; negro, hence, gone coon

### cootie

    Louse. hence, cuddle-cootie; an affectionate person

### 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

### corked

    Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk

### corn

    Bourbon; corn liquor; rum

### corn shredder

    Bad dancer i.e. young man who dances on lady's feet

### corner the market, to

    To monopolize the supply

### corridor vamp

    Someone who ogles the opposite sex

### cotton, to

    To stick closely to

### couch-beetle

    Bedbug, amorous person

### country

    Hicksville; rustic

### court-plaster

    A wooer who sticks by you

### cow

    An awkward waddling woman

### cowpie

    Automobile; see also bucket crate heap jalopy

### cowpie warmup

    Car ride

### cowpuncher

    A cowboy, a he-man

### crab

    1. Grouch
    2. Figure out

### crabhanger

    Reformer

### crack a bottle

    Open a bottle of liquor

### crack up

    To praise highly

### crack, a wise

    A near-bright remark

### crack wise

    Make a sarcastic, flippant, or sardonic comment

### cracked

    Crazy

### cracker

    Poor white, as in Georgia

### crank

    A person with a mental twist

### crape hanger

    Zealous reformer

### craps

    Dice; African golf; Abyssinian polo; Congo croquet

### crap-shooter

    One who plays craps; ivory-roller

### crasher

    Main article: Gate crashing
    Person who attends a party uninvited

### crate

    Automobile; see also bucket cowpie heap jalopy

### crawl, to

    To wriggle out of a difficulty obsequiously

### creeps

    Goose-flesh, cold shivers

### croak

    To die; to be Killed; murdered

### croaker

    Doctor

### crook

    A criminal, dishonest person hence, to crook

### crow

    To exult in triumph

### crush

    Main article: Infatuation
    Have romantic interest; Infatuation

### crushed out

    Escaped i.e. from jail:Prison break

### cub

    A young reporter

### cuckoo

    Crazy

### cuddle-cootie

    Young man who takes a girl for a ride usually on a bus

### cuddler

    One who likes to make out

### cups, in his

    Drunk; spifflicated; stewed, pickled

### cur

    A contemptible man

### curb, on the

    Out in the street; said of curbstone brokers, dealing in small securities

### cuss

    A perverse or obstinate fellow; used affectionately also

### cussedness, general

    General mischievousness

### custard pie comedies

    Comedies in which the chief trick is throwing custard pies

### cut dead

    To snub socially

### cut down

    Strike down; kill; incapacitate

### cutie

    A doll, peach, attractive girl

### cutie-pie

    Typically a young woman who is charming or attractive; also Cutesie pie

### cutting yourself a piece of cake

    Making yourself wait patiently

### cuttroat

    A dealer in coal, landlord, etc.
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## D
### d.t.'s

    1. Delirium tremens
    2. A middle-aged man attentive to a gold-digger

### daddy

    Young woman's wealthy boyfriend or lover (sugar daddy)

### daddy-o

    Term of address usually directed towards older males

### daisy

    1. A person or thing that is charming
    2. None too masculine

### dame

    Female. did not gain widespread use until the 1930's

### damper

    One or that which depresses

### 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

### dark horse

    A candidate unmentioned before election

### darkey

    Negro, especially the old-fashioned type

### 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

### day, call it a

    Let's quit work

### daylight, letting through one

    Shooting a person

### dead ringer for

    Exact image of

### dead soldier

    Empty beer bottle

### dead to the world

    Unconscious; dead drunk

### deadbeat

    A sponge, parasite, one who lives on others

### deadhead

    A deadbeat, especially a theatrical one; one who has not paid for his ticket; empty 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

### demi-monde

    A woman of questionable reputation

### demirep

    A woman of doubtful chastity

### derrick

    Shoplifter

### deuce

    The devil

### devil

    A printer's assistant; a gay fellow

### dewdropper

    Young man who sleeps all day and doesn't have a job

### diamond, rough

    An unclaimed daddy; a rich man who eats peas with his knife

### dib

    Share of the proceeds

### dick

    Main article: Detective
    1. Private investigator coined around 1900, the term finds major recognition in the 20's
    2. A policeman, detective

### dickens, the

    The devil

### diff

    Difference "what's the diff"

### dig in

    To work hard

### dig out

    To leave suddenly

### diggings

    A mine; a house

### 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

### dippy

    Unnoodled; bughouse; crazy

### dirty linen

    Family or political disgraces

### dish

    1. Pretty woman
    2. Provide information to talk

### dished

    To be cheated out of

### ditzek

    Anything funny

### dive

    1. A disreputable resort
    2. 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

    To swindle

### do the dance

    To be hanged

### do time

    Serve in prison

### dodo

    Fossil; antiquated specimen

### dog

    Fellow

### dog kennels

    Pair of shoes

### dog jock

    Man who walks his wife's dogs

### doggy

    Ritzy, swell, stylish

### dogs

    Feet, shoes

### doll

    Baby, chicken, peach, attractive woman

### dolled up

    Dressed up; dressed fit to kill

### 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

### doo-dad

    Thing-um-a-bob; what-dye-call-it

### dope

    A narcotic; hence dope-fiend, dope-joint, the real facts

### 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
    1. Cheat, stab in the back
    2. To judas; to betray

### dough

    Money

### dough

    Money

### doughboy

    American soldier in the world war

### doughnut

    Money all around, nothing in the middle; a rich fool

### down and out

    Utterly broke

### drag a sock

    Walk or dance

### draw

    To pull out one's pistol

### dress up

    To play up or ornament a story

### 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

### dub

    A mutt, a dud, a flat tire, a poor fish

### ducat

    Ticket

### duck lame

    A congressman failing reelection and still serving his unexpired term

### duck soup

    Easy Ticket

### ducky

    Very good

### dud

    1. An unexploded shell; a failure; a pepless person
    2. Wall flower or dress up

### dud up

    Dress up

### dude

    One who follows "what men are wearing" in the theater programs

### dude-wrangler

    An easterner cowpunching or ranching; a tenderfoot

### duds

    Belongings; especially, cloths when worn

### dumb

    Stupid

### 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

    1. A house; affectionately, as "a swell dump"
    2. Roadhouse, club; more generally, any place

### dump, to

    To get rid of

### dust

    Money

### dust out

    Leave, depart

### dutch treat

    Each pays for his own
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## E
### ear muffs

    Radio receivers

### earful

    Enough

### easy mark

    Swindle food; one easily tricked

### easy virtue

    One to whom virtue comes hard

### 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. A man, hence, bad egg, hard-boiled egg

### egg harbor

    Fall dance

### eggs in the coffee

    Easy

### elbows

    Cops

### electric cure

    Electrocution

### elegant

    Dainty, fastidious

### elephant ears

    Police officer or detective

### elevated

    Slightly drunk

### embalmed

    Intoxicated; see § drunk

### embalmer

    Bootlegger

### ethel

    Effeminate man; male homosexual

### evil

    Anything pleasant

### ex

    Out of a job; as, ex-president, ex-bartender

### eye, black

    A mark to one's discredit

### eye, my!

    Expletive of surprise

### eye opener

    Marriage
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## F
### face, close your

    Close your mouth

### face stretcher

    Older woman trying to look younger

### fade

    Go away, get lost

### fag

    Main article: Cigarette
    Cigarette

### fagot

    Main article: Faggot
    1. A chorus man; an effeminate man
    2. Sometime around 1920, the term meant a homosexual

### fairy

    An effeminate man

### fake

    Anything prepared for deceiving

### fakeloo artist

    Con man

### faker

    A street merchant, as of cheap jewelry; a college economist or sociologist; a statesman or patriot, preacher or doctor; a man

### fall for

    To be gullible; to fall in love

### fall guy

    Main article: Fall guy
    1. Victim of a frame
    2. One who tries to sell gold bricks ; one who takes the blame, while his accomplices escape

### fan

    An enthusiast over some sport; from fanatic; to club (police term)

### fancy man

    A women's preferred lover

### fathead

    Nincompoop; dumb bell

### father of Waters

    The Mississippi

### father time

    Any man over 30

### favorite son

    Politicians popular at home, but a zero elsewhere

### feathers

    Small talk

### fed up

    Surfeited

### feed the fishes

    To be seasick; to be drowned

### feed the press

    To rush copy to press

### feeler

    An experimental suggestion; fingers or hand

### feet

    Clumsy dancer

### fella

    Man, Guy, Fellow e.g. That john sure is a swell fella ; see also bo buster mac pal

### fence

    A receiver of stolen goods

### fence, on the

    Undetermined

### fetching

    Pleasing

### few, a

    A good many

### few drinks, a

    Common euphemism for drinking an unspecified amount of alcohol usually in the context of attending a Speakeasy

### fiddle-de-dee

    Nonsense, applesauce, a case of tut-tut

### fiddlesticks

    Nonsense, how absurd!

### fifty-fifty

    Half and half

### fig leaf

    One piece bathing suit

### fight

    A party; as, a tea-fight. hence, hen fight, woman's party

### filches

    Steal or pilfer someone's possession, especially if it's something small

### filibuster

    A strategic move in congress, to delay a bill or prevent passage

### 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
    3. One who sticks to the last dance

### findings

    Accessories; needles, pins, etc. in dressmaking

### 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

### fish, poor

    Pepless creature

### fish-story

    A lie; a cherry-tree tale

### fix

    A mess

### fizzle

    A failure

### flabbergast

    To astound or stagger

### flame

    One's beloved

### 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

### flapdoodle

    Twaddle; nonsense

### 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
    2. God's masterpiece, or nature's; the modern bobbed-haired heart-bandit

### flat

    Broke

### flatfoot

    Policeman esp officer who walks a beat

### flat shoe

    Dispute between flapper and her goof

### flat tire

    1. Dull insipid, disappointing date; see Drag, Oilcan, Pickle, Pill, Rag
    2. A dud; a vim less person

### flattie

    Flatfoot, cop

### flatwheeler

    Young man who takes a young lady to an egg harbor

### flier

    A small investment, in stocks, as a gamble

### flimflam

    Main article: Scam
    To cheat or swindle, as by trickery

### fling

    A sneer

### flip a coin

    Toss a coin to decide a matter

### flippers

    Hands

### flirt with death or the undertaker

    Run a big risk

### flivver

    1. Ford model T
    2. After 1928, could mean broken down car
    3. A ford, tin lizard, tin lizzie, etc.

### floater

    1. Person making trouble and then disappears
    2. A fraudulent voter

### flogger

    Overcoat

### flooey, to go

    To flop, be spoiled

### 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
    9. A failure

### flophouse

    Main article: Flophouse
    Cheap transient hotel used by people down on their luck

### flossy

    Ritzy, swell, classy, elegant

### flour lover

    Girl with too much face powder

### flu

    The influenza or grippe

### fluke

    An accidental lucky stroke

### fluky

    Odd; Different

### flumadiddle

    Humbug; flummery; nonsense

### flunk

    To fail

### flunkey

    A servant in livery

### flush

    Affluent; well monied; sugar-coated

### fluzie

    A daughter of joy, a prostitute

### fly boy

    Main article: Airman
    Glamorous term for an aviator

### fly-by-night

    A shady enterprise or person

### fly-up-the-creek

    A capricious person

### fodder

    Food

### fog

    Attack; Assault; Shoot

### fogy

    Old-fashioned eccentric

### foot juice

    Cheap red wine

### foozle

    A poorly played stroke

### for a row of

    Distance

### for crying out loud

    Another way of saying – are you for real?

### forty, all Like everything

    Like everything

### forty-niner

    Man who is prospecting for a rich wife

### fossil

    A dodo, mossback, antiquated person

### four flusher

    Main article: Four flush
    1. Person who feigns wealth while mooching off others
    2. A bluff; one who bets on four cards instead of five of a suit

### fox

    To fool, cheat, play a joke on

### foxy

    Cunning

### frail

    Woman

### frame

    Giving false evidence to set up someone

### frau

    Main article: German honorifics
    Wife

### free lance

    A writer writing without advance assignment

### free-for-all

    A general fight; a battle royal

### freebie

    This offer can be used for a free sample or promotion; Also spelled freebie, freeby, freebee freebye

### freeze on to

    Take a tight hold of

### freeze out

    To compel to retire or withdraw

### french leave

    Omitted or informal leave-taking

### fresh

    Presumptuous; bold; cheeky

### freshman

    A first year man in college

### fried

    Alternate names for intoxicated e.g. fried to the hat; see § drunk

### frills

    Fancy accompaniments

### frisk

    To search a person by going through his pockets

### fritz, on the

    No good

### frog's eyebrows

    Nice; fine; outstanding

### fry

    Main article: Electric chair
    To be electrocuted

### fry, small

    Persons of no importance

### frump

    A sour old maid; a prim old lady

### fuddled

    Muddled; intoxicated

### fudge

    Nonsense; to cheat (marbles); a kind of candy

### full

    Drunk

### full of prunes

    "you're crazy; you're wrong

### funk

    Fear; panic

### fuss

    To confuse; also, to escort a girl

### futz

    Euphemism for f*%k e.g. Don't futz around

### fuzz

    Main article: List of police-related slang terms
    Police officers(1930s)
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## G
### g man

    Government man; FBI employee

### gabby

    A simpleton

### gad, gadabout

    One always visiting

### gag

    A joke, hoax; an interpolated line in a play

### gal

    Woman assistant, secretary; female factotum

### gall

    Confidence, audacity, assurance

### gall-nipper

    A large mosquito

### gallivant

    To play the gallant to the opposite sex

### gallows-bird

    An abandoned criminal

### gallowses, galluses

    Suspenders

### galoot

    An awkward person

### game

    A trick a deceitful method

### game, to be

    To be a good sport, willing to take a chance hence, die game

### 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

### gang

    A group of persons for any purpose

### gangster

    Member of a criminal gang

### garret

    The head. garrets, empty at first, are used to store worthless trifles of nonsense

### gas

    Vain or boastful talk

### gas-house district

    District in city unsuitable for living; abode of gangsters

### 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

### gawk

    A simpleton of either sex

### gay

    1. Happy or lively Happy, joyful, and lively
    2. No connection to homosexuality in 1920

### gay woman, a

    One happy; one unchaste

### geezer, old

    Antique bozo; a dodo; an old dud

### gentle sex

    Satirically applied to women

### get-hot!

    Encouragement for a hot dancer

### 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

    An escape

### getaway sticks

    Women's Legs; see gams

### get it

    Killed; Murdered

### get-up

    Outfit

### gibble-gabble, mulligatawny

    Foolish talk

### giddy

    Wanton, flighty

### giggle water

    Main article: Alcohol
    Intoxicating beverage; alcohol; also Giggle Juice

### gigolo

    Hired escort or dancing partner for a woman

### gills, pickled to the

    Soused; drunk

### gilt-edged

    Of the highest grade; as, gilt-edged Nordic Rotarian virginity

### gimcrack

    A showy, useless trifle

### 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

    1. Man or fellow
    2. A person

### girlie

    A shemale, a girl

### give 'em the gate

    Bounce, reject

### give the air

    Break a date

### give the knee

    Dance cheek-to-cheek and Toe-to-Toe

### gizzard

    Guts; pluck; one's insides

### 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 fourth

    Independence day, July 4, 1776; still fourth - try and see how independent

### 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)

### go getter

    A hustler for business

### go to it

    Go ahead

### go to the bad

    Become evil

### go to the wall

    Fail, as in business

### go, a pretty, a rum go, etc

    A turn of affairs

### go, on the

    Continually going to parties

### goat, get one's

    To fuss or disconcert one

### goat, to ride the

    To be initiated into a secret order

### gob

    Sailor in the united states navy

### go-by, give the

    Reject

### god

    One who sits in the top gallery of a theater; a deity

### god's footstool

    The earth (but see contrary opinion "protest by Florida chambers of commerce"

### gold digger

    A jewel coaxer; a vamp; a girl or woman who accepts a man's attention for the sake of his gifts

### goner

    Past recovery; utterly doomed

### gonof, gonoph

    Pickpocket; expert thief

### good night!

    You don’t say so! an expletive

### 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
    3. The thing bargained for; a fine thing, or person

### goof

    1. Bumbling, stupid person
    2. Flapper's boyfriend

### goofus

    Dumbbell; silly person

### goofy

    1. Crazy, Silly, foolish
    2. In love

### goog

    Black eye inflicted by a blow to the head

### goon

    strong imitating man; compensated troublemaker

### goose-egg

    The figure 0, naught

### gooseberry lay

    Stealing clothes from a clothesline

### gospel

    Anything received as true

### gouge

    To extort excessive profits in industry

### gowed-up

    High on dope

### goy

    One not a jew

### grab-game

    Rapacious procedure in politics,

### grab a flop

    Sit down on a seat

### grab some air

    Put your hands up

### graft

    1. Obtaining money through dishonest means, especially bribery
    2. Illegal profit through political pull. hence, grafter

### grand

    One thousand dollars; $1000

### grass-widow

    Woman divorced or abandoned by her husband

### greaser

    A Mexican

### great unwashed

    The rabble

### green apples

    Homely woman

### green glorious

    Money and checks

### green, long

    Money, greenbacks

### green-goods

    Counterfeit money. hence greengoods-man

### greenhorn

    An inexperienced person

### greenland

    A park

### grift

    Confidence game or swindle; also grifter i.e. Con man

### grill(ed)

    1. Interrogation; intense and prolonged questioning
    2. To cross-examine

### grindhouse(s)

    Main article: Grindhouse
    1. 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
    2. "According to historian David Church, this theater type was named after the "grind policy", a film-programming strategy dating back to the early 1920s that continuously showed films at cut-rate ticket prices that typically rose over the course of each day."

### gringo

    A foreigner; one who cannot speak Spanish

### grubstake

    1. To supply with food and necessities, in return for a share of profits; such supplies
    2. Invitation to dinner

### grubber

    One who borrows cigarettes

### grummy

    Depressed

### grundy, mrs

    Middle-class propriety

### grungy

    Envious

### gum

    Opium

### gumshoe

    Detective or private investigator; also gumshoeing i.e. pertaining to an 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

### gunman

    Hired assassin; soldier

### gush

    Extravagant talk or display of affection

### gussie

    Shy person

### guts

    Pluck

### guy

    A gender-neutral way to address any individual (1910)
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## H
### hack

    1. Taxicab
    2. One to be had for hire; as, a hack-writer

### 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-baked

    Simple minded

### half-cocked

    To go off hastily

### half cut

    Happily intoxicated

### half seas over

    Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk

### half under

    Alternate names for intoxicated; see § drunk

### ham actor

    A poor actor

### hand, give 'em a

    Give them applause

### handcuff

    Engagement ring or wedding band

### handle

    Title, name

### hank

    Handkerchief

### happy

    Drunk and merry

### happy-dust

    Cocaine

### hard

    Tough; see also bimbo hard-boiled Bruno

### hard-boiled

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

### hard up

    Broke, impoverished

### harlem sunset

    Fatal injury caused by knife (1930s)

### harp

    Irishman

### has-been

    One whose best days are over

### hash-house

    1. Cheap boarding house
    2. Cheap restaurant

### hash-slinger

    Waitress in a hash house

### hatchet man

    Killers, gunmen

### 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"

### hay, hit the

    Go to sleep

### 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

### hayseed

    Rustic, hick

### head over heels

    Entirely; as, in love

### head, swelled

    Conceited

### heart, have a

    Take pity; go easy

### heartwrenching

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

### heavens

    Formerly, god's residence; now "you don’t say so," an expletive

### 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

    1. A political follower; ward-heeler
    2. Poor dancer

### he-man

    Western, man with hair on chest

### hen

    A woman

### hen coup

    Beauty parlor

### hep

    1. Wise; up-to-date
    2. Jazz musician

### het up

    Excited, angry

### hick

    Countryman

### high flier, high roller, high stepper

    A sport; fast liver

### high hat

    1. Haughty, Snobbish, Unapproachable
    2. Up stage

### high horse, on the

    Supercilious

### high pillow

    Person at the top; Individual in charge; the boss

### highbrow

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

### highfalutin'

    High flown manner or speech

### highjack

    To rob from a thief or bootlegger

### highjohn

    Boyfriend

### highbinders

    Corrupt politician or functionary; highly pretentious, arrogant

### hike

    Walk

### hikers

    Knickerbockers

### hinges, off one's

    Crazy

### 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

    Intentionally exaggerated, overly emotional behavior designed to provoke a response

### hit

    A successful play; any success

### 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

### hobo

    Shiftless worker or tramp

### hock

    To pawn

### 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

### hoity-toity

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

### hokum

    1. An instance of excessively contrived, hackneyed, or sentimental material in a film
    2. Pretentious; nonsense; insane trash
    3. Bunk; trick of actor, politician or clergyman to get applause

### holaholy

    Person that objects to necking

### holy smokes

    Probation officer

### home, nobody

    Crazy

### home-brew

    Liquor, malt or otherwise, made at home

### hombre

    Man or fellow

### honest indian or injun

    In very truth

### honest squeeze

    Female companion or girlfriend;see squeeze

### honey

    Sweetheart, darling

### honor, a nation's

    Any alleged cause of war

### hooch

    Main article: Liquor
    Main article: hooch
    Alcoholic drink made by Alaskan Indians (Hoochinoo), but more commonly refers to illicitly distilled liquor

### hood

    Hoodlum

### hoodlum

    A rowdy, rough, larrikin, street loafer

### hooey

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

### hoof

    Walk

### hoof it

    Walk it, beat it, depart

### hoofer

    Dancer or chorus girl

### hook

    To swipe or steal

### hook, get the, or give him the

    Remove him; he's punk

### hooligan

    Tramp

### hoosegow

    Jail

### hootch

    Contraband alcoholic beverage, homebrew

### hop

    Main article: Swing DanceMain 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

    Morphine addict

### hope chest

    Pack of cigarettes

### hopped up

    Under the influence of drugs

### hopper

    Dancer

### horn in

    Get into a dance without an invitation

### horse, a

    A joke at one's expense

### horsefeathers

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

### hot

    Stolen; Recently stolen illegal goods

### hot as they make 'em

    Reckless, careless

### hot dawg

    Great!

### hot sketch

    Card or cut-up

### hotdog

    1. A sausage supposed to be half beef and half pork. also an expletive, like "oh boy!"
    2. Relishing something with much delight!

### hotsy-totsy, tootsie-wootsie

    1. A girl all to the mustard, all ok
    2. Fancy or sophisticated

### hound, ( as in booze-hound, smut-hound, etc,)

    One fond of a thing

### house dick

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

### houdini

    Arrive on time for a date

### house, disorderly

    A prostitution house, especially an orderly one

### house of call

    Bawdy house with women living outside

### house of representatives

    Lower house of congress, supposed to represent those they represent

### house peeper

    House or hotel detective

### hub, the

    Boston

### huff, to take

    To take offense

### hugger-mugger

    Secret, sly, underhand

### hum, make things

    To do with energy

### humbug

    To impose upon; a fake, cheat, sham

### hump, to have the

    To be despondent

### hunky

    A laborer (from Hungarian)

### hunkydory

    Satisfactory, all right

### hush-money

    1. A bribe to prevent disclosure of some disgrace
    2. Allowance from father

### hustle

    To be quick

### hustler

    A go-getter

### hype

    Shortchange artist
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## I
### i.o.u.

    Acknowledgement of a debt

### 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!"

### ice, on

    In reserve

### icy mitt

    When you have one-sided feelings for someone or when one is given the cold shoulder in a romantic relationships

### idler(s)

    A person who wastes time doing nothing; lazy person; sluggard

### illuminated

    Lit, drunk

### in for it

    Committed to a course

### in with

    Friendly with

### indian file

    Single file

### indian giver

    One who takes back a gift

### indian hay

    Marijuana

### in stir

    In jail

### ing-bing

    As in to throw a fit

### ins and outs

    Details or ramifications

### ins, the

    The party in power

### inside track

    Point or place of vantage, "a short cut to success"

### inspired

    Editorial tone or policy, from a source outside the paper's own ship or management

### insured

    Engaged

### irish confetti

    Bricks

### irish goodbye(s)

    Main article: Irish goodbye
    Ethnophobic term used for someone who leaves a social gathering without saying goodbye; also Irish exit

### irish up, to get one's

    To lose one's temper

### iron

    1. Motorcycle, among motorcycle enthusiasts 1920s
    2. Older automobile
    3. Handcuffs
    4. Carry iron i.e. armed

### iron men

    Dollars, money

### iron your shoelaces

    Go to the restroom e.g. It's time for me to iron my shoelaces

### ish kabibble, ish ka bibble

    1. Retort e.g. I should care from the name of the musician in the Kay Kyser Orchestra
    2. "I should worry," "I should be embarrassed

### it

    Sex appeal; Actress Clara Bow was the "It" girl

### it's the bunk

    I doubt that!

### ivories

    The teeth; dice; piano keys;· billiard balls

### izzum-wizzum

    Hotsy-totsy; red-hot sweetie
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## J
### jabber

    Chatter, unintelligible speech

### jack

    Money; a sailor

### jackass

    Stupid person, blunderhead; a democrat

### jack-leg lawyer

    A pettifogging lawyer; shyster

### jackpot

    A corruption fund

### jag

    State of intoxication, a load of drink

### jagamaree

    Something for which there is no other name, or whose name is momentarily forgotten; a thingumabob, thingumajig, what dye-call-it, jiggambob, digallium, whoozis

### jailbird

    One confined in jail; a criminal

### jake

    Great, e.g. Everything's jake; see Copacetic

### jakes

    A comfort station, privy

### jalopy

    Main article: Decrepit car
    Dumpy old car; see also bucket cowpie crate heap

### jam

    Trouble; Tight spot

### jamboree

    Spree, carousal, frolic

### jane

    Female; a dame; woman, girl

### jasper

    Man; hick

### jawbreaker

    A word hard to pronounce

### jay

    A countryman, boob, greenhorn, rustic, bumpkin, yap, rube, Reuben, hick, gopher prairie dog

### jay bird

    Person who takes risks

### jay-town

    A country town inhabited by jays

### jay-walking

    Cutting corners; crossing streets cater-cornered or midway of the block

### java

    Coffee

### jaw

    Talk

### jazz

    Modern ragtime music; pep

### jazz-baby

    A cuddly cutie strong for a jazz life

### jazz-hound

    A male jazz-baby

### jazzman

    Main article: Jazz
    Performer of jazz

### jeepers creepers

    1. Polite expletive for Jesus Christ
    2. Exclamation!

### jericho, ( to send one to)

    Hell or Hoboken

### jerkwater

    Very rustic; as, jerkwater town

### jezebel

    Painted harlot. in rotary, Baptist, and methodist eyes, a woman who ( 1) dances, (2) smokes, or (3) goes to the theater

### jezebel

    Painted harlot. in rotary, Baptist, and methodist eyes, a woman who ( 1) dances, (2) smokes, or (3) goes to the theater

### jiff, jiffy

    An instant of time

### jigaboo

    Derogatory term for African-American (1920s)

### jigger, not worth a

    Worthless

### jigger, old

    Lively old codger, able to jig

### jiggered, well I'll be

    Exclamation of astonishment

### jim jams

    Peculiarities; delirium tremens

### jim-crow car

    Street car or railway car where whites are segregated from negroes. hence, Jim-crow caws, hotels, etc

### jim-dandy

    Fine as silk; very good

### jimmy or jemmy

    A burglar's implement, similar to a crowbar

### jingle-brained

    1. Addled or intoxicated (1910)
    2. Not that bright, muddled

### jingo

    A sanguinary war-promoter; address in wartime; as far behind the trenches as possible

### 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"
    3. A small coin, a nickel. hence, jitney bus, Jit.

### jizzie

    An unattractive or antique dame

### job, to

    To swindle

### jobbery

    Political graft or swindling

### jobbie

    Man or woman

### jockey

    To maneuver for favorable position

### joe

    Coffee, e.g. A cup of Joe

### joe brooks

    Perfectly dressed person

### john

    1. Prostitute's client
    2. Toilet or restroom

### john bull

    A red-nosed gentleman farmer, personifying England

### 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
    3. A meeting place; a naughty resort

### joker

    An innocent-looking clause slipped into a law to defeat its purpose, or permit an outside trick

### jolly, to

    To spoof, make fun of

### jonah

    One who brings bad luck

### jorum of skee

    Drink of hard liquor usually scotch whiskey; see skee

### josh to

    To spoof, jolly, cajole, tease, banter

### joy-ride

    A wild auto party, often in a stolen car

### jug

    Jail

### jugful, not by a

    Not by a good deal

### juice

    Money from bribery, corruption, or loan sharking

### juice joint

    Main article: Speakeasy
    Establishment for serving illegal liquor during prohibition

### jump a claim

    To take land illegally

### jump at

    To grasp eagerly at

### 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)

### junket

    A picnic, feast, excursion-on; a political tour of inspection at public expense. see wine, women and song.

### jury-fixer

    One who bribes jurymen, openly or subtly

### justice

    Slang for what is obtained in legal courts
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## K
### kale

    Money

### keep it dark

    Hold it secret

### keep one's eye peeled

    Watch out

### kettle of fish, a nice

    Ironic for an annoying situation

### keen

    Something or someone attractive or appealing

### kibitzer

    Bystander at a game, bystanding critic

### kibosh, on the

    On the blink or fritz; spoiled

### kick

    Pleasure, enjoyment, thrill, alcoholic content

### kick in

    Contribute your share; pay up

### kick off

    Die

### kick the bucket, kick out

    To die

### kicker

    One who kicks, protests, rebels

### kicking the stem

    smoking opium

### kid, to

    To joke or deceive

### kiddo

    A casual way for a man to address a woman he knows

### kiddy

    A child

### kill, dresserl to

    Dressed bewitchingly

### killing

    Overwhelming, bewitching; an overwhelming profit

### 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

### kind of, kind a, kinder

    Rather, somewhat

### kink

    King

### kippy

    Neat or Nice

### kiss

    1. Land a blow or punch
    2. Drink from a bottle

### kiss the dust

    Be overthrown

### kisser

    Mouth

### kitten

    Woman

### kitty

    Pot or pool, in cards, to which all contribute

### kiyoodle

    Dog

### knee high to a grasshopper

    Low in height

### kneeduster

    Skirt

### knife

    To attack in politics secretly

### knock

    1. To talk against a thing
    2. Prison sentence

### knock off

    1. Stolen
    2. Killed, murdered
    3. Beaten, defeated
    4. To quit work; kill

### knock out, k.o.

    To win by knocking pugilistic opponent unconscious; a complete success in anything

### knock the spots off of

    To excel

### knock the stuffing out of

    To put out of commission, beat up

### knock up

    Make a woman pregnant; impregnate

### knock up against

    Meet accidentally

### knockabout

    Fit for rough wear, as a knock about suit. a slapstick comedian. a roustabout, man of all work

### knocker

    Habitual faultfinder

### knockover

    1. Murder, kill
    2. Rob or steal with violence
    3. Arrest especially after a raid
    4. Intentionally get someone in trouble

### know, in the

    To be hep, to understand

### know; the ropes, to

    To be acquainted with the workings

### 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

### knuckle down to

    To apply oneself to energetically

### knuckle uncler

    To submit

### kosher

    Permitted by or fulfilling the requirements of mosaic law; said usually of food, opposed to "tref"

### kowtow, kotow

    Make obeisance to

### kudos

    Glory, honor, renown, publicity; opposed to the cash
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## L
### 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
### 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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## N
### 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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## O
### 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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## P
### 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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## Q
### 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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## S
### 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
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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)
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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
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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
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