Mini-Dictionary of 1920’s Slang
New York City, 1922 - Where the women’s voices are full of money, and everyone’s calling for another drink.
1920's SLANG MINI-DICTIONARY
To the right is a selection of slang from the Roaring Twenties. Most of the words on this list come from an article published in a 1922 edition of Flapper Magazine called "A Flappers' Dictionary". The rest are collected from various other sources explaining slang fo the time period.
The slang and their meanings clearly demonstrate the trends of the time. Many of the words have some kind of association with wealth, alcohol, or partying, the quintessential elements of the Roaring Twenties. There are also many informal, though not quite overt, references to ideas of marriage and divorce, love, and sexuality, reflecting the casual dating and more lax morals of the younger generation.
*Airedale n 1. a homely man
No girl will take the poor man for a police dog, because he's really quite an Airedale. (see police dog)
Bank’s closed phrase 1. no kisses
Daisy, Mr. Gatsby, bank's closed! You forget there's a lady present.
Bee's Knees n 1. anything that's good
2. a wonderful, great person or thing
(also "cat's pajamas", "cat's particulars", "duck's quack", "frog's eyebrows", "goat's whiskers", "kitten's ankles", "monkey's eyebrows")
Origin: part of a fad in the 1920's of slang phrases referring to made up parts of animals. Phrases often rhymed or used alliteration and were used to say that something was great.
Gatsby's parties are the bee's knees!
This music is just the cat's pajamas!
Berries n 1. something attractive or pleasing
2. something great
I love that you're here Nick, this is just he berries.
Brooksy adj 1. classy dresser
Jay is quite brooksy, he has such beautiful shirts.
Bump off v 1. to murder, to kill
Did you hear? That Gatsby over in West Egg was bumped off by a madman car repairman.
Carry a torch v 1. to have a crush on someone
Gatsby still carries a torch for Daisy. Too bad she's a fire bell. (see fire bell)
Cash n 1. a kiss
Check n 1. a kiss later
Crasher n 1. anyone who comes to parties uninvited (see walk in)
At Gatsby’s elaborate parties, the crashers were welcomed in the hundreds.
Doll n 1. an attractive woman
Daisy wasn't just your typical doll, she was the darling of Chicago.
Don’t take any wooden nickels phrase 1. don’t do anything stupid
Dough n 1. money
He's a bootlegger, that's how he gets all that dough.
Edge n 1. intoxication
2. a buzz
Egg n 1. a person
2. a person who lives the big life
Do you know that egg Gatsby, who lives in West Egg? I wouldn’t trust him. He’s a bad egg.
Embalmer n 1. bootlegger
I've just found out about Gatsby's "drug stores" and let me just say, I knew he was an embalmer from the start.
Fire Alarm n 1. divorced woman
Fire Bell n 1. married woman
Fire Extinguisher n 1. a chaperone
Jordan's a nice girl, they oughtn't to let her run around without a fire extinguisher.
Flour-lover n 1. girl who powders too freely
That flour-lover got powder all over her daughter's hair.
Forty-Niner n. 1 a man who is prospecting for a rich wife
Origin: clearly a reference to the Gold Rush in 1849
Giggle water n 1. alcohol, an intoxicating beverage
Green Glorious n 1. money and checks
Gatsby is rich with the green glorious, it’s all part of his scheme to get Daisy back.
Hair of the dog n 1. a shot of alcohol
Handcuff n 1. engagement ring
Joint n 1. an establishment
2. a club, usually selling alcohol
Juice joint n 1. a speakeasy
This here's a nice joint, but I prefer the old Metropole.
Left holding the bag adj 1. to be cheated out of one’s fair share
2. to be blamed for something
Gatsby works in bootlegging with that Meyer Wolfsheim, the one's who left Walter Chase holding the bag over in New Jersey.
Neck v 1. to kiss with passion
Orchid n 1. anything that is expensive
“Gatsby indicated a gorgeous, scarcely human orchid of a woman... a hitherto ghostly celebrity of the movies,” (Fitzgerald 104).
Ossified adj 1. drunk
2. same as spifflicated, zozzled, canned, corked, tanked, plastered, embalmed etc.
Out on parole adj 1. divorced
Tom can't get out on parole because his wife's a Catholic and they don't believe in divorce.
Pet v 1. see neck
Pinch v 1. to arrest
*Police dog n 1. young man to whom one is engaged
Myrtle Wilson said "I'd like to get one of those police dogs" (Fitzgerald 27).
Sheba n 1. a woman with sex appeal
Origin: Developed from the 1921 silent movie The Queen of Sheba
Sheik n 1. a man with sex appeal
Origin: Developed from the 1921 silent movie The Sheik starring Rudolph Valentino, an attractive Arab who captures a European woman. Inspired the 1921 song "The Sheik of Araby".
"I'm the Sheik of Araby/Your love belongs to me/At night when you're asleep/Into your tent I'll creep--" (Fitzgerald 78)/
Show case n 1. rich man’s wife with jewels
Smooth adj 1. guy who does not keep his word
Stuck on v 1. to have a crush on
Static n 1. conversations that mean nothing
Swanky adj 1. ritzy (like the hotel), elegant
Tomato n 1. a young woman shy of brains
That’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little tomato.
Upchuck v 1. to vomit when one is drunk
Walk in n 1. young man who goes to a party without being invited (see crasher)
They may be able to party at Gatsby's any time they want, but here in East Egg we don't care for walk-ins.
Weasel n 1. girl stealer
What kind of a row are you trying to cause in my house anyhow, you weasel?
Whangdoodle n 1. jazz-band music
Every weekend the whangdoodle played loud all night long at Gatsby’s.
*See notes page