Let’s turn back in time and slip into the Jazz Age of the 1920s, relive the era by getting zozzled on some jag juice – it will be the bee’s knees! Don’t have a clue about what we’re saying? This Penlighten article is a comprehensive compilation of the most popular 1920s’ slang.
Bootleg
(noun)
alcoholic liquor unlawfully made, sold, or transported, without registration or payment of taxes.
Origin
American English slang, from the trick of concealing something (originally a flask of liquor) down the leg of a high boot.
Not for nothing were they called the Roaring Twenties, as is evident from the cool slang the people used back then. We’ve listed some of the very best twenties slang in this Penlighten article―it’s a little amusing to read, but it can get offensive in no time. But then, such was the Jazz Era, and the societal norms bore heavily into the mannerisms and vernacular of the time. So, just sit back and enjoy.
List of American Slang Words and Phrases
A – D
| Ankle | To walk |
| Apple sauce | Flattery/nonsense |
| Ameche | A phone |
| Air Tight | Desirable/attractive |
| Baby | A person (endearment) |
| Beef | Problem/Complaint |
| Bee’s Knees | Extraordinary thing/person |
| Big Cheese | Someone important/the boss |
| Bug-eyed Betty | An unattractive woman |
| Cat’s Meow | The best/finest |
| Chicago lightning | Gunfire |
| Chicago overcoat | Coffin |
| Clubhouse | Police station |
| Copper | Policeman |
| Daisy | Effeminate |
| Dish | Pretty woman |
| Dope fiend | Drug addict |
| Dope peddler | Drug dealer |
| Dough | Money |
| Drill | Shoot |
| Droppers | Hired killers |
| Dump | Roadhouse/club |
| Drugstore Cowboy | A guy that hangs around on a street corner trying to pick up girls |
E – H
| Egg | Man living a wealthy lifestyle |
| Edge | A buzz/high |
| Fall Guy | Victim of a frame-up |
| Flat Tire | A disappointing date |
| Flivver |
A Ford model T
|
| Fry | To be electrocuted |
| Gams | A woman’s legs |
| Glad rags | Fancy clothes |
| Heebie-Jeebies | The jitters |
| Hard-boiled | A tough person |
| Handcuff | Engagement ring |
| Flapper | A stylish, brash young woman with short skirts and shorter hair |
I – L
| Indian hop | Marijuana |
| Iron | Motorbike |
| Jack | Money |
| Joe | Coffee |
| Joint | A club |
| Jalopy | Old car |
| Kisser | Mouth |
| Kitten | Woman |
| Knock off | Kill |
| Knee-Duster | A skirt |
| Lead | Bullets |
| Limey | British soldier |
| Looker | Pretty woman |
| Large | A thousand dollars |
M – Q
| Map | Face |
| Marbles | Pearls |
| Moll | A gangster’s girl |
| Mob | Gang |
| Neck | Kissing with passion |
| Nailed | Caught by the police |
| Nevada gas | Cyanide |
| Newshawk | Reporter |
| Op | Detective |
| Orchid | Something pricey |
| Palooka | Stupid man |
| Pinch | To arrest |
| Petting Party | Make-out party |
| Piker | Cheapskate/coward |
| Pooped | Killed |
| Pinko |
Liberal
|
R – T
| Ritzy | Elegant |
| Rap | Criminal charge |
| Reefers | Marijuana cigarettes |
| Real McCoy | A genuine item |
| Speakeasy | An illicit bar |
| Sheba/Sheik | Girlfriend/Boyfriend |
| Skirt | An attractive girl |
| Sap | A fool/idiot |
| Shylock | Loan shark |
| Spiffy | Elegant |
| Tea | Marijuana |
| Torpedo | Hitman |
| Tight | Attractive |
| Trouble boys | Gangsters |
U – Z
| Upchuck | To vomit |
| Upstage | Snobbish |
| Whoopee | To have a good time |
| Wet blanket | A boring person |
| Ya follow? | You understand? |
| Zozzled | drunk |
Prohibition’s Contribution to 1920s’ Slang
As the most coveted and covertly traded item of the twenties, alcohol had quite a few names. Some of these are straightforward, while others are downright funny. Take a look:
- Corn (Bourbon/Corn liquor)
- Hooch
- Giggle juice
- Tiger milk
- Belt
- Busthead (Homemade liquor)
- Coffin varnish (Bootleg liquor, often poisonous)
- Rotgut
- Strike-me-dead
- White lightning
- Giggle Water
- Panther piss/sweat
So this was just a peek into the lingo of the smooth talkers of the twenties. Mind you, most of these words can even make their way into our vocabulary, and still not sound dated. Way to go, Roaring Twenties!
