• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Penlighten

Penlighten

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Articles

English Slang Terms and Phrases of the 1920s

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.

Home / Uncategorized / English Slang Terms and Phrases of the 1920s
English Slang Terms and Phrases of the 1920s

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

boot·leg
(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
  • E – H
  • I – L
  • M – Q
  • R – T
  • U – Z

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

Top

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

Top

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

Top

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

Top

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

Top

U – Z

Upchuck To vomit
Upstage Snobbish
Whoopee To have a good time
Wet blanket A boring person
Ya follow? You understand?
Zozzled drunk

Top

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!

Like it? Share it!

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
« Previous Post
Next Post »

Category iconUncategorized

Get Updates Right to Your Inbox

Sign up to receive the latest and greatest articles from our site automatically each week (give or take)...right to your inbox.
Blog Updates

Further Insights

Who Are The Most Romantic Literary Figures of All Time?
Who Are The Most Romantic Literary Figures of All Time?
May 10, 2020
6 Critically Acclaimed Female Authors You Should Read Before You Die
6 Critically Acclaimed Female Authors You Should Read Before You Die
May 7, 2020
These Favorite Children's Book Quotes Will Take You Back In Time
These Favorite Children’s Book Quotes Will Take You Back In Time
May 2, 2020

Primary Sidebar

Search

Latest Articles

Good Non Fiction Books to Read Mountains

Good Non Fiction Books to Read: 5 Informative Classics to Add to your Shelf

Best Non Fiction Books for Men Reading

Best Non Fiction Books for Men: 5 Gift Choices for the Man in Your Life

Fiction Books to Read Bookshelves

Fiction Books to Read: 5 Conversation Starters to Add to your Shelves

Best Fantasy Fiction Books Shire

Best Fantasy Fiction Books: 5 Gems to Add to Your Shelf

Exploring the website?

Our site includes quite a bit of content, so if you're having an issue finding what you're looking for, go on ahead and use that search feature there!

Footer

We hope you are enjoying Penlighten! We provide informative and helpful articles about the newest fiction and nonfiction books on the market that you can come back to again and again when you have the urge for a new book to dig into.
  • Facebook
  • RSS

Copyright © Penlighten & Buzzle.com, Inc.
6789 Quail Hill Pkwy, Suite 211 Irvine CA 92603

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contact Us
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsAccept
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.