We’ve been discussing life in 1924. So, what were some of the fads and jargons of the day?
A girl or woman was called a broad, a bunny, a dame, a doll, a cat’s meow, and a cat’s whiskers. If a woman was promiscuous she may be referred to as a charity girl.
If you’ve seen Guys and Dolls, you may remember the term canary. This was a popular term for a woman that could sing.
The 1920s was the Jazz age. Some terms you may have heard regarding the Jazz age were jazzbo, jazz babies, jelly bean, Joe Yale, Joe Zilch and the real McCoy.
Here’s a few more terms you may enjoy:
o All wet – describes an erroneous idea or individual, as in, “he’s all wet.”
o Attaboy – well done!; also Attagirl!
o Balled Up – confused, messed up
o Bank’s Closed – no kissing or making out – i.e. – “Sorry, Mac, the bank’s closed.”
o Barrel House – illegal alcohol distillation plant
o Bearcat – a hot-blooded or fiery girl
o Bimbo – a tough guy
o Bird – general term for a man or woman, sometimes meaning strange or odd
o Cake-eater – a ladies’ man
o Canned – drunk, ossified, bent
o Caper – a criminal act or robbery
o Dapper – a Flapper’s dad
o Drag – college dance
o Dry – person who is against drinking and for Prohibition
o Fire extinguisher – a chaperone
o Gay – happy
o Giggle water – an intoxicating beverage; alcohol
o Hurdy-gurdy – a hand organ often played in the streets
o It – sex appeal
o Iron – a motorcycle
o Jack – money
o Milquetoast – timid, mild person
o Mind your own potatoes- mind your own business
o Pinch – To arrest
o Pinko – liberal
o Pip – extraordinary person or thing, sometimes used sarcastically
o Razz- to make fun of or take the piss out of, heckle
o Sap – a fool
o Snuggle pup – teenager term for a sweetheart who likes to cuddle
o Spoon – to neck, or at least talk of love
o Stuck On – infatuated, in love with
o Tomato – a female
o Toot, on a – drinking spree
o Wet Blanket – a solemn person, a killjoy
o Wife – affectionate term to describe college dorm roommate
o Wooden nickels, don’t take any – a fad expression of 1920, that meant “don’t do anything stupid – take care of yourself.”
Leave a response: Which of these terms is your favorite?
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