The 1920’s were the very first decade that influenced youth culture over the older generations. Many new words and phrases were introduced by the liberated women. There are many common words and phrases of the time, many of which we still are using to this day! The way people had talked in the twenties doesn’t differ so much from today. There’s no doubt that you use many of the same words that were used then. Even though the way of speaking the slang of the 1920’s differed from town to town and country to country, it was still spoken was style.
As with any era, the 1920’s had it’s own specific slang. ▪ And How - I strongly agree! ▪ Goofy - in love. ▪ Bee's Knees - An extraordinary person, thing, idea; the ultimate. ▪ Cat's Meow - Something splendid or stylish; similar to bee's knees; The best or greatest, wonderful. ▪ Butt me - I'll take a cigarette. ▪ Don't take any wooden nickels - Don't do anything stupid. ▪ Earful – enough. ▪ Big Cheese - The most important or influential person; boss. Same as big shot. ▪ Giggle Water - An intoxicating beverage; alcohol. ▪ You slay me - that's funny. ▪ Spifflicated - Drunk. The same as canned, corked, tanked, primed, scrooched, jazzed, zozzled, plastered, owled, embalmed, lit, potted, ossified or fried to the hat.
Bag - A person's particular interest. I'd like to play with your combo, dude, but your sound just ain't my "bag.". I'm Booted - I'm hip or I understand. It's cool, man, I know just what you mean, "I'm booted." Square - A somewhat outmoded term meaning unknowing which can be a noun or a verb. That cat is a real "square" Flip - A verb meaning to go crazy or a noun meaning an eccentric. That dude is really cooking, I think he's going to "flip." Dad, Daddy-o - A hipster's way of addressing another guy. Hey, "daddy-o", what's cookin'. Zoot - Used in the thirties and forties to describe exaggerated clothes, especially a zoot suit. Look at that cat's "zoot" suit. It's crazy, man. Popsicle Stick - A sax player's reed. I'm playing a great popsicle stick.
Smuggler of Alcoholic beverages: Rumrunner Bootleg liquor/alcohol: Booze, brew, giggle water, hooch, jake-leg, vino Moonshine: Home-made whiskey (sometimes made in outdoor stills by the light of the moon). Bathtub Gin: Alcohol mixed in bottles too tall to be filled from a sink tap and commonly filled under a bathtub tap. Saloon: Boozery Illegal Saloon: Speakeasy, gin mill, whoopee parlor. (The 'speakeasy' got its name because one had to whisper a code word or name through a slot in a locked door to gain admittance). Drunken bum: Rummy Drink liquor: Booze up Being drunk: Bent, blotto, crocked, fried, juiced, lushed, ossified, splifficated Rum dum: Constantly drunk