Slang from the 1920's

Absolutely, Positively, Posi-lootly: Exclamations meaning yes, of course, you bet; used by flappers and usually said slowly to accentuate each syllable

Banana oil: Same as bunk

Beaut: A cute flapper

Bee's Knees - An extraordinary person, thing, idea; the ultimate.

Big Cheese - The most important or influential person; boss. Same as big shot.

Blind Date - going out with someone you do not know

Bump Off - To murder, To kill.

Bunk (or) baloney: Exclamations meaning it's not true.

Cake-Eater - An effete ladies' man, or someone who attends tea parties.

Carry a Torch - To have a crush on someone.

Cat's Meow, Cat's Pajamas: "He's the cat's meow;" means "he's cute," "she's cute (or wonderful)," etc. Could also refer to things.

Cheaters - Eyeglasses.

Copacetic: An exclamation meaning great, excellent, cool, I understand, I dig that, etc.

Dogs - feet.

Drugstore Cowboy - a guy that hangs around on a street corner trying to pick up girls

Dumb Dora, dumb bell: Stupid girl; airhead

Fall Guy - Victim of a frame.

Flapper - A stylish, brash, hedonistic young woman with short skirts and shorter hair.

Flat Tire - A dull witted, insipid, disappointing date. Same as pill, pickle, drag, rag, oil can.

Fly a Kite! (or) Go fly a kite!: Shut up, get away from me, get out of my face, etc.

For crying out loud!: Something outrageous, stupid, unbelievable.

Gams - A woman's legs.

Get Hot!: Dance floor, party expression. 

Giggle Water - An intoxicating beverage; alcohol.

Gin Mill - An establishment where hard liquor is sold; bar.

Gold-digger: Flapper on the make for a rich boyfriend or husband

Goofy: Something or someone stupid. Can also mean in love. "He's goofy for her." Also, a goof is a goofy/silly person.

Hard Boiled - a tough, strong guy.

Hooch - Bootleg liquor

Hoofer - Dancer.

Hot diggety! Hot diggety dog!: Expression of excitement; or an emergency situation (Hot diggety! I gotta get going!)

Hotsy-Totsy - Pleasing.

It: Sex appeal

Jake - OK, as in, "Everything is Jake."

Jazz babies: Another term for flappers

Jazzbo, jellybean: More terms for hip, hot guys

Joe College: Male college student

Joe Zilch: A loser

Keen - Attractive or appealing.

Kisser - Mouth.

Line - Insincere flattery.

Moll - A gangster's girl.

Nifty, swell: Cool, excellent, that's great

Ossified - a drunk person.

Peppy: Full of energy, giddy

Pinch - To arrest.

Playboy, sugar daddy, big cheese: Financially well-to-do men, often with reputations for being generous in spending for gifts. A good catch for a gold-digger.

Ritzy, swanky: High class, cool

Speakeasy - An illicit bar selling bootleg liquor.

Stuck On - Having a crush on.

Swanky - Ritzy.

Take for a Ride - To drive off with someone in order to bump them off.

Torpedo - A hired gun.

Two-timer (or) Ex: Terms referring to cheating and rejected suitors

Sheik: A sexy young man; often the boyfriend of the flapper. A sheik's girlfriend might also be called a Sheba. Term inspired by sexy movie star Rudolph Valentino, famous for playing sheiks in films.


Whoopee:  fun in general, getting drunk, partying, etc.