Roaring Twenties Slang

The Roaring Twenties is featured heavily in my earlier works. Since some of my characters carry on through to modern times, the unique language indicative of this period follows along as well.

To help new readers situation themselves with the language of the period, I’ve compiled a list of slang from that era.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y X

A

A Snap	Something which is quick or easy.
Ab-so-lute-ly	Agreement in the affirmative.
Absent Treatment	Dancing with a bashful partner.
Airtight	Someone who is extremely desirable or attractive.
Attaboy	A congratulatory statement.

B

Balled Up	Confused and/or messed up.
Baloney	Complete nonsense.
Baby	Another word for sweetheart. Can also be used to denote something of high value or respect.
Baby Vamp	A woman considered attractive or popular.
Bank’s Closed	Not interested in kissing or fooling around.
Barneymugging	Euphemism for sex.
Beat It	Another word to go away.
Batty	Driving someone crazy.
Bee’s Knees	Excellent or very high quality.
Berries	Someone attractive or pleasing, or another word for great.
Berry Path	Euphemism for a woman’s genital area.
Betty	An attractive woman.
Billboard	A flashy man or woman.
Bimbo	Slang for a tough guy.
Bingo	Used to express satisfaction at a sudden positive outcome.
Bird	A term for odd or strange which applies to either gender.
Bird Cage	Elevator car.
Biscuit	A pettable flapper.
Black Tuesday	Also known as the Great Crash of 1929.
Blower	Slang for the telephone.
Blowhard	A braggart and/or a bully.
Bootleg	Alcohol that has been illegally produced.
Bronx Cheer	Loud sputtering noise to show disapproval. Also known as a raspberry.
Bub	Often used as an insolent term of address.
Bull	Slang referring to a police officer or another branch of law enforcement.
Bump in the Night	Unexplained and frightening noises at night, purportedly caused by ghosts.
Bumped Off	To have someone killed.
Bum’s Rush	To be forcibly removed from an establishment or locale.

C

Cable	Message sent by telegraph.
Cash	Euphemism for a kiss.
Caper	A criminal act which normally involves an elaborate plan.
Cat’s Meow	An excellent person or thing.
Chassis	Slang referring to the female form.
Cheque	Euphemism for saving a kiss for later.
Chippy	A woman who is the polar opposite of frigid.
Clip-Joint	A dance club filled with rich or sophisticated patrons.
Coffin Varnish	Moonshine.
Cool His/Her Heels	Forced to wait.
Copacetic	That which is wonderful, fine or alright.
Cupid’s Bow	The way a flapper uses lipstick to make the bow more prominent, and their lips appear smaller.
Crashing the Party	The act of getting into a party in which one was not invited.

D

Daddy	A young woman’s boyfriend or lover, especially if he’s rich.
Dame	A lady.
Dapper	A flapper’s father.
Dead Hoofer	A lousy dancer.
Declaration of Independence	A divorce.
Di Mi	Dear me.
Dimbox	Slang for a taxi cab.
Dingle Dangler	Someone who insists on calling.
Doll	An attractive woman.
Doozie	Something that is big, complex, outstanding, or unique.
Dough	Slang for money.
Drugstore Cowboy	A man who tries to pick up women on a street corner.
Dumb Dora	A woman who is considered lacking in intellectual prowess.
Ducky	Great or wonderful. Can be used sarcastically to imply the opposite.

E

Edge	A term applied to the feeling of intoxication.
Electric Cure	As in, electric chair; a way to end a problem for good.

F

Face Stretcher	An older woman who adopts youth fashions or wears heavy makeup to conceal her age.
Fancy Smancy	A derogatory way to refer to something high-class.
Finale Hopper	Someone who arrives after everything has been paid for.
Fire Extinguisher	A chaperone.
Flapper	A stylish, brash, hedonistic young woman with short skirts and shorter hair.
Flat Tyre	A dull witted, insipid, and disappointing date.
Flivver	A Ford Model-T or any old car after 1928.
Flour Lover	Girl who is too liberal with the face powder.
Four-Flusher	A term applied to cheats, swindlers, and liars.

G

Gams	A woman’s legs.
Getaway sticks	A woman’s legs.
Giggle Water	An alcoholic drink.
Goofy	To be in love.

H

Hayburner	A vehicle that uses a lot of fuel.
Heater	Slang that is applied to firearms.
Heebie-Jeebies	Nervous or anxious.
Helluva	Alternate pronunciation for hell of a.
Hen Coop	A term referring to a beauty salon.
High-Hat	A snub.
Hit on All Sixes	Going full throttle or all out.
Hoity-Toity	Marked by an air of assumed importance.
Hole	Slang for solitary confinement in prison.
Hooch	Another term for bootleg alcohol.
Hoofer	Slang for a dancer.
Hoofing	The act of dancing.
Hoosegow	Slang for prison.
Horsefeathers	The equivalent of a modern swear word.

I

Indoor Aviator	Also known as an elevator operator. This is a play on the fact that their lives are composed of a series of ups and downs.
It	Slang for someone with sex appeal.

J

Jalopy	An old car or a beater.
Jane	A term applied to any female.
Juice Joint	Another name for a speakeasy.

K

Keen	Attractive or appealing.
Kick the Gong Around	Smoking opium.
Killjoy	A person who spoils other people’s fun or enjoyment.
Knee-Duster	Slang for a skirt.
Kodak Moment	A memorable moment that one would wish to capture on film.

M

Mad Money	Cab fare home if she gets in a dispute with her escort.
Make Do	Working with what one has.
Malarkey	Talk that is nonsensical.
Middle-Aisle	The act of getting married; walking down the middle-aisle at church.
Moll	A gangster’s girl.
Mistress Grundy	A priggish or extremely tight-laced person.
Munitions	Face powder and rouge.
Mustard Plaster	Someone who is not wanted and will not leave.

N

Neck	The act of kissing with passion.
Nobody Home	Describes someone who is dumb or dumbfounded.
Nertz	Used to express disgust, defiance, disapproval or despair.
Nervous Nellie	Timid or worrisome.

O

Off-Time Jive	To be inappropriate, impolite; to have bad manners.
On the Lam	Someone who is fleeing from the authorities.
On the Up and Up	Legitimate and above board.
Ossified	Someone who is intoxicated.

P

Palooka	An average or below average boxer.
Peashooter	The term for a firearm, normally of smaller calibres.
Petting	To make out or take part in foreplay.
Petting Party	A party where young couples make out.
Piece of the Action	Share of the profits or advantages generated by an activity.
Pill	A person who is generally unlikable.
Poufter	An effeminate male.
Pushover	Individuals who are easily convinced or seduced.

Q

Quiff

A term applied to sexually active females.

R

Real McCoy	A term applied to an item that is genuine.
Ritzy	Based on the Hotel Ritz; implies elegance.
Rock of Ages	A middle-aged woman, usually over thirty.

S

Sap	Someone who is easily fooled.
Sapphic	Slang for a lesbian.
Says You	A reaction of disbelief.
Shell-Shocked	A term used during the Great War referring to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Speakeasy	An illicit drinking establishment dealing in bootleg alcohol.
Spifflicated	Someone who is intoxicated.
Spiffy	Something that is elegant or opulent.
Stewbum	Someone from the dredges or an old drunken hobo.
Sure-Fire	Will not fail.
Swanky	A term similar to ritzy.

T

Talkie	Original term for movies where actors speak.
Take for a Ride	The final drive for someone taken to a place where they will be murdered.
Tapped Out	Slang used to imply that one has no money.
Tarte	Slang for a prostitute.
Tits	Slang for breasts.
To a Tee	Something which is made or fits properly or to exact specifications.
Toe-to-Toe	Being in direct confrontation or opposition.
Torpedo	A hired gun or enforcer.
Tough	Too bad.
Townie	Someone from the city.

U

Upchuck

Slang for the act of vomiting.

W

Wallflower	A person who stands apart from others during a dance or party.
Waterworks	Crying.
What am I, Chopped Liver?	Frustration or anger at being ignored on a social level.