For those who love all things 20s we’ve got you covered. If you’ve ever wanted to talk like you just stepped out of The Great Gatsby, here are some of the most popular slang phrases from the 1920s.
Now get practicing.
- “Bank’s closed!”: what you tell someone to stop making out
- Bearcat: a lively, spirited woman, possibly with a fiery streak
- Four-flusher: someone who mooches off the money of others in order to feign wealth
- Bimbo: refers to a macho man
- Jorum of skee: a swig of alcohol, particularly hard liquor
- Bluenose: term for a prude or someone deemed a killjoy
- Know your onions: to know what’s happening or what’s going on
- Bubs: a woman’s breasts
- “Bushwa!”: “Bullsh*t!”
- “Let’s blouse!”: “Let’s blow this popsicle stand!”
- Cancelled stamp: a shy, lonely person, the type one would describe as a “wallflower”
- Reuben: a redneck
- Cake-eater: a “ladies’ man”
- Egg: a person who leads an absurdly wealthy, extravagant lifestyle
- Giggle water: liquor, alcoholic beverage
- Handcuff: engagement ring
- Manacle: Wedding ring
- Icy mitt: to be rejected by the object of one’s affection, as in: “They got the icy mitt.”
- Jake: okay, fine, as in “Don’t worry, everything’s jake.”
- Quilt: an alcoholic drink that keeps you warm
- “Phonus balonus!”: “That’s nonsense!” or “That’s bullsh*t!”
- Cash: a smooch
- Pull a Daniel Boone: to puke or throw up
- Rub: a dance party for college or high school students
- Zozzled: sh*tfaced
[h/t thoughtcatalog]