Slang terms for crazy in the 1920s included words like “goofy” as a general term for crazy or unusual things, “bing” for a crazy person, and a variety of other terms such as “off one’s chump”. These were the most widely used slang terms for crazy. Common terms used today such as “nuts” were also common in the 1920s.
The 1920s were, in many ways, a pretty crazy time for a lot of people.
Particularly in America, there was a great deal of social upheaval alongside unprecedented wealth and affluence.
Alongside the prohibition era and all the social issues that it brought, this created something of a melting pot for crazy events.
Let’s find out more.
What words were used for crazy in the 1920s?
There were a variety of slang terms used to mean crazy in the 1920s, and they mostly had subtly different meanings that would depend on the circumstances.
1. Goofy
One very common and generic term still used today which was popularized in the 1920s was “goofy”.
This had rather a tame meaning, and simply meant something which was a bit wacky or silly.
It wouldn’t really be used in the sense of criminally insane or anything like that.
Nonetheless, it was enormously popular and common during the 1920s.
“While trying to impress his friends with a new dance move, Jake made a goofy mistake and slipped on the dance floor, causing everyone to burst into laughter.”
2. Bing
Another, much more specific slang term in the 1920s for crazy was “bing”.
I’ll get into exactly where this one came from soon, but it became much more popular than it had initially been and became a much more widely used slang term for crazy.
Again, this one was mostly used in the U.S., though you’d hear it in other parts of the English speaking world too.
“After experiencing the roaring parties of the 1920’s, Clara would often remove that the energy and antics of the flappers and dancers were absolutely bing!”
3. Off Your Chump
One term you don’t really hear today for crazy in the 1920s was “off one’s chump”.
There are many terms similar to this today, though most of them refer to being intoxicated rather than just crazy.
Of course, being intoxicated can often make you act “crazy”, so at the time the term was certainly used in both ways.
“He’s off his chump,” for example.
“After investing all of his money in a dubious venture, people started saying that John was off his chump for believing he would make a fortune overnight.”
4. Nuts
Other terms that would not sound at all archaic to modern ears were also common in the 1920s.
Perhaps the most common and widely used of these more generic slang terms was “nuts”.
This one was very popular in the 1920s as it is today, and could mean anything from totally crazy to just a bit wacky.
“When Clara danced on top of the speakeasy bar, everyone hollered, ‘She’s gone nuts!’.”
Where do these terms come from?
Why was “goofy” used for crazy in the 1920s?
A “goof”, a term first attested in 1916, was a slang term for a stupid person which was very common in American English.
This is thought to be a variant of the English word “goff”, which meant a foolish clown and was common in the 19th Century.
Later on, then, the adjective “goofy” developed out of the noun.
This came to mean anything silly, crazy, or foolish, and was very common in the 1920s since the word “goof” had first come to mean an idiot only a few years before.
The Disney character Goofy first appeared in 1929, and this did more than a little to help cement the meaning of the term.
Why was “bing” used for crazy in the 1920s?
The term “bing” originated as jailhouse talk. It’s not really clear what the word itself was actually intended to relate to.
However, a “bing” was slang for being put in solitary confinement at first, and this is famously something which is very likely to drive people a little bit crazy.
So, later on, it developed to mean anything or anyone crazy.
Though it started as prison slang, it developed out of this and came to be used by just about all parts of the United States.
Why was “off one’s chump” used in the 1920s?
“Off one’s chump” was a more widely used slang term in the 1920s, and one you’d hear very commonly in Britain and America.
To be “off your chump” meant both to be acting crazy and to be something other than sober.
A “chump” in this context referred to the thick end of something, particularly a cut of meat like lamb.
Thus, it came to refer to the human head.
Being “off your chump” meant something like you were “off your head”, had lost your head, and were acting crazy.
Why did “nuts” mean crazy in the 1920s?
The term “nuts” meaning crazy first appears in 1908, in a comic strip called Mutt and Jeff. It had been used in similar ways before this; to be “nuts” about someone meant you were extremely fond of them.
Indeed, you were so fond of them that it might have driven you a little crazy.
This was certainly a very common and old idea, that the most intense kinds of love could drive people to act crazy and insane.
The precise relation to nuts is not really clear, though.
It’s a given today that to be “nuts” means to be crazy.
It is most commonly thought that the term simply came from the idea that your “nut” was your head.
So, there are some terms that are still used today and others that have largely fallen out of use.
In any case, there were lots of different slang terms for crazy used at the time.
Whether you had gone loopy from time in solitary confinement, you were acting a bit silly and thus “goofy,” or if you were completely unhinged and “off your chump”, there was a word to describe it in the 1920s.
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Polly Webster is the founder of Foreign Lingo and a seasoned traveler with a decade of exploration under her belt.
Over the past 10 years, she has journeyed to numerous countries around the globe, immersing herself in diverse cultures, traditions, and languages.
Drawing from her rich experiences, Polly now writes insightful articles about travel, languages, traditions, and cultures, sharing her unique perspectives and invaluable tips with her readers.