The 1920s was a time of fast talk, big personalities, and plenty of colorful slang. If someone was spouting nonsense, people had no shortage of words to call it out. Some of these terms have stood the test of time, while others have faded into … Read more
Some of the most common slang terms for party in the 1920s included “wingding”, “bash”, and “blow”. Many other terms we still use today were either in use by the 1920s or arose during them, such as “beano” or “blowout”. Different parties used many different … Read more
The most common slang terms for money in the 1920s were things like “buck” and “dough”. Depending on where you were, you might also hear “Mazuma” and “moolah”. Most of the slang terms for money from this time have survived until today and you’ll still … Read more
The most common slang term for a woman in the 1920s was “flapper”. You would also hear “doll” and “dame”. These were the most widespread, all-purpose terms. Other terms that were more specific included “fire alarm” and “fire bell” for divorced and married women respectively. … Read more
There were many different terms for men in the 1920s, depending on what kind of men they were. From the simplest, most generic terms that could describe just about any man, to the most specific and odd-sounding to the modern ear, there were terms for … Read more
Common slang terms for fun in the 1920s included terms like “jumpin’”, “on a toot,” or “berries”. These were terms that would describe going out and having fun, or a particularly fun or eventful night or show. “The cat’s pajamas” was another common term used … Read more
Common terms for dancing or dancers in the 1920s included “hoofer” and “heeler” for a good and a bad dancer respectively. A dance itself was often called a “hops”. If a dancer would not leave the dancefloor they were called a “floorflusher”. Other more specific … Read more
The most common slang term for police in the 1920s was “fuzz”. This was the most quintessentially 1920s term and was used broadly in the west, though mostly in the U.S. They might also be called a “bull” or a “scorcher” in some contexts. “Flattie” … Read more
During the 1920s, alcohol was illegal in the United States due to Prohibition, but that didn’t stop people from drinking. With speakeasies, bootleggers, and hidden flasks, new slang terms for alcohol emerged to help people talk about booze without drawing too much attention. Some of … Read more
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 … Read more