We know you’ll find plenty of ways to fit in around these parts.
But surely, knowing a little of the lingo would help. Here’s a 1920s glossary to help you get with the times.
Ankle to walk
Applesauce nonsense
Bearcat spirited, strong woman
Berries the best
Bee's knees also the best
Bluenose prude or a killjoy
Cancelled stamp shy, lonely person
Cash kiss, a smooch
Cheaters glasses or bifocals
Clams a dollar; see also kale, mazuma, and voot
Dewdropper unemployed person who sleeps all day
“Don’t take any wooden nickels!”
“Don’t do anything dumb!”
Ducky very good
Egg man; "he's a funny egg"
Fire extinguisher a chaperone
Gams legs; also pins, stilts, & getaway sticks
Gasper cigarette
Giggle water a phrase for alcohol
“Go chase yourself!” “Get out of here!”
Handcuff an engagement or wedding ring; also known as a manacle
Hayburner car that guzzles gas, or a losing horse
Hotsy totsy perfect
“I have to go see a man about a dog”
to go buy a drink
Icy mitt amorous rejection, as in: “He got the icy mitt”
Iron one's shoelaces a way to excuse oneself to the restroom
Jake okay, fine; " everything's jake" Kale money
Know your onions to know what's going on, staying up-to-date with the latest news
“Let's blouse” “we're out of here”
Manacle a wedding ring
Mrs. Grundy a straight-laced person
Noodle juice tea
Oliver Twist talented dancer
On a toot inebriated
Petting pantry a movie theater/cinema
Phonus balonus a way to say, "That's nonsense!"
“Rhatz!” "How disappointing!"
Rub dance party
Sinker a doughnut
Sockdolager an event or action of great importance
“Tell It to Sweeney!” “I don’t believe you!”
Upstage snobby, arrogant
Voot money
Zozzled inebriated
