Puss Reboots

These slang words may have originated in the 1920s or been popularized then but many of them are still in use. At least I'm still using them! But then I've always lived in a bit of a time warp due to a combination of hanging out with a lot of folks born in the 1920s (grandparents and friends of theirs) as a child and growing up in the household with an antique dealer father who specializes in music from that era.

The complete list is at Potpourri and from that list, here are the ones I use or know. The parantheticals are mine:

1. Ab-so-lute-ly - affirmative (It's a Valley Girl thing)
2. All Wet - describes an erroneous idea or individual, as in, "he's all wet."
3. And How - I strongly agree! (although it does make me sound a bit like a member of "Our Gang")
4. Attaboy - well done!; also Attagirl! ( I say it to my kids all the time)
5. Baby - sweetheart. Also denotes something of high value or respect. (Not one I use but it's certainly mainstream now.)
6. Balled Up - confused, messed up.
7. Baloney - nonsense! (When I'm trying to swear. I can swear like a drunken sailor)
8. Beat it - scam or get lost (Michael Jackson comes to mind — ewww)
9. Bee's Knees - An extraordinary person, thing, idea; the ultimate (Yes; I have used this term on a number of occassions)
10. Beef - a complaint or to complain (Again, it was part of the Valley Girl parlance when I was a teen)
11. Beeswax - business, i.e. "None of your beeswax." (This term was popular in sixth grade)
12. Bell bottom - a sailor (I even know a song! And now it's stuck in my head)
13. Bible Belt - Area in the South and Midwest where Fundamentalism flourishes (Still in use today)
14. Big Cheese - The most important or influential person; boss. Same as big shot (Still in use today)
15. Blind Date - going out with someone you do not know (Isn't that a TV show now?)
16. Bootleg - illegal liquor (now anything pirated)
17. Bump Off - To murder, To kill
18. Caper - a criminal act or robbery
19. Carry a Torch - To have a crush on someone
20. Cat's Meow - Something splendid or stylish; similar to bee's knees; The best or greatest, wonderful
21. Cat's Pajamas - Same as cat's meow
22. Chassis - the female body
23. Ciggy - cigarette
24. Clam - a dollar
25. Copacetic - Wonderful, fine, all right (I'm surprised; thought this was a 1960s word. Anyway, my MIL uses it all the time.)
26. Crush - An infatuation
27. Dead soldier - an empty bear bottle (Heard this one recently but can't remember where)
28. Dick - a private investigator
29. Dogs - feet
30. Doll - an attractive woman
31. Dolled up - dressed up
32. Don't know from nothing - don't have any information
33. Don't take any wooden nickels - Don't do anything stupid
34. Double-cross - to cheat, stab in the back
35. Dough
36. Dry up - shut up, get lost
37. Ducky - very good
38. Fall Guy - Victim of a frame
39. Fly boy - a glamorous term for an aviator
40. Frame - To give false evidence , to set up someone
41. Gold Digger - A woman who associates with or marries a man for his wealth
42. Hard Boiled - a tough, strong guy
43. Hayburner - (1) a gas guzzling car (2) a horse one loses money on
44. Heebie-Jeebies - The jitters (Madagasgar comes to mind)
45. High-Hat - To snub
46. Hooch - Bootleg liquor
47. Hoofer - Dancer (I always think of a tap dancer)
48. Jalopy - Old car
49. Jane - any female
50. Java - coffee (also a progamming language now)
51. Jitney - a car employed as a private bus. (Originated in Los Angeles and I've still heard it used there, though rarely.)
52. Joe - coffee
53. John - a toilet
54. Keen - Attractive or appealing
55. Kisser - Mouth
56. Left holding the bag - (1) to be cheated out of one's fair share (2) to be blamed for something
57. Level with me - be honest
58. Line - Insincere flattery
59. Live wire - a lively person
60. Moll - A gangster's girl
61. Neck - Kissing with passion
62. Nifty - great, excellent (I over use this word)
63. Nobody Home - Describes some one who is dumb
64. On the lam - fleeing from police
65. On the level - legitimate, honest
66. On the up and up - on the level
67. Owl - a person who's out late
68. Pinch - To arrest
69. Pipe down - stop talking
70. Pushover - A person easily convinced or seduced
71. Putting on the Ritz - after the Ritz hotel in Paris; doing something in high style
72. Rag-a-muffin - a dirty or disheveled individual
73. Razz- to make fun of
74. Real McCoy - The genuine article
75. Ritzy - Elegant (from the hotel)
76. Sap - a fool
77. Says you - a reaction of disbelief
78. Scram - Ask someone to leave immediately
79. Spiffy - An elegant appearance (another one I over use.)
80. Stuck On - Having a crush on
81. Swanky - Ritzy
82. Swell - Wonderful. Also: a rich man
83. Take for a Ride - To drive off with someone in order to bump them off
84. Upchuck - To vomit when one has drunk too much
85. Wet Blanket - a solemn person, a killjoy
86. What's eating you? - What's wrong
87. Whoopee - To have a good time
88. You slay me - that's funny

Current Location: Working from home with Harriet on my lap

Current Mood: amused

Current Music: Super Smash Brothers Melee