The LSC After Dark Guide to 1920s Slang

LSC After Dark

Calling all bootleggers and flappers! Our next LSC After Dark party, “Science Speakeasy,” is this Thursday night. The event is 1920s/Prohibition themed, so we’ve created a handy slang guide to help you converse your way through the Roaring Twenties:

  • “And how!” – another way of saying “I agree!”
  • “Beat it!” – telling someone to get away from you
  • Bee’s knees – saying that something is terrific; such as, “Liberty Science Center is the bee’s knees”
  • Big Cheese – somebody important
  • Bird – a general term used to describe a man or woman; might be used along the lines of “she’s a funny old bird”
  • Bootlegger – someone who makes or sells alcohol illegally
  • Cat’s meow – similar to “bee’s knees,” something that is great or terrific; you can also say the “cat’s pajamas”
  • Doll – a pretty woman
  • Fire extinguisher – a chaperone at a dance or party
  • Flapper – a trendy young woman of the decade; the term comes from fledging birds that flapped and flapped but couldn’t yet fly
  • Flat tire – someone boring
  • “For crying out loud!” – another way of saying “are you for real?”
  • High hat – a snob
  • “Hot dog!” – means, “that’s great!”
  • “I have to see a man about a dog” – meaning you’re leaving to go get more alcohol
  • On the lam – running from police
  • Owl – someone who stays out late
  • Pill – someone who irritates you; as in, “that person is being a real pill”
  • Razz – to make fun of someone
  • Sap – a fool
  • Spiffy – looking good
  • Stuck on – another way of saying you have a crush on someone

Once you learn how to talk the talk, get your tickets to “Science Speakeasy.” See you there, old sport!



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