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!