Summary of Took some notes on 1930s slang from an old movie
- What slang was used in the 1930s?
- What are some 1920s slang?
- How to talk like the 1930s?
- What words were used in the 1930s?
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AI Overview
AI Overview
1930s slang was heavily influenced by the Great Depression, swing music, and the lingering effects of Prohibition, featuring colorful, fast-talking idioms. Key terms included
“copacetic” (excellent), “giggle juice” (alcohol), “dough” (money), and “cats/alligators” (swing music fans). Phrases often focused on financial struggles, dancing, and crime-related jargon, like “on the lam”.
Common 1930s Slang Terms & Phrases
Money/Financial Struggles:
Bread/Dough/Kale/Moolah: Money
Beat
:
Broke
Tightwad: A stingy person
Five spot/Lincoln: A five-dollar bill
People:
Broad/Dame/Doll: A woman
Joe: An average guy
Gat/Iron: A gun or car
Stool pigeon: An informer or “snitch”
Hep cat: Someone who loves jazz music
Gold digger: A woman who marries for money
Actions & Expressions:
Copacetic: In excellent order; fine
Blow your wig: To get excited or angry
Giggle juice: Alcohol
Know one’s onions: To know what you are talking about
Spill it: Tell the secret
Shake a leg: Hurry up or dance
On the lam: Running away from the police
General Descriptors:
All wet: No good
Keen: Attractive or appealing
Nogoodnik: A bad or worthless person
Swell: Great
Key Phrases:
Abyssinia: “I’ll be seeing you”
Don’t take any wooden nickels: Don’t get cheated
Hot stuff: The latest news or trend
Making whoopee: Making love
Ring-a-ding-ding: A good time at a party
Aces! 1930s Slang and Phrases From the Dirty Thirties – YourDictionary
big butter and egg man – a rich man who spends his money on women. broad/dame/doll – woman. canary – a female singer. cats/alligat…
YourDictionary
Tag: 1930s slang – Bygone Theatre – WordPress.com
Joe Brooks – someone who is fashionably dressed. Joe Zilch – any male college student also known as Joe College or Joe Yale. John …
WordPress.com
1930s Slang: 240+ Words That’ll Leave You Gobsmacked – wikiHow
Aces: Excellent. Ackamarackus: Nonsense. All wet: No good. Bash: An attempt or try. Barge around: Walk slowly. Bazoo: Mouth. Beat:
wikiHow
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Took some notes on 1930s slang from an old movie
I watched “Young Bride” on TCM as research for something I’m writing, and couldn’t stop taking notes because the dialogue was so zippy. Originally posted this on r/etymology, but was directed over here as it’s probably more appropriate for this sub.
So without further ado, here is my list of colorful phrases! Don’t know if this will be helpful to anyone, but I found it really fun to compile! It’s interesting to see which phrases and words stuck around.
1930s SLANG:
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Cockeyed
In a big way
Give a buzz (call)
Oh gee
Maybe you’ll change your mind after …
Making cracks
Swell looking gals
You wouldn’t know if I told you
You’d make a swell…
Xxx, nothing. (Dismissive)
Only I don’t have a car to drive
Get a move on
Shake a leg
Crazy-headed
Hot tomato
Don’t break your ankle getting up
Wisecracker
Say,
It’s a honey number (?)
I could go for you in a big way
You look like a million bucks! …and just as hard to get
Plenty
Where’d you go? Every place but jail
A lot of general dope
Got the idea from you
Without old frozen-face horning in
Fella
I got an idea I’m gonna zxxx
I’m a swell fella
Gee, but you are a swell
I suppose you believe that’s old baloney
I’m nuts about xxx
See,
I’m a monkeys grandpa
Well, pull my teeth
No foolin’?
Sure
Rest awhile
Spill it
Everything seems to go flop-o
I like to kid myself I’m a smart
Just a no-good
I ain’t had a break since…
You had me kissed
This is a swell time to get a kick in the pants like that
Canned soup
Them hospitals soak you plenty
Not one thin dime
Well peel my potatoes
Cut it out will ya
Still pulling that old baloney
I got along all right
You did me a swell turn. You woke me up to myself
She’s okay
Shoot the works (use all your money/resources)
I been a four-flusher, all right?
I just got wise to myself tonight
I really kidded myself into thinking
You’re the swellest dame in this whole cockeyed world