- Bee's Knees
Translation: The best or most excellent.
Origin: Likely from the idea of bees carrying pollen on their knees, making them valuable.
Example: That new jazz club is the bee's knees, let's hit it up tonight!
- Blotto
Translation: Extremely drunk
Origin: Slang from the 1920s, possibly from the idea of being blotted out.
Example: After a few too many at the speakeasy, he was totally blotto.
- Cat's Pajamas
Translation: Something or someone wonderful or remarkable.
Origin: Similar to "bee's knees," it uses an animal metaphor to denote excellence.
Example: Her new flapper dress is the cat's pajamas, she looks swell!
- Doll
Translation: An attractive woman
Origin: A term of endearment from the 1920s.
Example: That doll over there sure knows how to Charleston.
- Giggle Water
Translation: Alcoholic beverage.
Origin: A playful term from the prohibition era.
Example: Let's grab some giggle water and have a roaring good time!
- Hooch
Translation: Illicit liquor.
Origin: Derived from the Hoochinoo tribe in Alaska, known for brewing alcohol.
Example: They've got some strong hooch at the speakeasy, be careful!
- Jake
Translation: Okay or fine
Origin: Possibly from the phrase "everything 's jake."
Example: Don't worry about it, everything's jake.
- Jalopy
Translation: An old, beat-up car.
Origin: Early 20th-century slang, possibly from the Spanish word "jalapa."
Example: We took the old jalopy for a spin around the block.
- Keen
Translation: Attractive or appealing
Origin: Popular in the 1920s to describe something col or stylish.
Example: He's got a keen sense of style, always looks sharp.
- Lounge Lizard
Translation: A man who frequents bars and clups, often to pick up women.
Origin: From the idea of lounging around in such places.
Example: Watch out for that lounge lizard, he's always on the prowl.
- Moxie
Translation: Courage or nerve.
Origin: From a popular soft drink of the same name, implying energy and pep.
Example: She's got moxie, standing up to the boss like that.
- Ritzy
Translation: Elegant or luxurious.
Origin: From the Ritz hotels, known for their opulence.
Example: They threw a ritzy party at the mansion last night.
- Scram
Translation: Leave quickly
Origin: Early 20th-century slang, possibly from the German word "schramm."
Example: The cops are coming, we better scram!
- Sheba
Translation: A beautiful woman
Origin: From the biblical Queen of Sheba, known for her beauty.
Example: That Sheba over there is the talk of the town.
- Speakeasy
Translation: An illicit bar during prohibition.
Origin: From the need to speak quietly about such places to avoid detection.
Example: We found a new speakeasy downtown, it's the bee's knees.
- Swell
Translation: Excellent or wonderful
Origin: Early 20th-century slang, possibly from the idea of something swelling with pride.
Example: That new moview was swell, let's see it again!
- Tight
Translation: Drunk.
Origin: Early 20th-century slang, possibly from the idea of being tightly wound.
Example: He got tight after just a few drinks.
- Upchuck
Translation: Vomit
Origin: Early 20th-century slang, a more colorful way to describe being sick.
Example: He had too much giggle water and ended up upchucking.
- Whoopee
Translation: Fun or celebration
Origin: Early 20th-century slang, often used to describe a lively party.
Example: Let's make some whoopee tonight, it's going to be a blast!
- Zozzled
Translation: Drunk
Origin: 1920s slang, similar to blotto.
Example: After a few rounds, everyone was zozzled and having a great time.
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