Every decade coins its own slang and the 1930s gave birth to quite a few. Many of these phrases are still used today, although some have taken on different meanings. Here are a few phrases you might have heard in the US during the 1930s.
- Abercrombie - A know-it-all.
- Abyssinia - "I'll be seeing you".
- Horn – telephone.
- Apple – A big city.
- Blow Your Wig - become very excited.
- Broad/dame/doll – A woman.
- Brodie - A mistake.
- Gat/rod/heater/convincer – Gun.
- Big House – Prison
- Cadillac – An ounce of heroin or cocaine.
- Canary – A female singer.
- Cats/ alligators – Swing music afficianados.
- City Juice/Dog Soup – A glass of water.
- Chicago overcoat – A coffin.
- Crust - To insult.
- Doss - Sleep.
- Gobble-pipe - A saxophone
- Sourdough - counterfeit money
- Togged to the bricks - Dressed up.
- "Murder!" - Wow!
Elspeth - This post is so fascinating to me! I think it's the linguist in me, but I just love to learn about different ways of using language and the way that language has evolved over time. Thanks for sharing those expressions. And by the way, as a writer, I think you're doing a terrific job of making your writing more real by using those expressions when they are appropriate.
ReplyDeleteMargot; Most of these expressions are American but a few made it across the Pond. I admit I did think about you when I was researching this post!
ReplyDelete:-)
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting that a few of those are still used for exactly the same definition.
ReplyDeleteI am late today for sure. I've heard of some of these because I guess they're still around, but most are new to me. I love this stuff :)
ReplyDeleteGreat list. (And glad I write contemporaries--although even that slang gets outdated in a hurry)
ReplyDeleteTerry
Terry's Place
Romance with a Twist--of Mystery
I do know a lot of these. Does that mean I'm old. Wait... I never said them. I heard them from my father. LOL
ReplyDeleteOne I did not know was Cadillac. Interesting and a good detail to sneak into an historical set in that time period.