Stephen Vocaturo’s Pocket Dictionary For All 1920’s Slang
Ace: (n.) a one-dollar bill
(A 1920’s man speaking to his grandchildren): “Jee-wiz! In my day, we only paid a
nickel for a candy bar, not an ace.”
Beeswax: (n.) business
(Sally): “So Jane, who is that fella I’ve seen you around with?”
(Jane): “Nobody! Mind your own beeswax!”
(Sally): “…”
(A nosy neighbor who does not mind his own beeswax)
Blind: (adj.) drunk
“After six scotches on ice, Rob was looking mighty blind last night.”
Bootleger: (n.) one who sells illegal liquor
“Jay Gatsby? I heard that bootlegger got thrown in the big house. The fuzz found more
hooch in that mansion in any other on Long Island.”
Cake-eater: (n.) a lady's man
(Sally): “Have you seen Joe? He’s got three dates to the prom!”
(Jane): “What a cake-eater.”
Dewdropper: (n.) who sleeps all day and doesn't have a job
“That dewdropper is a disgrace to his family. I don’t think he’s had a job since before
the war!”
Doll: (n.) an attractive woman
(Man): “Listen, doll, I couldn’t help but notice how gorgeous you look in that skirt. How
about a kiss?”
(Woman): “Get lost.”
Dough: (n.) money
“Al Capone? I heard he made his dough killing punks and selling hooch. He has the
best prices in all of Chicago!”
Fag: (n.) a cigarette
“My doctor always tells me not to, but I still smoke a pack of fags a day.”
Flapper: (n.) modern woman of the 1920’s (often had a bob haircut, short skirts, and did
unconventional activities for women)
“The flapper look is the bee’s knees. I just love the bobbed hair and silk stockings!”
Hooch: (n.) alcohol; booze
“A bottle of hooch costs three bucks nowadays. It’s a rip-off, but I just can’t get enough
of that smooth whiskey taste.”
Insured: (adj.) engaged
“Did you hear? Dave is insured. I saw the ring on his gal’s finger myself. Poor guy.”
Jalopy: (n.) an old car that breaks down often
“All of the other girls arrived to the dance in limos. But of course, mine showed up in a
jalopy; we broke down on the way to the school.”
Joe: (n.) coffee
(A man in a diner): “I’ll just have a cup of joe. No milk or sugar; I like it bitter.”
Nookie: (n.) sex
“Dave and Ruth made nookie the night of the dance, and now she is pregnant! They
aren’t even married!”
Quiff: (n.) prostitute
(Mother speaking to daughter): “You are not leaving this household with that skirt that
shows your ankles and all of that makeup. You look like a quiff.”
Speakeasy: (n.) a bar selling illegal liquor (often times, a password was required to get
in)
“Joe hates his job, so he frequents the speakeasy around the block almost every day.
The man downs more scotch than any other in the town.”
Stilts: (n.) legs
(Man to random woman): “Hey there, baby, those stilts look nice in those fishnet
stockings.”
(slapping sound)
Swanky: (adj.) elegant
“The Ritz-Carlton is the swankiest place in town. It has French chandeliers in every
room.”
Torpedo: (n.) a hired gunman
“A torpedo named Al Capone killed someone who didn’t give him his money. I heard he
hid the gun in his violin case!”