Ms. Fuller and Ms. Diana's SS Blog

Use this vocabulary from the Roaring ’20s to make your letters more authentic.  Make sure you use the words in a meaningful way and that they make sense within the context of your letter.

• All Wet – Describes an incorrect idea or individual, as in, “he’s all wet.”
• Applesauce – curse word; same as horsefeathers, as in “Ah applesauce!”
• Bee’s Knees – An extraordinary person, thing, idea; the ultimate.
• Berries – Something attractive or pleasing; similar to bee’s knees, as in “It’s the berries.”
• Big Cheese – The most important or influential person; boss. Same as big shot.
• Bump Off – To murder, To kill.
• Carry a Torch – To have a crush on someone.
• Cat’s Meow – Something fabulous or stylish; similar to bee’s knees
• Cat’s Pajamas – Same as cat’s meow.
• Cheaters – Eyeglasses.
• Crush – An infatuation.
• Dogs – feet
• Drugstore Cowboy – a guy that hangs around on a street corner trying to pick up girls
• Flapper – A stylish, self-confident, wild young woman with short skirts and shorter hair.
• Flat Tire – A dull, disappointing date. Same as pill, pickle, drag, rag, oilcan.
• Frame – To give false evidence, to set up someone.
• Gams – A woman’s legs.
• Giggle Water – An intoxicating beverage; alcohol.
• Gin Mill – An establishment where hard liquor is sold; bar.
• Hard Boiled – a tough, strong guy.
• Heebie-Jeebies – The jitters.
• High-Hat – To snub.
• Hoofer – Dancer.
• Horsefeathers – an expletive; same usage as applesauce.
• Hotsy-Totsy – Pleasing.
• Jake – OK, as in, “Everything is Jake.”
• Jalopy – Old car.
• Joint – A club, usually selling alcohol.
• Keen – Attractive or appealing.
• Kisser – Mouth.
• Line – Insincere flattery.
• Moll – A gangster’s girl.
• Pinch – To arrest.
• Pushover – A person easily convinced or seduced.
• Ritzy – Elegant (from the hotel).
• Scram – Ask someone to leave immediately.
• Speakeasy – An illicit bar selling bootleg liquor.
• Spiffy – An elegant appearance.
• Stuck On – Having a crush on.
• Swanky – Ritzy.
• Swell – Wonderful. Also: a rich man.
• Take for a Ride – To drive off with someone in order to bump them off.
• Upchuck – To vomit.
• Whoopee - A good time.