The Cat's Meow - Slang in the 1920s

Sparkly! Beaded Cap
Image Courtesy: Queens of Vintage

The 1920s was the first decade that emphasised the culture of youth over older generations. In celebration of this social shift, new slang and vernacular language emerged, such as seen on the conversations in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby and Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher mysteries.  Many of the terms and phrases coined during this period are still widely used today.

• Applesauce - an expletive same as horsefeathers
• Bank's Closed - no kissing or making out 
• Bearcat - a hot-blooded or fiery girl 
• Bee's Knees - An extraordinary person, thing, idea; the ultimate
• Cat's Meow or Pyjamas - The best or greatest, wonderful.
• Cheaters - Eyeglasses
• Clam - a dollar
• Dead soldier - an empty beer bottle
• Dolled up - dressed up 
• Dry up - shut up, get lost 
• Ducky - very good 
• Fire extinguisher - a chaperone 
• Gams - A woman's legs
• Hair of the Dog - a shot of alcohol
• Heebie-jeebies - The jitters
• Hotsy-totsy - Pleasing
• Joe - coffee 
• Joint - an establishment, usually a bar or a speakeasy
• Moll - A gangster's girl
• Razz - to make fun of
• Real McCoy - The genuine article
• Ritzy - Elegant
• Rubes - money
• Sinker - a doughnut
• Speakeasy - An illicit bar selling bootleg liquor
• Spiffy - Elegant 
• Swanky - Ritzy
• Wet Blanket - a solemn person, a killjoy
• Whoopee - To have a good time or an intimate encounter
• You slay me - that's funny