Slang of the 1920s

The 1920s was at the beginning of the modern era, and slang really began to become more mainstream. The blossoming of youth culture and the secretiveness that Prohibition created especially helped the development of new slang among young people.
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[@robertsides3626]

I swear, the internet made slang culture speed up exponentially. We go through a decades worth in about 3 months.

[@1D991]

Facts. "Dough" was in common use until the 2000s. I'm considered an "Elder millennial" and "dough" was always slang for money. Ritzy was also common, as were a few others (and even if uncommon, I grew up knowing the meaning of all of these terms)

[@starllama2149]

@@1D991 Damn I forgot about "dough"

[@meesegomoo1836]

@@1D991 I knew pretty much all of these, I'm only 21. But where I grew up we also had WAY older (early modern English) speaking habits. Real fringe religious part of the ozarks.

[@clicheguevara5282]

I've noticed that a lot of relatively current slang is stuff I heard growing up in the hood back in the 90s. Stuff like bet, dope, cap, lit, strapped, thicc, etc

[@rjmurphyo0]

@@1D991 yeah but even in the 2000s it was uncommon for someone to say dough.

[@maillardsbearcat]

I just realized, we ARE in the 20s. When I'm old, I'm gonna be like "remember the 20s?"

[@Roachiscomingforyou]

OH SHIT YEAH

[@hatersgotohell627]

Except our era is gay af.

[@fabiomino3506]

@HN 😂

[@lizaanual9166]

Nah, the 1920s was gay af too.. It has never left.

[@hatersgotohell627]

@@lizaanual9166 we literally have a society that thinks men can identify as women and enter women's bathrooms and compete in girls sports. not to mention being gay is taught to kids like its something to aspire to. Most males unlike the 1920s are beta or feminine.

[@TheQuantumWave]

My father was born in 1926. I heard the slang of the 30's and 40's throughout my entire childhood.

[@tvaddict6623]

Me too- my mom was born 1920 and my dad 1927

[@teritrujillo6042]

Lol me too.

[@CaryCotterman]

Me too! Dad: 1925, Mom: 1926. I also got a good dose of 1890s-1910s slang from my grandmother, born 1891. I still use some of these expressions, just for fun.

[@MortusSweet]

I’ve grown up watching movies and shows from the 40-50’s, so that’s where I slang comes from 😂 people think it’s rather silly but I like me 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@brandonespinoza9279]

Same, only it’s my maternal grandfather (mom’s dad), born on February 9, that year!

[@LZEGION]

I do love how slang evolves, and I particularly love how much slang actually carries over to today.

[@xavierharvey4961]

It's interesting that we are living in our own 20s.. kinda cool really🤣

[@CaryCotterman]

"cool" being a good example.@@xavierharvey4961

[@kea1234]

Me too. I try to tell my boomer coworkers(some are younger than you'd think) that language evolves and what you identify with pissed the old generation off and now you're old. They don't get it.

[@againstthepods4316]

i wonder what all the people in these pictures are up to i would love to meet them they probably have so many stories now from that time.

[@cateatfood6634]

What is even more cool is idioms. Almost all of which came from the Bible....

[@ronycamacho7132]

From dough(1920) to bread(2020) it only took a hundred years to rise.

[@garyzimmer8061]

That takes a lot of crust, but you're on a roll.

[@electricshrapnel4368]

Bread goes back to at least the sixties

[@cecilyerker]

Good morning kings, let’s get this bread 🍞

[@toigodgohdgjdfjkkj9878]

if its hot/stolen $ isit toast

[@chelebelle2223]

@@garyzimmer8061 😁👍🏾 good one!

[@ussvincent1119]

People in the 20’s: Begone *V A M P*

[@clarkclaps4547]

vamp anthem vamp anthem vamp anthem vamp anthem

[@purplegurl79]

Let Bygones be bygones! I always say that!

[@caycayy]

@@clarkclaps4547 sometimes you can see the replies before seeing the replies

[@Golabkiwsosiepomidorowym]

Please bring back VAMP

[@whiteknight1479]

Sounds like a better word. Vamp. Ha

[@JeyFlash]

At least half of these have heavily lasted through the times..as an early 90’s baby, only a few of these I hadn’t heard growing up with my grandmothers 😀

[@caittails]

Same age, and I hear them all the time from people even younger than me. 😂

[@randomthoughtstoday]

Funny how 100 years later or so, the 1920's slang words still outperform the 2020's.

[@Tofilux]

Fun Fact: "Slang" is an slang word for Shortened Language 😉

[@InsaneNuYawka]

🤯

[@jesuslovesyouandisthewayto1114]

Jesus loves you he died for your sins repent and have faith to be saved

[@jerrycurl637]

you shouldn't write "an slang" it's "a slang"

[@aaronflynndevereux1832]

@@jerrycurl637 unless your Jeremy Clarkson

[@patriciagriffith7402]

@@jerrycurl637 grammar police🤢

[@sudonim7552]

In 2120 there will be a video like this discussing the meanings of "bruh", "lit", "yeet", "boof", and so on.

[@Qrayon]

What do "yeet" and "bouf" mean?

[@Qrayon]

@@Ajz092 I guess we'll have to wait until 2120.

[@sudonim7552]

@@Qrayon "Yeet" can be used as a verb meaning "throw", or simply as an expression you say while throwing something. "Boof", as of right now, means a joint, as in "pass me the boof", although it's definitely not limited to that definition. What "boof" means can completely depend on the context you are using it in.

[@Qrayon]

@@sudonim7552 Thank you.

[@freefinancialadvice]

BOOF means to administer drugs through your rectum. Look it up if u don’t believe me.

[@patrickwolf5796]

Linguistics is a fascinating topic. So many of these slang terms still exist today, but have slightly or totally different meanings. This was very Hot and 23 scaddoll.

[@Not_Always]

23 skidoo

[@bubz3t136]

The word vamp has had two other meanings over the years. Jazz musicians used it to mean "A short, simple introductory passage", and graffiti artists in '80s New York used to use it to mean mugging someone. There was even a graffiti crew who called themselves The Vamp Squad.

[@kosovo6280]

🧛🏿 carti

[@biskit8050]

@@kosovo6280 SLATT

[@xxxod]

​@@kosovo6280 SGP is og vamp

[@LuckyCharms777]

I can see that. Mugging someone isn’t too dissimilar from a vampire sucking someone’s blood. Money being the lifeblood for our survival.

[@ima8533]

@@LuckyCharms777that’s not what it means Vamp vamp life or vampin is just a person who up at night and sleeps in the day just like a vampire Nightlife people

[@--enyo--]

I’m surprised how many are still in reasonably common usage.

[@hojo70]

And how!

[@donnybrook8824]

@@hojo70 Get out more and meet some friends, talk to strangers. Do something with your life.

[@barbarak2836]

@@donnybrook8824 Are you having a bad day, and it makes you feel better to take it out on others?

[@donnybrook8824]

@@barbarak2836 90% of these words are still common. Education must be dead.

[@donnybrook8824]

@J And how?

[@Adam-xf6sq]

Old Karen: Back in my day we didn’t have slang. 1920’s teenager: ok wet blanket Edit: this comment is a joke, it funny. Stop trying to disprove my claim because there isn’t any.

[@Hamptino]

She probably went to petting parties

[@dabdella1460]

@@Hamptino 😅😅😅 yeah a zoo

[@belstar1128]

The 200000000 year old karen

[@MichaelJ44]

Source?

[@MichaelJ44]

Exactly 🤦‍♂️

[@rwarren58]

It’s amazing how many are still used and recognizable. Good job and how. I would add bootleg to your list. Still watching in 2023.

[@akajessca]

I'm in my 30's and out of the 17 slang words explained here, there were maybe 5 that I had never really heard of and made me feel I learned something new. The rest I found to be common knowledge and/or still in use to this day. I mean, who doesn't know what dough means or when something's hot? With that being said, I did enjoy the video. And even if I feel the definitions of some words were unnecessary, I didn't realize how old some slang was & it was cool to learn the stories behind them.

[@Trentsum]

I spent dough getting this tomato fried. We were about to make whoopi until a wet blanket dampened the mood.

[@DantheToonMan]

I’m just going to pretend I don’t know what you mean.

[@vilefly]

She was IT, wasn't she? But then that ragamuffin just had to go and pull out his heater on ya. He was all wet because that was his wife, see? Good thing Mugsey showed up and bounced him up on out of there. Don't worry about it. CHECKERS! THE COPS! RUN!

[@SteveFrenchWoodNStuff]

Robert James Johnson and Emma Harris weren't just making love: they were making Whoopi! (Look the names up if you don't get it.)

[@shibolinemress8913]

@@SteveFrenchWoodNStuff I see what you did there! 🖖😊

[@MrMike-oc6dr]

You didn't flip her huh?

[@limbo8359]

1920s slang: "You put on quite the ritz my old chap!" 2020s slang: "Why you actin amogus sussy baka poggers bruh"

[@rowenkylee5627]

Anyone talking like the 2020s need an exorcist.

[@boozeyoozey7248]

I don't know about 'sussy' but I know that 'amongus' is just a funny word some people use, 'baka' is a japanese word for 'idiot' or 'dumb' it also died off in 2018 or 2019 because I can't find anyone who uses it unironically today, 'poggers' is a word for 'very good' and it became popular with the twitch streamer Tommyinnit.

[@robintst]

Slang has never been worse than right now.

[@ss6truks]

No. Nobody says that

[@bruce_sat4n66]

@@robintst nah, i don't think so

[@MrFagedaboudit]

My Dad was a teenager in '20s Southside Chichago. I grew up with this stuff.

[@nandocordeiro5853]

1920: In the future, we'll have flying cars! 2021: Let's bring back 1920's slang!

[@MintleafCakes]

well, this was published in 2020, but i get your joke

[@shiruki8974]

We have made a flying car already

[@pscoolguy]

Pretty much all of the, "1920'sslang," is used today.

[@JacksContent]

@@shiruki8974 Yeah There Is One In Slovakia I Believe. It Is A Small Aircraft That When On The Ground Transforms Into A Car

[@MimicMimicMimic]

We actually have a flying car, they are still in testing though. Lol

[@vsretro7061]

Thank you, I’ll be needing this when I time travel

[@ezteal5665]

Mind where do we meet before wards

[@thomasvleminckx]

And how!

[@user-wf1yv4ko9y]

Lets crash wall street again

[@returnofbeaux]

quantum entanglement is a helluva drug.

[@AustinJones330]

Same

[@YoutubesaysimCyberbully]

word "vamp" exist , carti : rEal ShHHIIIIIIIITTTt?

[@zen7even]

😂

[@zfnemesis6071]

This video be bussing bruh fr fr no cap🔥🔥💯💯🔥

[@areyoutheregoditsmedave]

“A young adult male” Otherwise known as a young man

[@jamesbarnousky1270]

A "moid", if you will.

[@putridabomination]

A premature eldery XY Chromosome individual

[@daviddebroux4708]

@@putridabomination if you must

[@thatyoutubechannel9953]

Thank you, we were all very confused. Jackass.

[@foiledits]

Theres no need to feel down, i said young adult male

[@grumpyoldwizard]

Man, you made me feel old. I am 62 and was raised by my Grandparents, so I heard a lot of these words in use.

[@gamesgames2389]

@Average Joe I hope you didn't hear the word woopie ever being used XD

[@joejones8454]

your profile picture makes me happy

[@mr.hotpockets3425]

Damn

[@Catsface99]

I am 63 and my PARENTS said those things and so do I and many of my friends. My parents were born in the 1930s.

[@irlredline7965]

Noice you're 62 and you have Spawn as your profile pic it's nice seeing the older generation with stuff like that

[@jamesb.9155]

I picked up a lot of these slang words from parents and grandparents and still hear and even use such phrases today!

[@user-vn6bm5zt2u]

Thanks, youre doing a great job with these videos. It helps me understnd my grandparents era from long ago.

[@JoshMaxPower]

My mother, who died at 94 in 2018, was fond of the word "pill" meaning someone who was a dud or not very lively, at party or such. "She's a real pill, that one!" Thanks for a great video! I knew every one of the phrases!

[@pamelatapia5595]

My mom was the same age group as yours, and always called me a "pill" when I was being overly active and talkative.

[@lynn6221]

Mom used to say that too. And another was - I've got more aches and pains then a bottle of Carters pills. Lol

[@jameswilliams3241]

My mom used the same term she'll be 93 in September. My grandparents and my parents used many of these terms so I'm familiar with the terms, my mom always referred to us as a bunch of ragamuffins and sometimes as crumbsnatchers

[@Seattleseeker]

A pill is someone who is hard to take. A card on the other hand would be someone fun to play along with.

[@kenbranaugh8251]

That poor sap" my dad would say

[@thumbstruck]

Another "dough" reference - "doe" for deerskin, common currency in frontier America, "buck" = a buckskin = $1.

[@jonnyOysters]

@GODWIN VINCENT GEVICE Moe I didn't.... I mean I knew about bucks meaning money but I didn't know the origin of it

[@IONLYKNOWMOVESTHATKILLPEOPLE]

@GODWIN VINCENT GEVICE Moe neither did I dickbag

[@GameStationDreamBox]

@GODWIN VINCENT GEVICE Moe yeah, me either dumbass

[@SonofSethoitae]

"Dough" is actually dough though. It's related to the older slang term "bread," which itself comes from the Cockney Rhyming Slang "bread and honey" for money

[@huitlang931]

A buck can actually be $1 to 1,000,000 or more depending on context.

[@eggheadusa9900]

I was born in the 40s but I actually still use most of these today

[@foulmoodcentral2830]

The past is a gift, linguistically speaking.

[@nbgilbert]

I grew up with this vintage slang. I recognize all of it. My grandmother used it, my parents used it and I’ve used it. I’m 65 years old.

[@sweetnsour3693]

Have you passed on the slang to your kids?

[@superchitownhustler]

That's swell!

[@jaylyn1471]

Awesome

[@bflogal18]

I’m 62 and I recognize a lot of this slang. “And how” is a term I heard my parents say many times and I picked it up as a kid.

[@texasred2702]

@@jaylyn1471 I totally see what you did there.

[@soarornor]

My Grandfather Henry used to say “.....since Christ lost his shoes in the Sinai Desert.....” to denote a long passage of time. As in: “I haven’t seen that guy since Christ lost his shoes in the Sinai Desert.” My sister and I still use that phrase and laugh every time. He had a lot of great bits. He was born in 1890.

[@ferdelance6801]

Since king hatchet was a young boy! Have you heard of this one?

[@soarornor]

@@ferdelance6801 Never heard it but that’s a great one.

[@joemacdonnagh6750]

Since day dot.

[@generalpatzer6893]

Since Christ was a cowboy...lol

[@lubertdass1444]

I always loved “As old as Methuselahs mother” and “ I don’t know him from Adams house cat”

[@robertsullivan4773]

This was fun and I remembered most of them But that's because im 77 and heard them from my parents and grandparents 😅

[@BeIlG]

I LOVE you trying to decipher TRUE slang of the day vs what has become more desirable. It can come off as more making fun of an era. Thank you! this feels like true historian work.

[@againstthepods4316]

i wonder what all the people in these pictures are up to i would love to meet them they probably have so many stories now from that time.

[@bhans234]

In germany the translation of "and how" is commonly used today. "Und wie"

[@greedokenobi3855]

Same in the Netherlands, we use it a lot! En hoe!

[@fenn_fren]

Also in Czechia. "A jak!" is still commonly used even today.

[@xZandrem]

Same in Italy, we use it as a common response, we say "Eccome" (which is an attached version of the two words "E" and "come" translated in english as "And" & "How") Maybe the american slang word came from our europeans common saying during the great immigrations of our ancestors

[@defendrr_ru]

Can confirm, the word is used in Russia too, although rarely.

[@lyingeyes5579]

Same in Afrikaans too👀 En hoe nou!

[@julienielsen3746]

I have a high school yearbook from the 1930s. The word "swell" was used a lot in the things kids wrote in the yearbook. I guess that was used in the 1920s too.

[@thetooginator153]

I saw my dad’s early-fifties high school yearbook, and almost everyone wrote: “To a swell guy...” These days, it seems like “swell” is mostly used a bit sarcastically, as in “I spilled coffee on my shirt! Isn’t that just swell?”

[@AAM29290]

@@thetooginator153 I use swell all the time instead of saying it went “so well”

[@thetooginator153]

@@AAM29290 - I tried to find the origin of “swell” and I couldn’t find anything, but I bet it comes from “so well” as you said. I think it’s a fun word, and I’m glad you are helping keeping it alive. I’m sixty, and I remember adults using the word “swell” to mean “good” when I was a boy. I think “swell” started to be replaced with other words (in California at least) in the late sixties. Words for “good” change with every new generation because kids like to have their own vocabulary that is different from adults. When I was in high school, one word for “good” was “gnarly”, which was immortalized in the movie “Fast Times at Ridgemont High”. I bet the word “swell” (as an adjective) is VERY old, so, I bet that it has had many periods of heavy usage over the centuries, and I bet it will become common again.

[@lordfenix17]

Well isn't that swell?

[@vibaj16]

TheTooginator I feel like these days “swell” is seen as fancy/old way of saying good, like if it was from Shakespeare’s time

[@staceymarie6895]

I knew everyone of these. I'm 62, my parents are 89. Thus, my grandparents used these expressions. Yes! All of them 😂

[@TybJim]

I still use a lot of these expressions occasionally, probably having picked them up from family members and older films they used to watch.

[@motorola59]

I first heard "And how!" used by The Little Rascals.

[@TempoDrift1480]

I first heard dough by Bugs Bunny when Fud almost got that inheritance.

[@johncbeer]

Every episode!

[@fupatrash]

aaand how!

[@eddyindahouse8169]

“Do you have an account with us?” “And how!”

[@scottnowell4975]

What about "the bee's knees"?

[@over-educated-sp]

“If you don’t know where to go to, why don’t you go where fashion sits. Putting on the Ritz.”

[@chelebelle2223]

😁

[@keithjohnston5936]

PUDDI’ ONNA REE! Young Frankenstein! The cheesy top 40 hit by Taco ruined it.

[@nonameman9291]

Wow, way to fuck up the lyrics.

[@over-educated-sp]

@@nonameman9291 settle down there cool music nerd. You’re obviously old enough to know the song, yet have the temperament of a basement dwelling duche bag. I was only like 13 when the 80’s remake of this song came out. I was definitely not listening to raído friendly shit, I.e. this song. I simply wrote the first thing closest to this, I remembered at 12-15 years old. You are everything you hate about yourself when you glance at yourself in your mirror. Now go have mommy make you some Mac & cheese. FYI, I’m a history professor, and the 20’s are not my emphasis. You internet nerd.

[@Docneg]

@@over-educated-sp Ha! The professor also misspells "radio", "douche", and "Internet". Over-educated, indeed.

[@Cam-gk9ms]

i will never forget my early childhood. i was born in 1995 and I had the honor and privilege of meeting people born in early 1900s and I remember like yesterday, it was 2002, meeting a woman who was born in 1902. She told me to "keep your ideas open and enjoy living in the future" because we're living in the times she wished she could have. It didn't hit me until recently when i'm in my late 20's to see what she actually meant by that.

[@mijoepa]

Some of these really need to make a comeback.

[@geometricentric]

…and how!

[@DallasTheLad]

The fact that we use some of these still

[@jamesslick4790]

"Dough" and "Bread" were still common slang in the 1970s. I was born in 1962, and I spent my share of dough trying to make bread.

[@realeyesrealiserealliesful2957]

I used the word dough today

[@zabariduwab9950]

I use bread all day everyday

[@pantherman8719]

I got some throw-away bread.

[@guywhousesapseudonymonyout4272]

I was boirn in 1970, and I'm pretty sure they are both used. I mean, maybe they are dated, but would a kid today need a KZbin video to actually explain it?

[@press_here__8697]

Yeah, they’re both still common today. I’d say bread is more popular than dough, but I’ve still used and heard both at least once or twice this month

[@newbells1337]

What I wouldn't give for Art Deco to make a comeback.

[@BadWebDiver]

Same.

[@deechonada]

too much?

[@elgatofelix8917]

What I wouldn't give for this channel's lame videos to stop appearing in my recommended

[@trippybruh1592]

Especially the architecture and interior design. One of my favorite places in the world is the Little America hotel in SLC. As soon as you walk in it's like stepping back in time and it's so warm and comfortable even during the rough winter months.

[@iaoshua]

its back

[@kimkranker6110]

I've heard lots of these from my grandmother and even mother. Some I never heard. And 2 or 3 I use today. Interesting video - thanks for sharing!

[@islandseeker1260]

We can't neglect how later generations alluded back to some of the earlier slang in the comedy of their own time, such as the law firm Dewey, Cheatem & Howe in the Three Stooges. One of my favs has always been "that's Jake" (roughly translated to "that's cool"), and reintroduced into the 1970s lexicon in the wildly successful movie "The Sting", and mostly used by Robert Redford in dialog.

[@smallstudiodesign]

My mum was born in 1924 ... she died in January 2021. She was a treasure trove of memories from by gone times & experiences. ✨💖✨

[@mikebeesley3150]

My mom was 92 when she passed away, she was funny, when someone rang the doorbell she would say "who DAT" and when she and when she picked up the phone she said "who dis" it was great.

[@texasballunofficial]

@@jokesrcool3737 r.I.p

[@ShellShock11C]

Life well lived.

[@ShellShock11C]

@@ccox7198 Really dude? Like...REALLY? Gtfo.

[@descartesdonkey4291]

has she kicked the bucket?

[@antsolja]

its funny how some slang has stuck around for 100 years

[@adrinathegreat3095]

Half the four letter slang words used today are 18th and 19th century

[@apathyguy8338]

Not really. language evolves. If you could travel back 500 years you'd likely only understand about half the words people spoke. People would think your an ignoramus. Well more people would.

[@selfishstockton6123]

@@apathyguy8338 but the 18th and 19th centuries weren’t 500 years ago 🙄

[@apathyguy8338]

@@selfishstockton6123 You are correct. My point was today's slang is in tomorrow's dictionary. I don't believe that point is off topic here.

[@JudgeJulieLit]

... to 200.

[@evilblack2416]

As a hepster it's cool to see the younger generation latch on to the older jive. Just *one* thing i've gotta blow steam on: Louis Armstrong was born in the Battlefield in New Orleans, French Creole country, so you don't pronounce the S in his name. Say it like "Louie" if you want to be solid.

[@tacoandmelone]

Can you make a sequel to this video? I'd love to know more slang words of the 1920s

[@kimballwhittington2463]

My grandmother had a two part brooch from the 20s. It was a silver piece that said GEE and a tiny chain connected to another piece that said WIZZ. I asked her where she got it. She said it was on a dress she bought in the 1930s. In hard times they would put free jewelry on dresses to make them more attractive. I HAVE THIS BROOCH TO THIS DAY. And still think about what a new and fresh flapper phrase it once was. AW GEE WIZZ!!!

[@HOLLASOUNDS]

Got to make that dough, Shes a bit of a Vamp and will suck you dry, Dressing like the Rits, Hes a bit of a ragamuffin, She is a Hot tomato, He is a bit of a wet blanket, selling hot goods, Giving Me Heebie Geebies, Shes definitely got IT, these are all thinks someone from England in there 30s will still say today.

[@-.__328]

@@brendonlacroix2251 humans are both fantastic and terrible at the same time

[@gregtavarez3322]

@@-.__328 thats what makes us truly unique. We are capable of creation and destruction unlike any other creature on this planet . But don’t focus on the bad cus theres ALOT of it . Focus on the good of humanity cus thats what true humanity is , helping others and creating a community for all.

[@dylanmonstrum1538]

Damn man, thats really awesome actually

[@hardcase7753]

that sounds like an epic brooch

[@samgalloway3012]

anyone else expected footage with audio of the slang? but then you realize its from the 20's and theres rarely any footage with audio...

[@sethfrisbie3957]

I did as well.

[@werebitch1313]

"Dewey, Skrewup, & Howe - Attorneys at Law." One of my favourite 3 Stooges lines. 😂 You know, though, several of these are still in use, today.

[@ImYourPusherman]

Dewey, Cheatham and Howe 😁

[@VioletJoy]

What a fun video! The photos and video clips were a huge bonus.

[@clxud9776]

so... is anyone gonna talk about how 1920's "sheik" is functionally the same as 2020's "chad"?

[@yigebru505]

History repeats itself

[@yeanah2571]

It doesn't, Chad is not desirable..

[@aifebleshoj4049]

Genius

[@PhyreI3ird]

@@yeanah2571 originally it wasn't, but I think since it was a term used by incels to throw pity parties for themselves and wallow in gloom, lots of people have embraced it as a positive term to trigger them.

[@SerunaXI]

@@yeanah2571 Chad may have started as derogatory, but the context of it shifted and became embraced by those that felt it was meant for them. Through some cultural evolution, it's come to represent peak male attractiveness. The derogatory context can still be active, but most brush it off and look to the compliment of the word instead.

[@nephetula]

A few more I remember: Being drunk was "sauced" No was "nix" Stopping something was "putting the kibosh on it" A pistol was a "rod" or "heater" A hairpiece was "rug" A hat was a "lid" A boxer was a "palooka" Women were "dames" Getting killed was "iced" Gangsters were "heavies" Dice were "bones" A bag was a "poke" Keep quiet was "put a lid on it" or "zip it" A machine gun was a "Tommy gun" or a "typewriter" Running from the law was "on the lam" Money was "moolah" A lawyer was a "mouthpiece"

[@melissacooper4282]

I know lots of slang terms for money. Dough, loot, bread, moolah, and cash.

[@allisgrace1313]

My grandparents were born in 1915 and 1916 and sauced was definitely the word they used for being drunk!

[@adreabrooks11]

"Poke" (bag) isn't really slang as such. It's the anglicized spelling of the French word "poque" - which means the same thing. A small poque (informally "poquette") is where we get the word "pocket." On the other hand, some think that the slang (now accepted in common speech) word "poach" came from this same term - since a thief or unlawful hunter would conceal their goods in a poke, to avoid casual notice.

[@michaelshultz2540]

@@melissacooper4282 clams,whampum, lettuce,scratch,show cards,etc...

[@janealexander1378]

Drunk; "you could get paralyzed for 15 cents" -Ethyl Waters, 'The New Jump Steady Ball' 1929

[@wrany72]

I was born in 1972 and have heard 90% of these even recently. I heard 'wet blanket' today in another youtube video. I don't think these phrases died out until more recently because the slang culture is in fast forward now.

[@alexanderdoerr5570]

What great content, bro! Thank you for sharing!

[@lynnpehrson8826]

People still say "dough", and to a much lesser extent "and how"

[@liamroberts9047]

Hello Lynn, How are you doing?

[@rowenkylee5627]

I've never heard "and how" being used.

[@lynnpehrson8826]

@@rowenkylee5627 it wouldn't be a normal thing to say, but someone may say it in a sarcastic or comedic context

[@mollieisabellereynolds]

my mum used to call me a ragamuffin when my hair was tangled as a little kid. she was born in 1973.

[@PhxVanguard]

i say, "and how". lol

[@AlgaeEater09]

1920 - “let’s get this dough” 2020 - “let’s get this bread”

[@JesusChristisLORDrepent]

1020: *lets get this yeast*

[@evie402]

In a few years it's gonna be toast

[@Ihavepinkeye]

@@evie402 or sandwich

[@davej4476]

We got baked

[@Tech-vd7qs]

Lets get this starch

[@1912SimpleTune]

Love this channel!!🎉🎉

[@okxack3199]

The clothes, the music. The cars. Gosh if only we couldve kept those things from these times

[@remmyx4012]

1920s: sheik and sheiva 2020s: himbo and bimbo

[@MCTogs]

Chad and Stacy, if you feel so inclined

[@toyotaprius79]

Yes.

[@danksanchez4324]

@@MCTogs truly the incel circle of life lmao

[@TheIraqiforce]

Sheba*

[@requiemforpsyche]

Himbo and bimbo has been used since the 80s tho

[@RoccoKergo]

Dough 1:16 Vamp 1:49 Sheik 2:30 And how! 3:34 Putting on the ritz 4:13 Ragamuffin 4:58 Tomato 5:39 Wet Blanket 6:18 Whoopie 6:58 Fried 7:40 Bump off 8:20 Cheaters 8:55 Hot 9:19 Hock 10:04 Petting Party 10:48 Bob 11:29 Heebie Jeebies 12:20 Thanks for watching! 14:09 I just needed to make a list to quickly pull these out whenever lol

[@waferae]

thanks

[@StrawbearXD]

Forgot it

[@CalebDNM]

@@StrawbearXD forgot what?

[@StrawbearXD]

@@CalebDNM the word it

[@CalebDNM]

@@StrawbearXD the word what?

[@curiositykillingcat3226]

I'm a Brit in my 30s - most of these are familiar to me! Many still used in Britain to this day even if they're old-fashioned and might be used more jokingly. I'd never heard glasses called "cheaters" though! Oh, and I've always seen "hock" as "hawk"

[@drsch]

I've honestly heard every single one of these used in regular conversation during my life. I think language doesn't change as much as you think it does.

[@GreyWolfLeaderTW]

The 1920s was the era the slang "cool" came into use as well, specifically because of Calvin Cooliage, the 30th American president. Because Calvin was unflappable, aloof, strict, sharp, and stayed out of the political mud, the first part of his last name became a shorthand to refer to someone as steady, smooth, sly, and fashionable.

[@breastfeeder4856]

Thats a very cool fact

[@robintst]

Cool . . . beans.

[@nytrodioxide]

Yo that's cool

[@kap369]

I think the Jazz crowd started cool and hip. Makes more sense to me, but I wasn’t there.

[@literallyunderrated]

No… and at least spell his name right

[@joadarium9605]

So even in the 1920's people described parties as "fire" and "lit"

[@VeritasEtAequitas]

But cool and hot can mean the same thing.

[@lets-getbrandon4192]

@@VeritasEtAequitas now you’re on the trolley

[@skyblaze1134]

Yes this generation didnt make up anything new lot of slang is older than you may think.

[@ferencmarcellpalyi220]

@@VeritasEtAequitas yep, it's up to you which one you use. Also, it's down to you which one you use.

[@robintst]

"Lit" lasted a few decades back then but it meant being drunk.

[@akadros310]

I have heard nearly all of these. I guess watching old movies and listening to old music really paid off

[@gasmith7486]

Wow great video! Love the narration, too! Excellent job!

[@hectormontes7056]

I though the phrase “wet blanket” came from how uncomfortable a wet blanket would be, it being wet turned it from being soft comfortable and warm into something wet and cold. I just imagined a wet blanket among normal blankets, or laying in a bed and getting a wet blanket instead of a dry one. I guess I haven’t really thought about it since I was a kid.

[@jombiejuss]

Or in England you could call a person “moist” meaning weak, soggy, soft. Great slang is great and sticks because they transcend many multiple implications and shows our gift of abstract communication which is exclusively the way our human species communicates

[@trekkiejunk]

“Abstract communication” is not “exclusively the way our human species communicates.” We also communicate directly with language, not just abstractly.

[@jombiejuss]

Trekkie Junk language is made up of abstract clusters called words. Each word is made up of abstract symbols called letters. Context further ads to the flexibility abstraction makes of them. Like saying “The tree has no bark.” Or “the dog has no bark”

[@sheep4483]

​@@trekkiejunk I think the point is that language itself is abstract, it can be used to convey concrete things but really the true power of it is that it can be used to describe anything, whether it exists concretely or not, and as concretely or abstractly as one may want. Although furthermore, I think you misinterpreted "exclusively the way our human species communicates" as it being the exclusive way we communicate, when I think he more likely meant that we, exclusively, communicate using language in such a manner, as opposed to any other species.

[@jombiejuss]

Sheep44 Dialect also evolves slowly throughout, and the youth using their slang as apart of newer language that feels timely and like their own and adopting a updated dialect to communicate with their peers and know whose familiar. That flexibility allows for such communication breakdowns and restructures to go on. “Water needs to flow to stay fresh” ☯️👈

[@lawrenceaglick8511]

My impression is that "ragamuffin" only referred to poor children, never to adults. Also, his name may have always been spelled "Louis" Armstrong but it was always pronounced "Louie".

[@tallboy2234]

Rag-a-muffin is definitely a child wearing rag-like clothes. Louie is just the shortened, knick-name of the formal Louis. The city St. Louis is often called St. Louie.

[@fuckdefed]

@@tallboy2234 It wouldn’t sound remotely formal to pronounce the name of any of the kings of France called ‘Louis’ as ‘Lewis’ when it should be ‘Loo-ee’. Louis Spence, Louis Theroux and Louis Walsh are British and Irish celebrities who are always called ‘Loo-ee’, it’s only in America where ‘Louis’ is normally pronounced ‘Lewis’ (though ‘Louis Armstrong’ is occasional called ‘Lewis’ outside of America by people who are consciously trying to pronounce his name in the way that he, himself, said it.).

[@kenkur27]

@@tallboy2234 'Louie' is also the original French pronunciation of the name

[@maryerb6062]

That's because it's French.

[@lornas-w4661]

But when he sings he himself pronounces it Lewis.

[@joalexsg9741]

What an adorable channel, thank you so much for such cultural content!😇💙💜🙏🙏🙏

[@IIGrayfoxII]

Amazing that some of these words are still in use 100 years later.

[@jegr3398]

You'll never catch me copper! I ain't talkin' see!

[@3starperfectdeer233]

Flatfoot, gumshoe is better sounding

[@3starperfectdeer233]

@1tiercel I thought it was another name for a Gman

[@puckpuckster3604]

Seems like most are still in use today. None were unknown.

[@dave-yj9mc]

I didn't know "tomato"... but I've used Peach

[@dickiegreenleaf750]

I agree. Not sure why he’s acting like these are foreign words. Majority of these are known and still used. Sure not a lot but heard them many times.

[@brianmccarthy5557]

Tomato was used in the 1990's crime drama "The Grifters" starring John Cusack, Annette Bening and Angelica Houston, based on the Jim Thompson novel. The Bening character uses it to describe herself. I've heard it rarely used in real life. Most of the rest of these are in common use to various degrees and I've used them myself. Petting parties was stlll around when I was a young teen in the 1970's but I haven't heard it since. Vamp is pretty unusual. Sheik is only used with respect to the condom of the same name, since we have far more experience with Islamic Arabs than they did then, mostly negative. You did give me the info to understand the title of the play and 1950's film "Come Back Little Sheba" with Burt Lancaster. I've heard Sheba used by some older black men to describe a queenly black woman, by not by younger men. "It" was generally replaced in the 1960's by "charisma" which is still used, though it's echoed in phrases like "She's got it!" and "you've either got it or you don't".

[@dc1697]

"Keen" is an old one . "Numb skull" is another . "Wise guy" ; "clams" is one I use when dealing with money

[@dickiegreenleaf750]

@@dc1697 numb skull lol

[@shoesncheese]

Excellent video! I remember a few of these from my Three Stooges obsession as a kid.

[@cjab__]

Thanks, this'll be really helpful once i fix up the time machine

[@jeffsummstl]

“Making whoopee” was still being used on The Newlywed Game and Match Game in the ‘70s.

[@kzrmix2305]

I once saw a tip jar that had a note on it saying "We knead our dough" I have always thought that was really clever

[@SerunaXI]

You exist for your wage, you work for your tip.

[@rogermoore27]

The Petting Part sounds like excellent fun

[@marscaleb]

It's amazing to see how much of this slang is still in use today. How many decades can make that claim?

[@demidevil666]

Fun fact regarding the exclamation "and how!" mentioned here: In German, we have an equivalent exclamation, "und wie!", which is the exact same phrase, translated directly word by word. And it is used in the exact same manner and context. It has gone out of fashion over the past few decades, but it is still very recognizable and doesn't sound off to a German speaker.

[@4oska763]

Now that I think about it in Polish it would sound something like 'A jak! ' or 'A jakże!'

[@S_--]

To add onto the polish guy's comment: Southern Slavic languages have this too. We say "И то како!" Or alternatively we use the full variation of the middle word to get "И тоа како!" We like to shorten words a lot so the first one would probably be more common.

[@bumschak12]

also we have the word "verhökern" which directly translates to the slang word "hock". And it is also used as slang. I wonder if we adapted the american phrases, or if the influences came by german ancestors. I fear we will never know :D

[@texasred2702]

Interestingly there's a similar Spanish (or at least Mexican) expression, "Y que?" which roughly means "so [what]?"

[@mreunome]

And how!....conjures up Moe, Larry, Curly...And Shemp

[@kickinvideo333]

"You know I believe, and how!" - The Beatles 1969

[@peaceonearth8693]

The Three Stooges were often saying pretty much that. Especially the "and how" part.

[@toddschendel4999]

@@peaceonearth8693 😎

[@imasonofadeadbeat2928]

Specifically, George Harrison.

[@karaamundson3964]

Paul loved his father's old (1920s) records, and they would often play & sing the tunes.

[@ginny3491]

Yep!

[@KimberlyBishh]

'Ball of Fire' is a great movie for old time slang, its apart of the premise of the film!!

[@miragetime2241]

No cap, slang back in da day was bussin fr’

[@AVClarke]

"Wet Blanket" is still pretty common today.

[@fraise_fraud]

Are you sure

[@sadderbythecloud]

Used alot in grappling / wrestling

[@ethan1340]

okay boomer

[@camerons9229]

idk why everyone is replying saying “not so much.” I have called people a wet blanket and heard it used commonly my whole life. Maybe it’s a regional thing?

[@weirdhuman627]

I've never heard 'Wet Blanket' before watching this video.

[@strokerace4765]

“Looking like a vamp, like a video queen” Def Leopard

[@restricttheopennotes]

"Lookin like a tramp, like a video vamp"* But i seen culture runs through you

[@celestehernandez2000]

I remember in my junior year of high school, my history teacher went over the 1920s slang and gave us an assignment where we had to write a small script for a reenactment of everyday conversations back then. I remember using “putting on the ritz” 😁

[@djmohglojojo5504]

Being a black man, you got heebie jeebies on the head lol. I laughed so hard at your explanation/demonstration!! “Yup…you’ve got a case of the heebie jeebies” 😭😭😭😭

[@caseyjonsson1755]

I have my great grandmothers high school year book and the best part is all the slang terms written by other students "youre the tops" and "to a fellow jitterbug" are my favs- slang through out the years is so interesting

[@donicaburley9163]

Cool beans!

[@buckabrams4337]

@@donicaburley9163 my grandma says that all the time

[@adamivester9876]

Gracie's a swell! (Meaning someone is rich)

[@bigbadvoodooMAGAdaddy]

I'm not sure if it's 20's but there isn't nothing like a hootenanny!

[@VioletJoy]

How fun!!

[@uncle5164]

It’s hard to think my grandma lived through the 1920’s and is still here....

[@steviestuff1319]

Talk to her as much as you can. She is a book of knowledge that won't be around forever.

[@waynegnarlie1]

I can't believe Louis Armstrong was already popular, and had a hit with Heebie Jeebie in 1926. He lived a long amazing life.

[@kenkaniff6142]

Good for you, all mine are dead. Thanks for making my night pal.

[@robintst]

Cherish the time.

[@uncle5164]

@@steviestuff1319 I just found this video again, it’ll be hard to because she speaks Cantonese and I don’t, but she’s still going strong at 97.

[@raizab.1837]

Why do the early 1900's fascinate me so much? 1900 to the late 1930's....

[@raizab.1837]

@@canskasapaemanon708 Maybe not this song so much but that era... Were we there or in some strange way tied to it? That time does pull me. One of life's mysteries... Take care friend...

[@christownsend4920]

I've heard most of these and still use a lot of them.

[@silence.9376]

*"The human brain is the most complex structure in the whole entire universe"* _-Human Brain._

[@ahhh9k]

d e e p

[@tristanblackford7903]

The universe is a structure; a construct of spacetime, matter, energy, dark matter, dark energy, and the laws of physics.

[@5people829]

@@tristanblackford7903 dark matter and energy are just filler words until we find what they actually are or what causes them.

[@tristanblackford7903]

@@5people829 that does not affect the validity of my statement.

[@tristanblackford7903]

people unless they are simply products of some physical law such as gravity is, then I guess I'm being redundant.

[@lilivonshtup3808]

I always liked the phrases, "The bees knees" and "The cat's pajamas/meow" meaning to hold something or someone in high esteem. Also the phrase, "I'll say" as in "I'll say she is" meaning emphatically agreeing with someone. "It's a cinch" or "A piece of cake" as in that's easy. "Blow this joint" to leave. "the lowdown" information. "Say" always starts a sentence to emphasize something. As in, "Say, that's a beautiful girl." I really think the '20's and '30's were the birth of slang.

[@kristinen9854]

I was thinking that while watching the video that the 1920's was the birth of slang.

[@ShortBusScotty]

23 skadoo

[@Whipslinger1]

@@ShortBusScotty 23 Skidoo. That was a Policemens term, first used by a Police officer to a bunch of loiterers on, if all places, 23rd St. Meaning, you've got to clear off of 23rd St. No loitering allowed. True story. I was surprised when I first read it. Thought it was way to contrived to be believed, but that is the story. And that's how that frase got born.

[@darknessanddistance4469]

How about " take a powder" As in disappear quietly from the Gathering? Call a bathroom a powder room has something to do with that

[@marilynndonini7247]

@zorian. When the Flatiron Building was built at the intersection of Broadway, Fifth Avenue and 23rd Street, New York City in 1902, it was discovered that its triangular shape caused a wind tunnel effect at its base that blew women's skirts up almost to their knees--a sight that attracted many a young man to hang around the building hoping to get a glimpse of forbidden body parts such as female ankles and calves!!! Although the expressions "23" and "skiddoo" (both meaning roughly "get outta here" or (another 20's slang term!) "Scram") had arisen separately a few years prior to the building, there's no doubt that the cops used them both in rousting the would-be "mashers" from ogling the free show--hence this apocryphal attribution of the origin of "23 skiddoo"! It sure makes a great story though!!!

[@toucheturtle3840]

I remember watching Harold Lloyd when I was kid. No words were needed…Laurel & Hardy, Buster Keaton…

[@TheWrathfulProser]

Wow. My grandparents passed these down real good because I say all of these in every day conversation 😂