The 1920s saw the rise of a new mass culture. Thanks to public radio, broadcasting and the birth of the automobile, Americans from coast to coast were buying the same commodities, listening to the same tunes and even using the same slang! Here, I’ve consolidated a list of some of my favorite words and phrases from this jazzy time period that I’ve been trying to use in my daily vocabulary. I challenge you to do the same.
- The Cat’s Meow
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This one has plenty of fun variations, such as “the bee’s knees” or “the cat’s pajamas.” You might say “This is the cat’s meow!” about anything from a shiny new car to a bowl of Four Lakes Market’s coconut curry soup. Perhaps your roommate picked up an iced coffee for you this morning or took out the trash even though it wasn’t their turn; in either case, such actions could definitely warrant a “You are the bee’s knees!” Just so you know, there’s no such thing as overusing any of these phrases that so perfectly describe your appreciation for something (or someone) awesome.
- Carry a Torch
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If you carry a torch for someone, it means you secretly admire them. It can also mean that you suffer from unrequited love. I, for example, have carried a torch for Charlie Gillespie ever since I watched “Julie and the Phantoms” on Netflix this past year.
- Behind the Eight Ball
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If you are behind the eight ball, it means you are at a disadvantage or in a tight spot. This phrase refers to a position in the game of pool in which a player can’t make a direct shot at their target ball without hitting the eight ball and losing automatically. So if you are a college freshman like me during this crazy school year, you may be feeling like COVID-19 has put you behind the eight ball in getting to know new people and making friends.
- Giggle Water
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Giggle water is synonymous with liquor or booze. Let’s bring this back.
- Swell
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Swell is synonymous with “Cool!” or “Superb!”. Let’s bring this back too.
- Glad Rags
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This just might be my favorite of all 1920s slang. My embroidered jean jacket, red tank top, and cool checkered pants are no longer just my “night out” clothes – they are my glad rags. They are fancy, they are fun, they are my “going out on the town” outfit of choice. It’s fitting, too, because they make me happy.
- “Get hot! Get hot!”
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There isn’t a lot out there on the internet about this saying, but I knew from the moment I spied it on my Pinterest page that it was a great one. Collins Dictionary describes “get hot” as “to act or perform with great spirit or enthusiasm.” From what I understand, this saying was used during the 1920s as encouragement for a dancer doing his or her own thing during a party. So when the time comes, you’ll know how to cheer on that one person who is owning their place in the spotlight on the dance floor.
I hope you have as much fun with these phrases from the Jazz Age as I did. You’re the cat’s pajamas for reading this!