That’s How They Said it: Slang of the 1940s

Slang was popular with teenagers, and that included Shirley Temple.

Each era has its own set of colorful vocabulary. Because of the war, much of the forties slang was influenced by military terms. Following is a selection of slang, phrases, and expressions—some of which we still use today.  

above my pay grade- don’t ask me

ace- someone with a large amount of expertise in a given topic

anchor clanker- sailor

armored heifer- canned milk in your coffee

bad business- a bad situation; trouble

bathtub- motorcycle sidecar

bellyache- to continually complain about something

big house- federal prison

biz- business

black and white- police car

blow a fuse- to become uncontrollably angry

bogart- to hog

boondocks- an isolated location

butter and eggs man- a wealthy person

buy the farm- die

buzz wagon- ambulance

cat’s meow- stylish person

cheaters- sunglasses

cheesy- cheap

chew out- to yell at someone

chopper- a tooth

clams- money

cold fish- a distant or aloof person

cornball- unsophisticated person

cut a rug- to dance

dead hoofer- bad dancer

devil’s piano- machine gun

done for- to be finished; to be in big trouble

dressed to the nines- looking your best

ducky shincracker- good dancer

eager beaver- an excited helper

fuddy-duddy- an old-fashioned person

gas- a good time; something funny

gobbledygook- wordy

gone with the wind- to take someone’s money and run off with it

grandstand- showing off

greenbacks- cash

horse feathers- expression of disbelief

in cahoots- conspiring

jive- to make sense

joe- coffee

knocked out- forcibly put into a state of unconsciousness

lettuce- cash

old lady- mother

on the nose- exactly correct

palooka- someone not very good at something

pass the buck- passing responsibility on to someone else

peanuts- a small amount

pennies from heaven- easy money

rhubarb- loud argument

rug- wig

sack out- going to sleep

sauce- alcohol

snap your cap- get angry

soda jerk- person who works at a soda fountain

stompers- shoes

submarine- to duck out of sight quickly

two cents’ worth- your opinion

what’s buzzin’, cousin?- what’s up?

Photograph Credits- SHIRLEY TEMPLE: mattsko.

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Wartime Message to Children (1942)

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For the Kiddies: Children’s Toys and Games