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.
"I got into pictures because I was good-looking,” he said simply. Robert Taylor was of the best things to come from Hollywood.