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Title: Wise-crack dictionary
Editor: George H. Maines
Bruce Grant
Release date: November 30, 2025 [eBook #77369]
Language: English
Original publication: New York: The Spot News Service Publishing Company, 1926
Credits: Carla Foust, Tim Miller and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WISE-CRACK DICTIONARY ***
WISE-CRACK DICTIONARY
More than 1,000 phrases and words in
every day use collected from 10,000
communications received during a
newspaper prize contest and other
sources--a new addition to the
American dictionary.
_EDITORS_
GEORGE H. MAINES
BRUCE GRANT
[Illustration]
Printed by
THE SPOT NEWS SERVICE PUBLISHING COMPANY
100 GOLD STREET, NEW YORK
COPYRIGHT 1926 BY
SPOT NEWS SERVICE PUBLISHING CO.
FOREWORD
The editors of this exclusive little dictionary painstakingly
have collected from letters, communications and other sources of
information, expressions and words now heard in every stratum of
American life. They are strictly American, coined to fit the express
needs of that particular phase of life in which they are used.
Circus folk, stage people, hobos, crooks, flappers and cake-eaters,
cowboys, members of the 400, aviators et al have their own peculiar
vernaculars. This book should prove a valuable source of information
to the philologist. No detective should be without it if he would
understand the jargon of the criminal he hunts. No parent should be
without it to know whereof his offspring speaks. No actor, looking for
new lines, should be without it. No writer, who must understand current
expressions and words, should be without it. No American should be
without it if he would understand the talk about him. In compiling this
book there has been an underlying element of seriousness. However, it
is filled with humor and fun and there is a laugh in it for everyone.
The editors realize that they have not fully covered the ground and as
this volume will be reissued from time to time it is hoped that those
who read it will write in all information they think will prove an
addition to a DICTIONARY OF THEIR OWN LANGUAGE.
The Editors.
A
=Act like a ferry boat=--Come across
=Alaskan butcher=--One who gives you the cold shoulder
=All wet=--Too dry to be interesting
=Ambulance chaser=--Pessimistic lad
=African Golf=--Seven come ’leven
=Alchoholic athlete=--Rum runner
=Adam and Eve on a raft=--Eggs not shipwrecked
=Applesause=--Bah!
=Answer to a squirrel’s prayer=--A nut
=Ankled by=--Went by and not riding
=A frail=--Not one of the stronger sex
=Annie Oakley=--Free ticket
=As good as last month’s commutation ticket=--Not much
=Answer to a Maiden’s prayer=--He’s good looking
=Affectionate eyes=--Cross eyes that insist on looking at each other
=Airship=--Youth who walks his girl home
=Advance agent for a hard winter=--A grouch
=Alias=--Woman’s new married name
=An eclipse=--Freckled face
=All-around girl=--Fat Miss
=Animal cracker model=--Girl with a dear face and bare knees
=Answer like a horse=--Say nay but mean yes
=Armstrong wheeler=--Wheelbarrow when a hobo has to use it
=Asphalt Arab=--Man whose idea of a good time is to take his girl
window shopping
=And I don’t mean maybe=--Jazz form of putting one’s self on oath
B
=Blanket the headlights=--Turn the eggs over
=Bats in the belfrey=--Crazy
=Break your lips=--Say something
=Burn him up=--Arouse his anger
=Bee’s knees=--Bee-Utiful
=Be your age=--Act it
=Bum shaft=--Bad leg
=Button your lip=--Don’t talk so much
=Bad news=--Piece of pasteboard handed by the waiter after a meal
=Bologna bender=--Thrower of so-called bull
=Ball and chain=--The wife
=Buy a violin=--Expression politely informing listener his hair is
long
=Bit by a fox=--Very wise
=Bedroom suit=--Pair of Pajamas
=Be a monkey’s uncle=--Be surprised
=B. Y. Boy=--One who says “be yourself” or act natural
=Bag of wind=--Hefty talker who says nothing
=Broadcaster=--Repeater of everything he hears
=Bird’s Eye View=--A stingy person
=Big cheese=--The Boss
=Be an automat=--When a girl says to her fellow, “Help yourself”
=Buy groceries at the same store=--Get married
=Blondes=--Gold money
=Blow the joint=--Move on
=B’s knees=--The kind bachelors like to look at
=Balloon juice=--Hot air
=Bumped off=--Killed
=Button polishing=--Close dancing
=Bootlegger’s dream=--Prohibition
=Brick roof=--Red headed.
=Babe Ruth hose=--Stockings full of runs
=Brought home the bacon=--All that was lacking for breakfast
=Butter-and-Egg man=--Broadway’s angel
=B. V. D. girl=--Born very dumb
=Big House=--Jail
=Blind baggage=--Hobo’s haven between tender and baggage car
=Bloomer=--A total failure
=Book=--Crook’s term for a stretch of life in the penitentiary
=Badly bent=--Almost broke
=Bum’s rush=--Gentle way of extricating anyone
=Bull=--The man in the blue suit
=Boat sails on Wednesday=--Cancelling a vaudeville act in England
=Badge man=--Detective
=Blow!=--The skin game man’s signal to his confederates to lose at the
game
=Broad tosser=--Three-card skin game artist
=Big swinger=--Crocked ten-pin game in side shows
=Blow off=--Hoochie-coochie show in circus, where lots has blown off
=Broad=--Woman or girl or queen in a card skin game
=Birds on the aerial=--Flighty
=Banana Oil=--Yes, he has some
=Blue envelope=--Cancelling a vaudeville act in America
=Book full of interest=--Bankbook
=Barefoot on top=--Baldheaded
=Bo=--Hobo, pardner
=Bungalow=--One without an upper story
=Beach nut=--Girl with a permanent wave
=Big Thrill=--Electric chair
=Brown sugar=--Sweet but unrefined
=Bookkeeper=--Maker of many dates
=Boxing the compass=--Ordering everything on the bill of fare
=Baseball highballs=--Three and out
=Blue streak=--Cigarette
C
=Cradle snatcher=--Person who prefers a younger companion
=Communion suit=--Best of anything
=Cat’s meow=--The latest thing
=Can that chatter=--Request for written statement
=Come out in the wash=--Be all right in the end
=Cut the comedy=--Stop joking
=Cough it up=--Say what you want
=Coffin varnish=--Bad whiskey
=Carbolic acid=--Goodbye in any language
=Canned tongue=--Bashful and untalkative fellow
=Cauliflower cultivator=--Pugilist
=Can opener=--Wife who serves hubby’s meals directly from the
delicatessen
=Chasing them in the open=--Scratching the head
=C. O. D. boy=--One with a crush on dames
=Clean up the Kitchen=--Plate of hash
=Calendar=--One with many engagements
=Chin music=--Chatter
=Cat’s pajamas=--Something classy
=Cat’s glee=--Dumb but happy
=Cold as grandmother’s kiss=--Lacking in enthusiasm and ardor
=Creeping Jesus=--Joy killer
=Cat’s whiskers=--Nifty
=Chew the rag=--Engage in conversation
=Canalboats=--Large sized shoes
=Call on one’s Uncle=--Sightseeing beneath the sign of the three balls
=Come up for air=--Stop talking
=Cold meat box=--A coffin
=Chamois pusher=--Window cleaner
=Calendar week=--All dated up
=Chair warmer=--A politician
=Chase the cow down this way=--Pass the milk
=Classy Rib=--Nicely appearing young woman
=Coffin nails=--Cigarettes
=Crackerjack lamp quencher=--Female adept at giving black eye
=Curbstone scratch=--Street idler
=China closet=--Mouth full of false teeth
=Call off your dog=--You’re stepping on my foot
=Cop a mope=--Take a walk
=Cauliflower carnival=--Boxing match
=Club steak=--Girl whose appetite is great
=Checker player=--Girl who moves from one fellow to the other
=Cigar lighter=--One who never works
=Chicken butcher=--Lady killer
=Crab the show=--Spoil the affair
=Cross-country man=--An automobile thief
=Cop and blow!=--The skin game man’s signal to his confederates to win
and walk away
=Chive=--knife or dagger
=Corn crusher=--Dancer who is particular about his partner’s feet
=Capper=--An auctioneer’s confederate who bids up
=Cop!=--The skin game man’s signal to his confederates to win
=Cheaters=--Pair of glasses
=Carries his lunch in his hat=--Never tips his hat
=Cut up old dough=--Talk over old times
=Carrying the banner=--Going all night without a bed
=Crash a snowbank=--Enter a cocaine sniffing joint
=Conducer=--Railroad conductor
=Cold turkey=--Definite statement of facts
=Cork the glycerine=--Stop the movie tears
=Caser=--One dollar bill
=Croaker=--Doctor, referred to in a sarcastic vein as the man who
kills you
=Crashing the gate=--A mild divertisement of a man without a ticket
=Clean=--Broke
=Capper=--Come-on man in circus skin games
=Camel snatcher=--Flapper who likes her puff
=Close your delicatessen before your tongue gets cold=--Less Talk
=Cut the gallows=--Throw away that rope you’re smoking
=Combination=--Hobo term for regular meal
=Corking party=--Lots to drink
=Cabaret sunburn=--Liquor flush
=Court plaster=--Young lady summoned to court often
=Crack up=--Wreck of an airplane
D
=Douse the glim=--Put out the light
=Dig a hole and pull it in after you=--Leave and don’t come back
=Dropping one’s roof=--Losing one’s hat
=Draw one at twilight=--Put a little milk in the coffee
=Doughnut with the cramps=--A cruller
=Dead but won’t lay down=--Unintelligent
=Do a Weston=--Take a long and quick walk
=Duck one’s fire extinguisher=--Get away from one’s chaperone
=Don’t be an Airdale=--Rebuke for fickleness
=Dish out the dirt=--Tell the latest scandal
=Doormat=--A coward
=Drag your freight=--Hurry up
=Decorate the mahagony=--Lay the money on the bar
=Danger signal=--Pistol permit
=Do a Steve Brodie=--Take a chance
=Dissolve your solder=--Act as if you knew something
=Double up on coffin nails=--Give one’s companion a cigarette, too
=Dead from the dandruff down=--Exceedingly dumb
=Drug store cowboy=--Fellow who spends nothing but time
=Date up with one’s Lizzie=--Engage to take Lady for an automobile
ride
=Dutch treat=--The way two girls take each other to lunch
=Draw one in the dark=--Draw a cup of black coffee
=Door bell polisher=--Hall petter
=Drug store=--Painted blonde
=Don’t be a hero=--Don’t show off
=Down in front=--Pull down your dress
=Don’t mean maybe=--When one don’t
=Ducat=--Ticket
=Dicer=--Hat
=Dispepsia=--Marriage disagreement
=Dash of heat=--Light for cigarette
=Draw some rabbit tracks=--Write a letter
=Dropped the curtains=--Put on long trousers
=Do a flat=--Be so tired as to sleep without turning over
=Dip=--Pickpocket
=Duke me=--Hand it to me
=Deuce=--Two dollar bill
=Deemer=--Dime
=Don’t be a brace and bit=--You bore me
=Double saw=--Twenty dollar bill
=Declaration of Independence=--Divorce
=Dental mechanic from Queens=--Brooklyn bridge worker
=Ditched=--Hobo term for being thrown off a train
=Deck=--When a hobo rides on top of a train
E
=Exercise your nostrils=--Invitation to take the air
=Elephant’s tusk=--Hard customer
=Evening sticks=--Night clubs
=Eleven bottles=--Term among professional men for a good case
=Eye-opener=--Short dress
=Ear-bender=--Fast talker
=Elbow man=--One who nudges the sucker out after he’s trimmed
=Easter Egg=--Painted and hard boiled flapper
F
=Fools’ Paradise=--Marriage
=Full of static=--Not worth listening to
=Fits like a drink of water=--Just the right size
=Press the flesh=--Shake hands
=Fiddler’s monkey=--A roaming person
=Free Ride=--Social trip with the police
=French pastry inhaler=--Cake-eater
=Feel like a cent waiting for change=--Feel embarrassment
=Feather your nest=--Go to bed
=Freezing the tongue and giving the teeth a sleigh ride=--Keeping
still
=Fan yourself=--Calm down
=Flying omelet=--Yellow taxicab
=Fag me=--Give me a cigarette
=Fadeout=--Vanish
=Flannel kid=--Child who shrinks from washing
=Fixer=--Man who handles the officials in order to conduct any unfair
game or business
=Fly paper=--A fellow who sticks around to catch something
=Fly a Kite=--Meaning just that--but out of the presence of the
suggester
=Fin=--Five dollar bill
=Flat joint=--Unbeatable game
=Face on the wall=--Clock
=Funeral march=--Youth who is lost on the dance floor and doesn’t know
it
=Flat-tire=--Girl never to be taken to a blow-out
=Frogskin=--Dollar bill
=Fried chicken=--Married flapper
G
=Gate Slammer=--Person who begs meals at back door
=Galloping dominoes=--Frollicking dice
=Give your tongue a holiday=--Stop talking
=Getting spliced=--Getting married
=Gun-toter=--User of a hypodermic needle
=Give a tumble=--Introduce
=Guy knows his onions=--Knows his strongest points
=Grand=--Thousand dollars
=Goofy=--Crazy
=Going to a fire=--In a hurry
=Go by Shank’s mare=--Walk
=Good head for the lumber business=--Blockhead
=Go cook a radish=--Don’t be a bore
=Gold digger=--Female prospector on Broadway
=Getting the wrong number=--Date with an ugly telephone operator
=Gummy=--Man without teeth
=Globe Circler=--A goldfish
=Gunner=--Girl out for conquest
=Give us a crawl=--May I have the pleasure of the next dance
=Good case but bum lawyer=--Intentions are good but outcome doubtful
=Gimmick=--Device used for making a fair game crooked
=Go by shoe leather express=--To walk
=Grift=--Thievery
=Gang Plank=--Old man who lets his family walk over him
=Glims=--Pair of spectacles
=Gin-healer=--Nice young woman who conceals her gin in her stocking
=Gold in them hills=--Easy customer
=Gaff=--Any system used for cheating
=Gin-blossom=--Flapper who likes to bloom now and then
=Grease my mitt=--Give me some graft money
=Gadget=--A trick
=Gay cat=--Tramp who never works
=Gun between the sheets for a traitor=--Ham sandwich for Sammy
Moskowitz
=Good soldier=--Girl who can face powder
=Got money in the bank=--When one talks to oneself
=Graft=--Hobo lingo for occupation or job
=Glom=--Steal in hobo language
=Go back in the oven you’re half-baked=--You don’t act sanely
H
=He’s got fish hooks in his pockets=--He’s very stingy
=Hot in the socks=--Full of energy and pep
=High shot=--Rich fellow
=Hooking up to a battery and blowing a fuse=--Telling a lie
=Hope to kiss a cock-eyed pig if I don’t=--Affectionate determination
=Hand him the jug=--Put him in jail
=Handy as a crutch=--Able to do--nothing
=Have a drag=--Have influence
=Hiding behind the bushes=--Lacking a shave
=Hang crape on the head=--Mourn for the brain
=Hold your horses=--Rein in yourself
=Half pint=--Stunted individual
=Hit the hay=--retire
=H. T. M. Girl=--Hates to miss--anything
=Hen’s teeth=--Superlatively fine
=Hot socks=--Uncontrollable Charleston feet
=Hot puppies in a haystack=--Frankfurters and sauerkraut
=Have a seat, Lady=--Something not said in subways
=Heebie-jeebies=--Alcoholic shimmy
=Heavy sugar papa=--Sweet old man with fat purse
=Hit the deck=--Get out of bed
=He’s a sketch=--He’s comical
=Hope to smoke a herring=--Certain
=He’s a tin type=--He’s old fashioned
=Hype=--To overcharge. As, “That place has a hype on this week.”
=Home run=--Married man
=Hire a hall=--Tell it to a woman
=Herring slinger=--The man in a white apron at a restaurant
=Hey Rube!=--Signal for fight on circus lot
=Holy picture=--Man who needs a shave
=Horse and buggy=--Young lady out of date--with long hair
=Her name is radio=--She’s easily picked up
=Hashslinger=--Mystery man in a restaurant
=Horizontal refreshment=--Sleep
=Hike=--When a hobo has to walk
=He has more coats than an onion=--He’s full of apologies
=He’s a bar fly=--He sips all the free drinks he can
=His old man’s a baker=--Got lots of dough
=How strong are you?=--That is, your pocketbook
=Head keeper=--Father of a large family
=Hold that lion!=--Confession of paralyzing fear
=How do you get that way?=--Implying proved lunacy
=Hot ziggetty dog=--Expressing unlimited admiration
I
=Interior Decorator=--Bartender
=If I don’t see you again, Hello=--Goodbye forever
=Imitate a tree=--Leave
=Italian Decoration=--Spaghetti
=Ice=--Diamond
=It’s Jake with me=--It’s alright
=In the bag=--Prearranged result in a contest
=Irish toothache=--Punch in the jaw
=Itch=--Love
=It’s a wow!=--Great!
=I’m from Missouri=--Admission of something lacking
=In the red=--Losing money in show parlance
=I love you=--A boast
=In the deep=--In a losing game
=Illuminated=--Covered with 10 cent jewelry
=I’ll see you on the installment plan=--Once a month
=I’m between salaries=--I’m out of work
=Incorporate!=--You’re too clever for one man
=Indoor tan=--Dirty hands and neck
=Ironsides=--Girl with corsets
=Indoor aviator=--Elevator operator
=I’ll say so=--Emphatic agreement
=I should worry=--Disclaiming responsibility
=It’s a bear=--Highest form of praise
=It’s the bee’s knees=--Approval by comparison
J
=Jew’s Harp=--Abie’s Irish Rose
=Jarring the cherries off grandma’s bonnet=--Doing something that is
excitedly up-to-date
=Jam pitch=--To work up a sale by a scale of refunds until the sucker
has fallen for a high amount
=Jip=--To cheat or steal
=Jawbone=--Credit
=Jumping tintypes=--Movies
=Jig=--Negro
=John Law=--Policeman
=Jump=--Hobo term for move from town to town
=Jewish salmon=--Ham
K
=Kitten’s fallen arches=--Persistent fault finder
=Kick in the pants=--Libation in the hip pocket
=Keeping your shirt on=--Remaining cool and calm
=Keep off my sidewalk-slappers=--Keep off my feet
=Kitchen mechanic=--Culinary artist
=Kid top=--Side show in a circus
=Knock-over=--Cleanup
=Kick-back=--Have to return a sucker’s money
=Keep your shadow the same=--You’re getting fat
=Knockout=--Girl who knocks your eye out
L
=Last sensation=--A tight shoe
=Let’s blouse=--Let’s go
=Loan me your frame for the next struggle=--Polite way of asking for
the next dance
=Lit up like a lighthouse=--Brilliantly inebriated
=Lot of bologna=--Gross exaggeration
=Let me off the merry-go-round=--Stop kidding me
=Lounge lizard=--Parlor sheik
=Let the brakes off the beans=--Table etiquette for asking for same
=Liberty bond=--Divorce papers
=Landlord’s birthday=--Day landlord calls for the rent
=Lower than a snake’s belt-buckle=--Not very high
=Lay off the Bennie=--Let go the overcoat
=Lot of crust=--Lot of nerve
=Let’s have some inside dope=--Expression of a man who wants a drink
=Lip=--Argument
=Lamp it=--Look it over
=Lemon squeezer=--One who prefers maiden ladies
=Looking in the pink=--Appearing in fine condition
=Like a flea in a bale of hay=--Not amounting to much
=Long drink of water=--Thin person
=Landscape explorer=--Youth who sits his girl on a park bench and
talks about the scenery
=Lay-down=--Set of numbers on gaming table
=Lift an elbow=--Common talk where beer is concerned
=Lush up=--To get drunk
=Leading a dog’s life=--A girl who gets nothing but petting and scraps
=Leave a good impression=--Use lots of lip rouge
=Lambs on the bum=--When lambs escape on a ranch
=Let it ride on a fish=--Send it C. O. D.
=Lottery ticket=--Marriage license
=Lily pad hopper=--A dance hound
=Laugh that off=--Controversial triumph
M
=Model in a spaghetti factory=--A thin person
=Mouthpiece=--Legal adviser
=Mitt me=--Shake my hand
=Money flows like glue=--Sticks to the pockets
=Mug masher=--Prize fighter
=Massage the tonsils=--To eat
=Meal ticket=--Husband
=Moving for another trial=--Courting the second wife
=Map laundress=--Beauty shop proprietress
=Micro-gabbler=--Broadcasting scandalmonger
=Missionary work=--Dancing with wall-flowers
=Muzzle=--Kiss with no time off for air
=Misplaced eyebrow=--So-called mustache
=Mouth organ=--The tongue
=Mystery=--Hash
=Meg=--Any denomination of silver money between ten cents and one
dollar; signified by fifteen megs, twenty megs, etc.
=Mac=--Man who lives off the earnings of a woman
=Mollbuzzer=--Man who snatches a woman’s pocketbook
=Mark=--Sucker
=Mugglehead=--Smoker of Mexican loco weed
=Maple sugar=--A refined sap
=Monkey=--Chump
=Moll=--Woman
=Magazine=--Crook’s term for six months to a year in jail
=Matrimony=--A word or a sentence
=Main street judge=--Male appraiser on a windy corner
=Melt the iceberg=--Hold me a little tighter
=Monday furs=--Ermine bought on the installment plan
=Main stem=--Main line of a railroad according to hobos
=Maverich-=-Stolen calf in ranch terms
=Main squeeze=--Best girl
=Mad money=--Coin of a flapper who expects to have to walk back
=Make a noise like a trunk=--Express yourself
N
=Needle work=--Story of a drug addict
=New set of threads=--New suit of clothes
=No soap=--Can’t talk business
=Nothing cooking=--Nothing doing
=November sheik=--Turkey
=Nickel nurser=--One who has a passion for seeing that his nickels
don’t stray
=Nix=--Don’t
=Newspaper=--Crook’s term for thirty days in jail
=Nance=--Sissy
=Negroes in a snowstorm=--Raisins and Rice
O
=On the shelf=--Pawnshop
=Ostrich party=--Necking party
=Open the four of them=--Admonition to a person wearing glasses to pay
attention
=Onion=--One who tells sad stories that cause others to weep
=Office cat=--Office gossip
=One on the city=--A glass of water
=Out of the picture=--In the wrong company
=Oil burner=--Student
=One burning moment=--A spinster’s first kiss
=Order of flats=--Dish of wheat cakes
=One-way pockets=--Pockets of tightwad
=One-straw guy=--A fellow who never treats another to a soda
=Open as a safe=--A spy
=On tick=--On credit
=Oil can=--One who cannot grease the slides to popularity
=On the cuff=--Charge it
=Oh, you Kid!=--Correspondent
=One-half check=--Fifty cents
=One-half yard=--Fifty dollars
=One-half grand=--Five hundred dollars
=On the up-and-up=--Nearer heaven and squarer business
=On the arm=--Something for nothing in show business
=Old pump=--Heart
=Outlaw=--Runaway horse
P
=Pop ’em up=--Set up the drinks
=Pick up the marbles=--You win, you are right
=Pulling a boner=--Doing the wrong thing
=Paper moocher=--One who reads newspapers picked up on cars, subways,
etc.
=Put in the know=--Enlighten, make clear
=Put out the lamp=--Soak in the eye
=Paint the Hicks=--Show a little life in a small town
=Pickled=--Drunk
=Pumphouse=--Insane asylum
=Pie face=--One with a lot of crust
=Possum belly=--Tent stake box carried under circus railroad cars
=Pavey=--Man who peddles goods on the sidewalk
=Put the finger on him=--Arrest him
=Put that in your pipe and smoke it=--Your brand doesn’t suit me
=Pipe the rock=--See the diamond
=Pre-Volstead=--Drunk
=Putting away his ice=--Pawning his diamond
=Punk=--Child in show business
=Poke=--Pocketbook
=Plaster=--Attachment on a show
=Paper-hanger’s daughter=--Wall-flower
=Punk=--Bread
=Pass my disposition=--Sugar, of course
=Padlocked mama=--Married woman
=Plumb line your rags=--Get your pants pressed
=Popular as DeRussey’s Lane=--Lots of crabapple sweeties
=Pianola=--Young lady who only plays when there’s a roll in sight
=Pair of tights=--Two drunks
=Pipe the lid=--Look at the hat
=Pass out of the picture=--In no state for another drink
=Pie wagon=--Patrol wagon
=Put an egg in your shoe and beat it=--Run along
=Park your dogs awhile=--Rest your feet
=Put and take=--Put on your hat and take a walk
=Pig’s hips and cackle-berries=--Ham and eggs
=Punching the bag=--Incessant talking
=Plus four guy=--Golf player
=Pass the lumber=--Pass the toothpicks
=Part his hair=--Club him on the head
=Pencil-pusher=--Office employee
=Parlor athlete=--A frequent caller at young ladies’ homes
=Put out a stop signal=--Detain a Marathon talker
=Pig and Whistle=--Pork and beans
=Passing the buck=--Shifting the blame for responsibility
=Pig in a blanket=--Sausage in a roll
=Put on a new record=--Change the subject
=Pipe down=--Shut up
=Put on the feed bag=--Sit down to the table
=Put into circulation again=--Stop going out with him
=Parlor duty=--Staying home and petting
=Pin feather=--Young girl under sixteen
=Perpendicular your outline=--Reduce a little
=Paw Paw Indian=--Petter
=Pick and banjo=--Pick and shovel to a hobo
Q
=Qute=--Twenty-five cents
R
=Ring a doorbell=--Request to say something
=Rubbing it in=--Recalling poignant memories
=Remove the rubber band=--Spend the paper money
=Regular Humpty-Dumpty=--On the fence
=Red Mike and Violets=--Corn Beef and Cabbage
=Roll your hoop=--Keep moving
=Rum Hound=--Prohibition agent
=Remove one’s gloves=--Wash one’s hands
=Ritzy=--Highclass in a snobbish way
=Rubber dime=--Counterfeit money
=Raw egg=--One vulgar in his remarks
=Rubber doll=--One who stretches the truth
=Right off the bat=--First hand
=Racket=--The art of cheating
=Rag=--Tent in a circus
=Rumble=--A tip-off to the police
=Red one=--Big engagement where show company can make lots of money
=Razor back=--Roughneck or stake driver in a circus
=Round up=--Arrest of a hobo gang
=Rolls her own=--Pushes a baby carriage
=Rib roast=--Lecture from the wife
=Regular cut-up=--A surgeon
S
=Spook=--Mind reader
=Sand spider=--A bathing suit censor
=Stop the clock=--Take your time
=Snake’s Arm bands=--Very good and unusual
=Sky juice=--Water
=Step on it=--Hurry
=Swell dish=--Very beautiful girl
=Smell wood burning=--Realizing that someone is trying to think
=Shake a leg=--Hurry up
=Shove off=--Get out
=Social irrigation=--Little drink
=Shut your trap=--Close your mouth
=Sub Marine=--Marine on a subway
=Strut your stuff=--Show your best wares
=Stamp fighter=--An office boy
=Sling the institution=--Put down your book
=Say so=--Be positive of a fact
=Slip us five=--Request for a handshake
=Smack on the kisser=--Hit on the mouth
=Stow the gab=--Stop talking
=See you some Sunday during the week=--Never again
=Spill the beans=--Tell the secret
=Strike oil=--What every gold digger wants to do
=Swim the channel=--Get across over the footlights
=Sling the dope=--Tell all about it
=Sidewalk sailor=--Man who walks his girl to and from the show
=Sling a mean line=--Talk persuasively
=Sheika=--Sheik’s sweetie
=She likes to muscle=--hug
=Slip of the pen=--Runaway pig
=Steam roller=--Heavy spender
=Sea dust=--Salt
=Shoving the queer=--Passing counterfeit money
=She’s a high flyer=--Hang onto your pocketbook
=She knows her onions=--She knows how to avoid them
=Screen actor=--Mosquito
=Sidewalk surveyor=--Drunken man
=Speak United States=--Explain yourself
=Six o’clock straight=--Tall and slim person
=Sugar Daddy=--Girl’s lollipop for the evening
=Swell baseball team=--Nine on a side--mustache
=Smoking around the collar=--Getting angry
=Sardine bus=--New York subway
=Side-door Pullman=--Freight car
=Storm bound=--Going to call on a lady friend
=See me kid=--Apache to his midinette when the check comes around
=Shut off the waterworks=--Cease weeping
=Snow again, I didn’t get your drift=--Please repeat
=Sleeping time=--One year in Jail
=Stow your gab=--Stop talking
=So’s your Ol’ Antennae=--Expression to disconcert radio liars
=Storm and strife=--Female in matrimony
=Stringer=--Big touch on a victim
=Spread the salve=--Soft, conciliatory talk
=Sizzling Spitz=--Hot dog
=Soft peddle=--Request for less noise
=Small change=--Person of not such high standing
=Snap into it=--Wake up
=Straw pump=--One fond of sodas
=See you in church=--Later, but of course, not there
=Shut off the loud speaker=--Stop talking
=Sugar=--Money
=Slip the dincher=--Give one a half-smoked cigarette
=Strong joint=--Unfair or cheater’s game
=Squawk=--A tip-off to the police
=Slip=--Shot of dope
=Slum=--Phoney merchandise
=Scorf=--To eat
=Shill=--Come-on man in any skin game
=Sawbuck=--Ten dollar bill
=Shoo-flies=--Detectives in parlance of the road
=Sneakers=--Rubber-soled shoes
=Stick=--A confederate who wins or loses at dealer’s will
=Spring=--To be released from arrest
=Set joint=--Unbeatable game
=Soft=--Paper money
=Sail=--Lose all your money
=Second fiddler=--Fellow who sticks around with a spooning couple
=Sunkist lemon=--Beautiful but--
=Show a leg=--No need to be addressed to flappers--but means “get up”
=She rolls her own=--Because she will let no one else roll them for
her
=Space to let=--A vacant stare
=Struggle buggy=--Flivver on installment plan
=Skating rink for flies=--Baldheaded man
=Stop rocking the boat=--Go get a divorce
=Slip us a kiss=--Can I have a piece of your candy?
=Stool-pigeon=--One who informs on pals to keep out of trouble himself
=Sit-down=--Hobo talk for meal
=Slipping something over=--Pulling on a sweater
=Swallow a battery=--Get a sparkle out of life
=She’s an angel=--He can borrow from her
=Stake=--Hobo’s wages--when he works
=Skinners=--Bell hops according to hobos
=Sun-fishing=--When a horse bucks, jumps sideways and turns about
=S. O. S.=--Same old story
=See you in the funny sheet=--A humorous way of saying goodbye
=Stop bending my ear=--Stop lying
=So’s your old man=--Impudent comeback
=Sit down, you’re rocking the boat=--Arbitrary closing of an argument
=Snap out of it=--Rebuke for self-pity
T
=Throw the bull=--Lend a nickel
=Talking through the hat=--Talking nonsense
=Throwing the oil=--Telling glibe falsehoods
=Take a tuck on your tongue=--Don’t talk so much
=Tell it to Sweeney=--Expression of doubt as to veracity
=Turn over the nickel and give the Indian a chance=--Leave the bull
alone
=Throw a rock=--Request of newlywed husband for wife’s biscuit
=Thanks for the buggy ride=--You’re crazy
=Take it on the Lamm=--Run away
=Tin-type=--Old fashioned without having a beard
=Two shakes of a lamb’s tail=--Right away
=Tickled silly=--State of happiness
=Tickling the ivories=--Playing the piano; brushing the teeth
=Take the air=--Begone
=Tin Lizzie=--A girl sixteen who has never been kissed
=Tulip Gardner=--An experienced kisser
=Turn in=--Go to bed
=Take him over the jumps=--Believe everything he tells you
=Teeth in the law=--Bloodhounds
=Two cackles and a grunt=--Ham and eggs
=Take a flyer=--Take a chance
=Two babies in a cradle=--Two oysters on the half shell
=Traveling like a flea=--Gone to the dogs
=Take the glue off your shoes=--Stop hanging around here
=Toreador=--A good salesman
=Throw your optics on this=--Look at this
=Tomato receiver=--Singer
=Turn two pictures to the wall=--Fry two eggs over
=Take a sample=--Take a kiss
=Tear off a Rip Van Winkle=--Take a long sleep
=Tell your story walking=--Get out
=Tune off that station=--Change the conversation
=Take with a grain of salt=--Treat lightly and advisedly
=Tell the world=--Mean it
=Turn out=--Get up
=Tenement house disturber=--An accordion player
=Tell it to the Marines=--They heard it in France
=That’s the office!=--Signal for skin game artists to close up and
move on because of approach of police
=Tears=--Onions
=The Gate=--Crook’s term for freedom
=The bird=--Ridicule in English
=Tax=--Five cents
=The Breaks=--When Lady Fortune is riding beside you
=Third rail=--Girl you can’t touch
=Tin cow=--Evaporated milk
=Two piece outfit=--Prisoner’s ball and chain
=Tell it to the Judge=--Choking off a sob story
=That’s out!=--Rendered non-existent
=Teacher’s pet=--Of course they do
=Top off a horse=--When they say “Ride ’im, cowboy.”
=Towel=--Dry agent
=Top=--Spinster
=Teddy tickle=--Short mustache
=This queen always follows the Jack=--A gold digger
=Take-off=--Hop-off of an airplane
U
=Useful as a Blacksmith in Detroit=--Ask Henry Ford
=Under new management=--Married
=Up the river=--To Sing Sing
V
=Vaccinated with a Victrola needle=--Prone to talk frequently
=Veterinary expert=--One who follows the horses
W
=White elephant=--Fellow who buys a girl a soda and squeezes it out of
her afterward
=Waxed floor hound=--Young man fond of dancing
=Wild wave jockey=--Three-mile bootlegger
=Whispering soprano=--Gossip
=Woman’s crowning glory=--Rolling pin
=Wrinkle=--A flapper’s mother
=Write it on the ice=--Let it melt away
=Well-heeled=--Has plenty of money
=Wooden Kimona=--Case for cold storage
=Warm weather morals=--Permits loving to keep warm
=Wash out on the line=--Train of thought held up
=Wet the whistle=--Take a drink
=Wet sock=--Old fashioned
=Wet blanket=--Person who dampens the ardor of the party
=Wearing a high hat=--Acting like one of the 400
=Wooden nickels=--Suggestions for wooden heads
=Wring out the dish rag=--An order of soup
=Water on the brain which froze=--Everything slips his mind
=When the ghost walks=--Referring to days when the Eagle screams
=White line=--Hobo term for alcohol
=Wield a wicked lamp=--Have a naughty eye
=Weekly stipend=--Husband
=Will you take a chance?=--Will you take a drink?
=War bag=--Cowboy’s sack for clothes
=Wide open spaces=--Collegiate pants
=Worry like glue=--Stick around
=Wash=--Wind thrown back from an airplane propeller
=Water Lily=--A young girl with water in her cranium
Y
=Your ears don’t lap over=--You heard me
=Yanks are coming=--Dentist reaching for his extractor
=You must be twins=--Polite way of saying one couldn’t be so dumb
=Your old man must have been a furniture maker=--Delicate way of
complimenting a young woman on a
well-turned leg
=Yard of pork=--Three pig’s feet
=Yowl box=--Radio
=Yard=--One hundred dollars
=Your baby’s a scream=--Meaning it does
=You’d be surprised=--Admitting entire satisfaction with results
Z
=Zigzag in the steeple=--Demented
=Zoo=--A saxophone
* * * * *
Transcriber’s note
Minor punctuation errors have been changed without notice.
Hyphenization was standardized.
Entries under the wrong letter were moved to the last entry under the
appropriate letter.
Spelling was retained as in the original except for the following
changes:
Page 6: “adapt at giving black eye” “adept at giving black eye”
Page 8: “Fyling omelet” “Flying omelet”
Page 8: “by shank’s Mare” “by Shank’s mare”
Page 9: “got Fish hooks in” “got fish hooks in”
Page 14: “Turn over the nickle” “Turn over the nickel”
Page 15: “A golddigger” “A gold digger”
Page 16: “A saxaphone” “A saxophone”
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