I think that more than half the fun of writing the Avon Calling! series, is putting into play all of the swell slang and turns of phrase from 1940’s New York. Jazz and Swing were topping the charts and every bar was rolling with doll-dizzy service boys, ducky shincrackers in zoot suits and lulu dames.
I thought I’d make a snappy little list for you of some of the terms you’ll recognise from the Avon Calling! episodes. If there are a few you haven’t seen yet, don’t worry – you will soon! You can play “Spot the Slang” in the new episodes when they are released!
Here’s some swell 1940’s slang — and what it means!
| Able grable | – | Girl with low morals |
| Above my pay grade | – | I don’t know, don’t ask me |
| Ace | – | An expert at something |
| Active duty | – | Sexually promiscuous young man |
| Albatross | – | Chicken (army slang) |
| All nerves | – | Tense, nervous |
| All wet | – | Doesn’t know what he’s talking about, all wrong. |
| All-nighter | – | A restaurant that stays open all night |
| Alreet | – | Alright (jive slang) |
| Ameche | – | Make a telephone call |
| Anchor clanker | – | Sailor |
| Applesauce! | – | An expletive |
| Are you rationed? | – | Are you going steady? Do you have a boyfriend? |
| Armored heifer | – | Milk in a can |
| Baby | – | Affectionate term for a partner |
| Baby doll | – | Affectionate term for woman |
| Bad business | – | Something making trouble |
| Bad news | – | Trouble |
| Bananas | – | Crazy, insane |
| Bandit | – | An enemy fighter |
| Bang | – | Fun, excitement |
| Bash | – | An attempt |
| Bathtub | – | Sidecar on a motorcycle |
| Battery acid | – | Coffee (army slang) |
| Beat | – | Tired, exhausted |
| Beat all | – | The best |
| Beat me daddy eight to the bar | – | An exclamation of happiness |
| Bebop | – | Dancing |
| Beef | – | Complaint about something |
| Behind the eight-ball | – | In trouble, disliked by someone |
| Belt | – | Straight liquor as a drink |
| Bent | – | Upset or angry |
| Bill and coo | – | Hug and kiss |
| Blabbermouth | – | Someone who talks too much |
| Black and White | – | Policeman’s car |
| Black Strap | – | Coffee (army slang) |
| Blimp | – | An overweight person |
| Blivet | – | An unusable, unnecessary, useless or annoying thing |
| Blow | – | Lose or waste money |
| Blow a fuse | – | Get angry and lose temper |
| Blue-nose | – | A puritanical person or prude |
| Bobby soxer | – | A (rebellious) teenage girl with ankle socks |
| boff | – | Hit, smack down |
| Bomb boogie | – | A variation of the jitterbug |
| Boob | – | An idiot or foolish person |
| Boogie-woogie | – | A jazz style of the 30s and 40s. |
| Book | – | An arrest |
| Boondocks | – | An isolated place to live, the middle of nowhere |
| Boondoggle | – | Swindle, con or cheat. |
| Bootleg | – | Coffee (army slang) |
| Booze | – | Liquor |
| Bop | – | Jazz dancing |
| Brainchild | – | A creative idea |
| Broad | – | A woman |
| Brush off | – | To be ignored |
| Bubble dancing | – | Washing dishes (army slang) |
| Buck | – | Money |
| Bum | – | Borrow, possibly without repayment |
| Bum rap | – | A false accusation |
| Bupkis | – | Zero, Nothing |
| Burn up | – | Become angry |
| Burnt to a crisp | – | The latest, hot trend (so hot it’s burnt to a crisp) |
| Bust chops | – | To scold, chastise. |
| Bust out | – | Escape |
| Bust rocks | – | Serving time in prison |
| Buy the farm | – | Die |
| Buzz | – | Slightly drunk &/or excited |
| Call girl | – | A prostitute booked by phone |
| Can | – | Buttocks or jail |
| Carry a Torch | – | To have a crush on someone |
| Cat house | – | A bordello, where prostitutes work. |
| Cat’s Meow | – | The best thing ever |
| Certifiable | – | Crazy, insane |
| Cheesecake | – | Attractive women in modelling photographs during WWII |
| Chew out | – | Berate, scold |
| Chicken | – | A coward |
| Chintzy | – | Cheap or poorly made |
| Chopper(s) | – | Teeth |
| Chrome dome | – | Bald head |
| Cock-eyed | – | Crazy or illogical idea |
| Cold | – | The end of the line, no longer useful |
| Cold fish | – | Prude, unaffectionate person |
| Convertible suit | – | A women’s skirt/blouse/ jacket suit that was also worn as evening wear without the jacket |
| Cook with gas | – | Doing something right, making progress |
| Cookie, Sugar, Dolly | – | A cute girl |
| Cool | – | Kill, murder. |
| Cracker | – | A white person (offensive) |
| Crate | – | An old car (or plane) that barely works |
| Creep | – | A nasty, unpleasant person |
| Crib notes | – | Secret notes to cheat in an exam |
| Croak | – | Die |
| Crooner | – | A man who sings smooth jazz ballads |
| Crummy | – | Bad or dissapointing |
| Crunch | – | In a tight spot, or at a critical time |
| Cut | – | To dilute or mix, usually alcohol or drugs |
| Dame | – | Woman |
| Dang! | – | Expression of surprise or dissapointment (like damn!) |
| Darb | – | A person who can be relied on for money |
| dead | – | Subdued, quiet |
| Dead hoofer | – | Poor dancer |
| Deck out | – | Dressed up nicely to impress |
| deep pockets | – | Rich, lots of money |
| Destroyer | – | Attractive young woman |
| Devil’s piano | – | A machine gun |
| Dilly | – | Attractive young woman |
| dip | – | A stupid person |
| Dish | – | A pretty girl, good looking |
| Dish out | – | Treat someone badly |
| Ditch | – | Leave someone |
| Dog | – | To track or follow someone |
| Doll dizzy | – | Girl crazy |
| Dolly | – | A woman |
| Done for | – | Caught out, finished, in trouble |
| Doodly squat | – | A useless amount of something |
| Dope | – | Information, backhand knowledge |
| Dreamboat | – | A handsome man |
| Drip | – | A boring, weak or useless person |
| drop | – | Hit, knock down or kill |
| Drugstore Cowboy | – | A guy that hangs on street corners to pick up girls |
| Ducky shincracker | – | A great dancer |
| Duds | – | Clothes |
| Dust off | – | Kill, murder. |
| Dynamite | – | The best thing, outstanding |
| Eager beaver | – | Ready and enthusiastic person |
| Ease up | – | Settle down, chill out |
| Edgy | – | Anxious or nervous |
| Eisenhower jacket | – | Short military coat with a waistband |
| Fade | – | To leave a place |
| Fag | – | Cigarette |
| Fathead, chucklehead | – | A stupid person |
| Fire up | – | Start your car engine |
| Fix | – | A hit of drugs |
| Flap your lips | – | Chat, talk |
| Flat tire | – | Dull or boring person |
| Flatfoot, brass, buttons | – | Policeman |
| Flip your wig | – | Lose control of yourself or overreact |
| Flivver | – | An old broken car |
| Folding lettuce | – | Paper money (jive slang) |
| Fracture | – | Make someone laugh hard |
| Fubar | – | Disoriented and confused or drunk |
| Fuddy-Duddy | – | Old fashioned person |
| Gammin’ | – | Showing off |
| Gams | – | A woman’s legs |
| Gas | – | A great time, very funny |
| Gasser | – | Funny |
| Gat | – | Gun (from ‘Gatling gun’) |
| Gay | – | Happy, fun-filled, joyful |
| Geezer | – | An old person |
| Get a load of | – | Take a look at |
| GI | – | Government Issue, an American service member |
| Giggle water | – | Alcohol |
| Ginchy | – | Attractive, sexy |
| Glad lad | – | Attractive or good-looking young man |
| Glitterati | – | Famous people, glamorous people, in the spotlight |
| G-man | – | FBI investigator |
| Go giver | – | Attractive or good-looking young man |
| Gone | – | Knowledgeable about the current scene. He’s a real gonecat. |
| Gone with the wind | – | Run off with money |
| Goof | – | Waste time, loiter, make a mistake |
| Goon | – | A thug or bodyguard |
| Grandstand | – | To show off |
| Gravy | – | Easy money |
| Greenback | – | Dollar |
| Grill | – | Interrogate |
| Gumshoe | – | A private investigator |
| Hairy | – | Out of fashion, outdated, old |
| Hang it up | – | Quit, give up |
| Hard-boiled | – | A tough man |
| Heaven sent | – | Attractive or good-looking young man |
| Hedge-hopper | – | A careless pilot |
| Hell buggy | – | An army tank |
| Hen fruit | – | Eggs |
| Hep Cat | – | A jazz lover, a cool guy |
| Hi-de-ho | – | Hello! |
| High Hat | – | To snub or ignore someone |
| Hit the silk | – | To leave, bail out (as in parachute silk) |
| Holy mackerel! | – | Expression of surprise and disbelief |
| Honcho | – | Head man/leader |
| Honey | – | A good-looking woman or girl |
| Hooch | – | Bootleg liquor |
| Hoofer | – | Dancer |
| Hoo-ha | – | Unwanted attention or commotion |
| Horse | – | Heroin |
| Horsefeathers | – | Expletive |
| Hot | – | Stolen |
| Hot damn! | – | Expression of surprise |
| Hot diggity dog! | – | An expression of surprise |
| Hot dog! | – | An expression of surprise |
| Hot seat | – | Under pressure |
| Hotrod | – | A souped up car |
| Hotshot | – | Self-importance, leader or head man |
| Hotsy Totsy | – | Pleasing or flirtatious |
| Hubba Hubba | – | Impressive, attractive |
| Hunk of heartbreak | – | Attractive or good-looking young man |
| I’m going fishin’ | – | I’m going to find a girl/ date |
| In cahoots with | – | To work together or conspire |
| In my book | – | In my opinion |
| In the know | – | Having access to knowledge |
| Jalopy | – | An old car |
| Jerk | – | Unpleasant person |
| Jitterbug | – | Style of dance or the girl performing it |
| Jive | – | To make sense or fit |
| Joint | – | Jail |
| Keen | – | Attractive |
| Keister | – | Buttocks |
| Khaki wacky | – | A boy crazy girl (for soldiers in uniform) |
| kibosh | – | Put an end to something |
| Kick | – | Have fun |
| Killer-diller | – | Great stuff |
| King size | – | Really big |
| Kisser | – | Mouth |
| Knock off | – | To murder or quit |
| Knocked out | – | Asleep |
| Knuckle sandwich | – | A punch in the mouth |
| Knucklehead | – | A stupid person |
| Lame-brain | – | A stupid person |
| Let someone have it | – | To hit or tell off someone |
| Lettuce | – | Money |
| Licorice stick | – | A clarinet |
| Lounge Lizard | – | A horny young man |
| Lulu | – | Amazing or outstanding |
| Mack | – | Man, Guy |
| Make a pass | – | Seducing |
| Malarkey | – | Rubbish, untrue |
| Meatball | – | Someone who falls for a swindler; a sucker |
| Megilah | – | A tediously detailed story |
| Mellow man | – | Attractive or good-looking man |
| Mickey-Mouse | – | Small-time, not important |
| Minxy | – | Alluring woman |
| Moll | – | A gangster’s girlfriend |
| Moolah | – | Money |
| Motorized freckles | – | Insects |
| Mud | – | Coffee |
| Mug | – | Face |
| Mule | – | A drug carrier |
| Nada | – | Nothing |
| Natch | – | Naturally |
| Nerve | – | Audacity |
| No dice! | – | No luck |
| No fooling | – | Sincerity, I’m tellng the truth |
| Nuts | – | Crazy, insane |
| Off the hook | – | Exonerated, cleared of guilt |
| Old lady | – | A woman, wife or mother |
| On the nose | – | Exactly, you got it right |
| On the take | – | Taking bribes |
| One striper | – | Soldier, Private First Class |
| P.I. | – | Private investigator |
| Pancake turner | – | Disc jockey/ record player operator |
| Pass the buck | – | Pass responsibilty to someone else |
| Patsy | – | A scapegoat |
| Paw | – | Hand |
| Peanuts | – | Negligible |
| Pearl diving | – | Washing dishes (army slang) |
| Peepers | – | Eyes |
| Pennies from heaven | – | Money easily earned |
| Pill | – | A pin, an unwanted thing |
| Pinch | – | To be arrested |
| Pistol | – | Person full of themselves |
| Plonk | – | Cheap, bad quality wine |
| Plugged nickel | – | A worthless thing |
| Popsicle | – | A motorcycle |
| Pushover | – | A person easily convinced or seduced. |
| Put ’em up | – | Raise your hands in surrender |
| Put-on | – | A ruse, trick or deception |
| Puttin’ on the ritz | – | Dressed up and looking fancy |
| Rag | – | Teasing |
| Rare dish | – | A good-looking woman or girl |
| Raunchy | – | Dirty, feral, grotty |
| Reach for the sky! | – | Raise your hands in surrender |
| Reefer | – | A marijuana cigarette |
| Rhubarb | – | An argument or quarrel |
| Riot | – | A fantastic time, lots of fun |
| Rip-snorter | – | Excellent, a great time |
| Ritzy | – | Fancy, expensive, all dolled up |
| Rocks | – | Ice cubes |
| Rub out, bump off | – | Kill, murder |
| Rug | – | A toupee |
| Run out of gas | – | Lose interest in something |
| Rusty hen | – | An unattractive woman |
| Sauced | – | Intoxicated |
| Schnook | – | A sucker or fool |
| Scram | – | Get out of here |
| Screw up | – | Mistake |
| Sell out | – | Bribed or betray someone |
| Share crop | – | Sexually promiscuous woman |
| Short | – | A car |
| Sing | – | Betray, share information |
| Slug | – | Hit, punch, knock down |
| Smoke out | – | Reveal, hunt down |
| Smooch | – | Kiss |
| Snap your cap | – | Lose control, get angry |
| Snazzy | – | Stylish |
| Snoot | – | Nose |
| Soitently | – | Sure! |
| Solid sender | – | Attractive woman |
| Soused | – | Intoxicated |
| Speakeasy | – | A bar that sells bootleg alcohol (during the prohibition) |
| Spiffy | – | An elegant appearance. |
| Spiv | – | A con man, a bad guy |
| Spivvy | – | To Dress Up |
| Spook | – | A spy |
| Spot | – | Loan |
| Spring | – | To release |
| Stacked | – | A well-endowed woman |
| Stompers | – | Shoes |
| Stool pigeon | – | A person who betrays his friends (stoolie) |
| Straight up | – | Alcoholic drink without ice |
| Sub-zero | – | Terrible (jive slang) |
| Sugar daddy | – | A wealthy boyfriend |
| Swanky | – | Ritzy |
| Swell | – | Wonderful |
| Swigger | – | A person who drinks a lot |
| Take a gander | – | Have a look |
| Take a hike | – | Leave |
| Take a powder | – | Leave |
| The big house | – | Federal prison |
| The word | – | The news, the gossip |
| Threads | – | Clothes |
| Through the wringer | – | A hard time |
| Tied to an apron string | – | A man dominated by his wife |
| Tiger-meat | – | Beef in the mess hall for dinner |
| Tomato | – | A woman |
| Torch | – | An arsonist for money |
| Twangie boy | – | An attractive young man |
| Unmentionables | – | Women’s undergarments |
| Victory garden | – | Vegetable garden at home to help the war effort |
| Void coupon | – | An unattractive young man |
| Wad | – | A stack of money |
| What’s buzzin’, cousin? | – | What’s happening? |
| Wheel-horse | – | The important person in a business who keeps things together |
| Whistl’n Dixie | – | Wasting Time |
| Whoopee | – | To have a good time, getting romantic (making whoopee) |
| Wise guy | – | A smart aleck or rude person |
| Wolf | – | Man with pushy romantic intentions |
| Wolfess | – | An attractive young woman |
| Zazz girl | – | Attractive young woman |
| Zoot suit | – | Men’s outfit (long jacket, big lapels, baggy pants, wide tie) |
Now that you’re in the know, you can throw a few into your next conversation!