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