Historical Dictionary of American Slang
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527 Results 1940-1950
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ace
( adj ) Expert. He's an ace reporter.1940s -
baby
( n ) Affectionate term of address for either sex. Come on, baby, let's go home.1940s -
baby-doll
( int ) Female appellation. Come on, baby doll, let's go home.1940s -
bad business
( np ) Trouble. You didn't get any financial aid? That's bad business.1940s -
bad news
( np ) Trouble. Stay away from this guy; he's bad news.1940s -
beat
( adj ) Tired, exhausted. After working all day I am really beat.1940s -
be-bop
( n ) A dance to fast big band jazz. Harry James was playing and everyone be-bopped till midnight.1940s -
beef
( n ) A disagreement, argument. After we ignored Jim we had a beef with his whole crew.1940s -
bender
( n ) A drinking spree. Every Monday Lucien comes home from a weekend bender.1940s -
biz
( n ) Business. Well, that's show biz.1940s -
black-and-white
( n ) Police car. He was surprised to see his house surrounded by black-and-whites when he arrived home.1940s -
blah
( adj ) Apathetic, indifferent. I feel so blah after taking five midterms in one day.1940s -
blow
( v ) To waste, lose. He blew all his money gambling.1940s -
blow a fuse
( vp ) Lose your temper. Hey, don't blow a fuse.1940s -
bonkers
( adj ) Crazy, insane. That noise they call music is driving me bonkers.1940s -
booger
( n ) A brat, a rascal. I gave the little booger $5 to put gas in my car and he spent it on his girl.1940s -
book
( v ) To register an arrest. They just booked Rusty for forging checks.1940s -
boondocks
( n ) An isolated place in the country. He lives somewhere out in the boondocks.1940s -
booze
( n ) Liquor or other alcoholic beverage. I promised to bring two bottles of booze to the party.1940s -
bop
( v ) To dance wildly to the big band jazz of the 40s. We bopped all night at Collingwood's last night.1940s -
broad
( n ) A woman (offensive). Never tangle with that broad; she's tough.1940s -
bum
( v ) To borrow. Can I bum ten bucks until the end of the week?1940s -
bum rap
( np ) False accusation. They kept him after school for smoking in the men's room but he got a bum rap.1940s -
bust rocks
( vp ) To serve time in prison. Yeah, if you do that, you'll be busting rocks for 10 years.1940s -
bust your chops
( vp ) To scold, chastise. I'm going to bust his chops for leaving his date at the party when I see him.1940s -
buy the farm
( vp ) To die. If you don't kick the ice cream habit you're going to buy the farm.1940s -
buzz
( n ) Tipsiness. I had a buzz on after the third martini.1940s -
call-girl
( n ) A prostitute who makes appointments by telephone. Miriam was a call-girl before she became a guidance counselor.1940s -
can
( n ) Jail or prison. Grady just got out of the can and is on parole.1940s -
cheesy
( adj ) Cheap. That is really a cheesy looking outfit.1940s -
chew out
( v ) To scold, chastise. Dad's going to chew you out when he sees the dent in the car.1940s -
chicken
( n ) Coward. Don't be a chicken.1940s -
chicken out
( v ) To back out from cowardice. We were going to do some bungee jumping but my mom chickened out.1940s -
chopper
( n ) Tooth. My dad's teeth were bad but he bought a new set of choppers last week.1940s -
chrome-dome
( np ) A bald guy (offensive). The old chrome dome told me that grass doesn't grow where there is a lot going on.1940s -
chuck up
( v ) To vomit. He chucked up most of his dinner on the porch.1940s -
cold
( adj ) That is no longer or can no longer be pursued. After 24 hours, all the leads in the case were cold.1940s -
cold fish
( np ) An unresponsive person. My date for the dance was such a cold fish I left without him.1940s -
cook with gas
( vp ) To do something right. As soon as he got the grip on his golf clubs right, he was cooking with gas.1940s -
cookie
( n ) Guy or gal. He's a tough cookie.1940s -
cool down
( v ) To calm down. Things should cool down in a day or two.1940s -
cop
( n ) A policeman. The cop showed me his badge.1940s -
crack open
( vp ) To open a bottle. Let's crack open a bottle for his birthday.1940s -
crack up
( v ) To make laugh. That Trudy cracks me up with her jokes.1940s -
creep
( n ) A mean, despicable person. That creep ran off with my girl.1940s -
croak
( n ) To die. If I take another bite I am going to croak.1940s -
cut
( v ) To record. She cut a new record last week.1940s -
dang
( int ) Emphatic adjective (euphemism for damn). I'll be dang if I didn't leave my watch at home!1940s -
Dang nabbit!
( int ) An interjection of disappointment. Dang nabbit! I dropped my chewing gum.1940s -
danged
( int ) Emphatic adjective (euphemism for damn). I'll be danged if I didn't leave my watch at home!1940s -
deck out
( adj ) Dress up. Fred was really decked out for his date with Wendy.1940s -
dike
( n ) A female homosexual. They say she is a dike but she goes out with men.1940s -
ditch
( v ) To leave someone who is with you. I'll ditch my younger brother with my grandmother.1940s -
dog
( v ) To follow relentlessly. She dogged me all the way home.1940s -
dolly
( n ) A girl or a woman. He liked to pick up dollies at the local bars.1940s -
dome
( n ) The head or skull. Look at old chrome dome (bald guy) over there.1940s -
done for
( adj ) In big trouble, finished. I just let the car roll into the lake. I'm done for when the rents find out.1940s -
dope
( n ) Information. So what's the latest dope on Jamie?1940s -
drop
( v ) To kill. Don't move or I'll drop you in your tracks.1940s -
dud
( n ) Something that doesn't work properly. He bought a new refrigerator but it is a dud--it doesn't keep anything cold.1940s -
dyke
( n ) A female homosexual. They say she is a dyke but she goes out with men.1940s -
dynamite
( n ) Something excellent, outstanding. His grandmother is really dynamite.1940s -
ease up
( v ) Calm down. She's working a mile a minute; she has to ease up soon.1940s -
edgy
( adj ) Nervous. Why don't you put down the gun; it's making me edgy.1940s -
fag
( n ) A cigarette. Give me a fag, man; I'm having a nicotine fit.1940s -
fat-head
( n ) A stupid or foolish person. The fat-head thought Moby Dick is a social disease.1940s -
fire up
( v ) Start your engine. OK, fire it up and let's ride.1940s -
fix
( n ) Dose of narcotics. The addict needs another fix.1940s -
flap your lips
( vp ) To talk. You can flap your lips all night but I won't change my mind.1940s -
flatfoot
( n ) A policeman or detective. We have a flatfoot walking a beat by our house every day.1940s -
flip your wig
( vp ) To lose control of yourself, go crazy. Josh got so mad at his brother that he flipped his wig.1940s -
fracture
( v ) To make someone laugh. He fractures me with all his jokes and antics.1940s -
freak
( n ) A fanatic. He is some kind of ecology freak that doesn't read because he doesn't want to use paper.1940s -
freebie
( n ) Something that costs nothing. The pen was a freebie I picked up at a show.1940s -
fruity
( adj ) Homosexual. It looks so funny for you to date girls in such fruity clothes.1940s -
fubar
( adj ) Confused by alcohol or otherwise. I was totally fubar at Philip's party last night!1940s -
gas
( n ) A great time, something hilarious. The party last night was a real gas! ).1940s -
gat
( n ) A gun (from Gatling gun). Paul, is that a gat under your coat?1940s -
geezer
( n ) An old person (offensive). Those old geezers up there are driving too slowly.1940s -
get a load of
( vp ) Look at. Get a load of Frankie's new car!1940s -
get under your skin
( vp ) To annoy, bother, annoy. These Friday quizzes are getting under my skin.1940s -
give it to
( vp ) To do something (unpleasant) to someone. If you don't behave, I'm going to give it to you.1940s -
g-man
( n ) FBI investigator. G-men broke up his still and sent him up the river for 5 years.1940s -
dust
( v ) To kill. I could have you dusted (off) tomorrow, you rat.1940s -
go belly up
( vp ) To fail or go bankrupt. The company went belly up under his management.1940s -
gone
( adj ) Knowledgeable about the current scene. He's a real gone cat.1940s -
goof
( v ) To make a mistake, error. If I called you 'Clarissa', I just goofed.1940s -
goof-off
( n ) A loiterer, someone who wastes time. This company can no longer afford good-offs.1940s -
gorilla
( n ) A stupid thug or bodyguard. The mob boss came in with one of his gorillas on either side.1940s -
gravy
( n ) Easy money. This job is pure gravy.1940s -
greenback
( n ) A dollar. He opened his wallet and I saw a thick bundle of greenbacks in it.1940s -
grill
( v ) To interrogate intensely. The police picked him up and grilled him for an hour.1940s -
gumshoe
( n ) A private investigator. Sally hired a low-life gumshoe to tail her husband.1940s -
hang up
( vp ) To quit. I have decided to hang up my teaching job.1940s -
hipster
( n ) A member of the counterculture of the 40s (Origin of 'hippie'). He was a cool hipster you saw in all the jazz joints back in the 40s.1940s -
hitch
( v ) To marry. Did you hear? Buffy and Lance got hitched last night.1940s -
hold
( vp ) Borrow. Let me hold 5 bucks; you know I will pay you back.1940s -
Holy mackerel!
( int ) An interjection of surprise. Holy mackerel! We won the lottery!1940s -
honcho
( n ) The boss, commanding officer. Who is the head honcho around here?1940s -
honey
( n ) An attractive female. There were a lot of honeys at the bar last night.1940s -
Hot damn!
( int ) An interjection of surprise. Hot damn, that car is a doozy.1940s -
Hot diggity dog!
( int ) An interjection of surprise. Hot diggity dog! Bonzo brought home the Marilyn Monroe movie.1940s -
Hot dog!
( int ) An interjection of surprise. Hot dog! I got second base on the baseball team.1940s -
hotrod
( n ) A souped-up car. Oliver's been working on that old hotrod of his for two years, now.1940s -
hotshot
( adj ) Expert. Malcolm, they say, is a hotshot reporter for a big newspaper up north.1940s -
in my book
( pp ) In my opinion. He an OK guy in my book.1940s -
in the know
( pp ) Knowledgeable, aware. Let's ask Perry; he is usually in the know about these things.1940s -
jive
( v ) To make sense, fit. Nothing you say jives with what your wife told me.1940s -
johnson
( n ) The male organ. [Use your imagination].1940s -
joint
( n ) A prison, jail. When he got out of the joint, he went legit.1940s -
juvie
( n ) Juvenile delinquent. Those juvies are always stealing things.1940s -
kibosh
( n ) A stop (to something). The rents put the kibosh on the party Saturday night.1940s -
kick
( n ) Enjoyment. I get a kick out of watching him paint.1940s -
kicks
( n ) Fun. She gets her kicks by going to the beach.1940s -
king-size
( ap ) Really huge. That Caddy his dad has is king size.1940s -
knock off
( v ) To kill. Bugsy finked on the mob and they knocked him off.1940s -
knock off
( v ) To quit. He knocked off work early today.1940s -
knocked out
( adj ) Asleep. Lem is knocked out; he worked all night long.1940s -
knuckle sandwich
( np ) A punch in the mouth. Shut up or I'll give you a knuckle sandwich.1940s -
Let someone have it
( vp ) To shoot someone. If you don't stop grabbing for my gun, I'm going to let you have it.1940s -
like crazy
( pp ) Really fast. We're studying like crazy for the exam tomorrow.1940s -
line
( n ) An untrue story or statement. Cornelius shot me some line about being an Eskimo who wandered too far south.1940s -
lulu
( n ) Something excellent, outstanding. That shot he made outside the 3-point zone was a lulu!1940s -
make a pass
( vp ) To flirt with, try to seduce. He made a pass at me but I wasn't interested.1940s -
meatball
( n ) A stupid or foolish person. So then the meatball leans over and let's his cigarette drop into the open carburetor.1940s -
megabucks
( n ) A lot of money. He made megabucks when he sold his company.1940s -
moolah
( n ) Money. This guy Seamus Allgood has mucho moolah.1940s -
mug
( n ) Face. Get out and don't let me see your mug in her again.1940s -
mug
( v ) To make faces. He loves to mug with hit grandchildren.1940s -
nada
( n ) Nothing. We searched her car and found nada.1940s -
nerve
( n ) Audacity. You have some nerve telling me what to do!1940s -
Nice going!
( int ) Interjection of congratulations. Nice going on that 3-pointer you just shot.1940s -
No dice!
( int ) An interjection of rejection. I ask him for $10 but he said: No dice!1940s -
nuts
( adj ) Crazy, insane. You are completely nuts if you think I will go with you.1940s -
off the hook
( pp ) Exonerated, cleared of guilt. I'm glad Lloyd confessed to blowing the toilet; that let's me off the hook.1940s -
old lady
( n ) Mother. My old lady burned the pancakes.1940s -
on the nose
( pp ) Exactly. Boy, are you right on the nose when you say gas prices are high.1940s -
pain in the neck
( np ) Annoyance. My wife's best friend is a pain in the neck.1940s -
patsy
( n ) A scapegoat. Roy stole the horse and left me behind to be the patsy.1940s -
paw
( n ) Hand. Get your paws off of my body!1940s -
peanuts
( n ) Little money. I am not going to work for peanuts.1940s -
peepers
( n ) Eyes. Cast your peepers at the hottie over by the door.1940s -
pistol
( n ) A dynamic person. Martha's in every organization in town: she's a real pistol.1940s -
pull
( n ) Influence. Ask Fred to help you; he has a lot of pull at city hall.1940s -
through the wringer
( vp ) A chastising, a tough questioning. He came home potted last weekend and his wife ran him through the wringer.1940s -
quarterback
( v ) To lead. Who is going to quarterback the meeting?1940s -
queer
( n ) A homosexual. He is a queer with an odd perspective on life.1940s -
queer
( adj ) Homosexual. You know Randy; he's that queer with the queer look he gives you all the time.1940s -
rag
( v ) To make fun of, tease. My brother is always ragging me about my girlfriend.1940s -
Reach for the sky!
( phr ) Raise your hands. Drop that gun and reach for the sky!1940s -
retread
( n ) An old performer making a comeback. It was supposed to be a great show but it was just a bunch of retreads doing old stuff.1940s -
rock
( n ) A diamond or other precious stone. Whenever Arlene complains about being a kept woman, Mortimer gives her another rock and she shuts up.1940s -
rocks
( n ) Ice. Would you like your whiskey on the rocks?1940s -
roughhouse
( v ) To play rough. OK, you guys. No roughhousing in the living room.1940s -
rub out
( v ) To kill. Several members of the competing gang were rubbed out.1940s -
rug
( n ) A toupee, a wig. Is that a rug on his head?1940s -
run out of gas
( vp ) To lose interest or momentum. The politician ran out of gas during the campaign.1940s -
sappy
( adj ) Gullible. He is so sappy I'm surprised he hasn't bought the Brooklyn Bridge.1940s -
sappy
( adj ) Overly sentimental. I hate those sappy movies where everyone gets married and lives happily ever after.1940s -
sauced
( adj ) Drunk, intoxicated. Man we got sauced last night at that party.1940s -
screw up
( v ) To make a mistake, error. He screwed up when he bought that car.1940s -
sell out
( v ) To betray someone. He wouldn't sell me out; he's my closest friend.1940s -
sharp
( adj ) Excellent, outstanding. I've heard the new night club is really sharp.1940s -
shot
( n ) A try, turn, go. I'll give the puzzle another shot.1940s -
shove
( v ) Keep (contemptuous rejection). You can take your job and shove it.1940s -
shut-eye
( n ) Sleep. I've been working all day long; I have to get some shut-eye.1940s -
sing
( v ) To inform or tattle. If Malcolm sings to the cops, they'll get us all.1940s -
skip
( v ) To leave with someone in pursuit. She took the money and skipped town.1940s -
slug
( v ) To hit. Don't talk to me that way unless you want to be slugged in the chops.1940s -
smoke out
( v ) Force out, make come out. The cops smoked the shooter out of the house with tear gas.1940s -
smooch
( v ) To hug and kiss. I guess they are going steady; I saw them smooching on the porch last night.1940s -
souse
( n ) A drunk. All I saw coming home was a couple of souses lying on the sidewalk in front of the bar.1940s -
spew
( v ) To vomit. He barely made it to his car, then spewed through the sun roof.1940s -
spew one's guts out
( v ) To tell everything one knows. When the cops picked him up, he spewed his guts out.1940s -
spook
( n ) A spy. Word has it, Melvin was a spook for the CIA in his youth.1940s -
spook
( v ) To frighten. The cows were spooked by the howling of the wolves.1940s -
spring
( v ) Let out, let loose. Somehow he got sprung from jail.1940s -
stacked
( adj ) Having a nice female figure. She was polite, pretty, and really stacked.1940s -
stick around
( v ) Stay. The atmosphere was cozy, so I decided to stick around for a while.1940s -
sticks
( n ) Way out in the country. Delbert lives somewhere way out in the sticks.1940s -
straight up
( adj ) Without ice. He drinks his scotch straight up.1940s -
sugar daddy
( np ) A rich man who supports a female. Daddy Warbucks was Little Orphan Annie's sugar daddy.1940s -
sweet
( adj ) Excellent, outstanding. He found a really sweet job the other day.1940s -
take a gander
( vp ) Look at, examine. Take a gander at that hunk standing by the door.1940s -
take a powder
( v ) To leave. Look, if you don't like it here, take a powder.1940s -
tap
( v ) To deprive of money. Can you loan me $5 till Friday? I'm completely tapped (out).1940s -
the big house
( np ) Federal prison. Grannis served 10 years in the big house.1940s -
the sticks
( np ) An isolated place in the country. Greta married some yahoo from the sticks.1940s -
skunk
( v ) To hold scoreless. We skunked them 5-0 in baseball.1940s -
tough
( adj ) Too bad. You have a date tonight? That's tough; you have to baby-sit.1940s -
two cents worth
( np ) Weak advice, opinion. Well, that's my two cents worth.1940s -
unmentionables
( n ) Women's underwear. When Gladys bends over you can see her unmentionables.1940s -
up for grabs
( pp ) Available to anyone. This is a sale. Everything is up for grabs.1940s -
wacky
( adj ) Crazy, insane. I've never known a wackier person than Smoot.1940s -
wad
( n ) Money. You don't want to carry a wad like that with you in the big city.1940s -
What's cooking?
( phr ) What is going on? Hey, buddy, what's cooking? Did somebody get hurt?1940s -
What's up?
( phr ) What is going on? What's up? Aren't we shooting hoops today?1940s -
whistle Dixie
( vp ) To be mistaken. If you think you can make a good hotrod for $2000, you're whistling Dixie.1940s -
Wow!
( int ) An interjection of surprise. Wow! You won the lottery?1940s -
wrack your brain
( vp ) Think hard. I wracked my brain but couldn't come up with the answer.1940s -
you know
( int ) Speech punctuation. Then he ran out, you know, and then he, you know, wanted us to take him home.1940s -
crummy
( adj ) Bad, no good Where did you get such a crummy baseball mitt?1940s -
dreamboat
( n ) An extremely attractive person. Buster is such a dreamboat he had Sally snowed on the first date.1940s -
blivet
( n ) Something unimportant or indescribable. We need a blivet to get this thing to work and I have no idea what kind.1940s -
thingamabob
( n ) An object for which a name is unavailable. What was that thingamabob he was holding?1940s -
crib notes
( np ) Forbidden notes taken to an exam. Farnsworth couldn't past this test with crib notes.1940s -
dad-blamed
( adj ) An interjection of emphasis (euphemism for G. D.) That is none of your dad-blamed business.1940s -
spivvy
( adj ) Dressed up. (See spiffy, too) Boy, don't we look spivvy today?1940s -
dish
( n ) Pretty woman. Now, that Bobby Sue, she's a real dish!1940s -
jitterbug
( n ) A dance to fast big band jazz. Boogie-woogie, bebop, jitterbug, I love all the fast dances.1940s -
hairy
( adj ) Old, out-dated. I'm tired of listening to his hairy jokes that went out in the 20s.1940s -
cock-eyed
( adj ) Crazy, cockamamie. A solar-powered flashlight? What kind of cock-eyed idea is that?1940s -
glitterati
( n ) Rich, famous people who love bright lights and cameras. All the glitterati turned out for the Academy Awards.1940s -
clip
( v ) To kill. Da god fadda wants we should clip Johhny Two-Faces tonight.1940s -
natch
( adv ) Naturally, of course. Did I take him up on the offer? Natch, it was too good to pass up.1940s -
yuck
( n ) A stupid or foolish person. The yucks who chose the TV shows don't know what they are doing.1940s -
blast
( v ) To shoot. I don't have anything to do with the mob; that's a good way to get yourself blasted.1940s -
hots
( n ) Strong desire for a person of the opposite sex. Wendy told me that Fran Tastik has the hots for Gordon Lowe.1940s -
rhubarb
( n ) Argument, squabble. Harry Batten was thrown out of the game for getting in a rhubarb with the umpire behind homeplate.1940s -
swigger
( n ) A drinker. Mojo was a heavy swigger in his youth.1940s -
wolf
( n ) Aggressively forward male. Stay away from Lance Sterling; he is the biggest wolf in school.1940s -
Hang!
( int ) Interjection of frustration or emphasis. Hang! I can eat six hotdogs in in 10 minutes.1940s -
knucklehead
( n ) A stupid or foolish person. That knucklehead can't read his own name without moving his lips!1940s -
boob
( n ) (Offensive) A woman's breast. What's gotten into you, Ruby Sue? You look like your boob got caught in the wringer.1940s -
heave-ho
( n ) An ejection, throwing out physically. Frothingschloss became so rambunctious in the bar that they gave him the old heave-ho.1940s -
brush-off
( n ) A rebuff, snub. Every time I ask dad for a job, I get the brush-off.1940s -
brush off
( v ) To rebuff, snub. Carly brushed off all my advances like I was a bug.1940s -
megillah
( n ) A tediously detailed account. You don't have to give me the whole megillah, just the highlights.1940s -
get lost
( int ) To leave, go away. Stop bothering me! Get lost!1940s -
gunsel
( n ) A stupid thug or bodyguard who carries a gun. You never see Robin Banks without a couple of gunsels with him.1940s -
bupkis
( n ) Nothing, zip. I worked all day for him and he gave me bupkis!1940s -
crown
( v ) To hit someone over the head. Helen Highwater crowned her old man on the head with a frying pan.1940s -
fathead
( n ) A stupid or foolish person. That fathead thought Moby Dick is a social disease.1940s -
schnook
( n ) A sucker. You can always find a schnook to sell that old crate of yours to.1940s -
schnozz
( n ) Nose. Ferlin has trouble kissing because his schnozz gets in the way.1940s -
schnozzola
( n ) Nose. Marvin would be handsome if he had less of a schnozzola.1940s -
gobbledygook
( n ) Nonsense. That old gasbag talks nothing but gobbledy gook.1940s -
armpit
( n ) An undesirable place. This town is really an armpit.1950s -
badass
( n ) A tough guy. Fred thinks that he is a badass but underneath he is just a sweetie.1950s -
ball
( n ) Great fun. Her class is a ball.1950s -
barf
( v, n ) To vomit. He barfed all over the seat of the airplane.1950s -
bash
( n ) A party. Melanie had a great bash at her house last night.1950s -
beat
( adj ) Turned off, exiled, underground. The Beat Generation and its beatniks withdrew from society because they were beat.1950s -
beatnik
( n ) Member of the counterculture. He is a beatnik who hangs around the underground coffee shops downtown.1950s -
beefcake
( n ) Well-proportioned male. Alan Ladd was considered beefcake in his time.1950s -
bench
( v ) Remove from action. He was benched during the basketball playoffs.1950s -
big daddy
( np ) An older person. Preston is the big daddy I tell my troubles to.1950s -
Big deal!
( int ) An interjection of dismissal. You sold your car for $500. Big deal! I got $750 for mine.1950s -
big wheel
( np ) An important person. Stan thinks that he is a big wheel just because his dad owns the bank.1950s -
blackhead
( n ) Pimple. His beard is coming out now and his blackheads are going away.1950s -
blitzed
( adj ) Drunk, intoxicated. He was so blitzed he couldn't find his shoes.1950s -
blow
( v ) To leave. I'm going to blow out of here now.1950s -
bombed
( adj ) Drunk, intoxicated. The driver of the car was bombed.1950s -
boo
( n ) Marijuana. He just came back from Mexico with a load of boo.1950s -
boo-boo
( n ) A mistake, error. If you make another boo-boo like that, you won't have a job.1950s -
boost
( v ) To steal. I think he boosted those sneakers.1950s -
booty
( n ) The buttocks. Scope out the booty on that chick!1950s -
break
( v ) To leave. I have To leave. now; it's time to break (out of here).1950s -
brown-nose
( n ) A toady, teacher's pet. The creepy brown-nose is the teacher's pet.1950s -
brown-nose
( v ) To toady. He gets low grades even though he brown-noses every teacher in school.1950s -
brown-noser
( n ) A toady, teacher's pet. Farley is the biggest brown-noser in school.1950s -
bug
( v ) To hide a live microphone. I think they've bugged my apartment.1950s -
bum
( v ) To depress. That really bums me!1950s -
bum out
( v ) To depress. I was really bummed after I heard the news.1950s -
burn rubber
( vp ) To screech your tires pulling out. That car is so powerful it can burn rubber in second gear.1950s -
bust out
( v ) To leave. Let's bust out of here and shoot some hoops.1950s -
bust your butt
( vp ) To exert yourself. Rachel busted her butt working for her father and he never appreciated it.1950s -
call
( n ) Prediction, interpretation. The weatherman made a good call about when the storm would come.1950s -
can
( n ) A bathroom or toilet. Do you know where the can is around here?1950s -
cat
( n ) A guy. He was a real cool cat.1950s -
catty
( adj ) Spiteful. She made a catty remark that upset Linda.1950s -
chariot
( n ) Car. That old chariot of his won't make it to San Francisco.1950s -
check out
( v ) Look at, examine. Check out that shorty over there.1950s -
check out
( v ) To leave. It's time for us to check out, Suzy; there's a funny smell in the air.1950s -
chief
( n ) A big shot. He thinks he's the chief but he's just another nobody.1950s -
choke
( v ) To panic and be unable to function. Don't choke. We've still got time to study for the final.1950s -
chow down
( v ) To eat. I need to find a place to chow down.1950s -
church key
( np ) Can or bottle opener. I need to open a Coke; does anyone have a church key?1950s -
classy chassis
( np ) Great female figure. She is a sassy lassie with a classy chassis.1950s -
clunker
( n ) A old, beat-up car. I can't go on a date in that old clunker.1950s -
Clyde
( n ) Term of address for males. Let it slide, Clyde; it isn't that important.1950s -
cook
( v ) To do something right. Now, you're cooking! Keep on doing it that way.1950s -
cool
( adj ) Slow, romantic (music). I like my jazz cool, not hot.1950s -
cool
( adj ) Knowledgeable about the current scene. Jed is cool, man, you can talk to him.1950s -
cool
( adj ) OK, alright. I'm cool with that.1950s -
cool head
( np ) Someone in control. Look, the boat is sinking. We need a cool head in charge.1950s -
cow
( n ) A fit. When she saw the damage to her car, she had a cow.1950s -
cow college
( np ) An agricultural college. He grew up on a farm and went to a cow college when he graduated from high school.1950s -
crash
( v ) Totally collapse. I came home from shopping all afternoon and just crashed on the sofa.1950s -
cream
( v ) To beat or defeat roundly. Our team creamed them when we played on our home court.1950s -
creepy
( adj ) Scary, repulsive. It is so creepy in our attic, I'm afraid to go up there.1950s -
crewcut
( n ) A haircut so short that the hair stands straight up. All his friends have crewcuts; I only mess around with guys wearing duck tails.1950s -
cruise
( v ) To drive around aimlessly and flirt. The skier was cruising down the hill.1950s -
cut
( v ) To miss, to not attend. Let's cut physics today and go to the library.1950s -
cut out
( v ) To leave. It is late; I have to cut out.1950s -
daddy-o
( Int ) Term of address for males. OK, daddy-o, let's hit the road!1950s -
deck
( v ) To knock down. He was decked in the fight.1950s -
dicey
( adj ) Risky. Since the weather is a little dicey, I won't go today.1950s -
down the tubes
( ap ) In deep trouble or out of business. My English grade is down the tubes; I missed the final.1950s -
drag
( v ) To race another car a short distance. He loved to drag (race) until the cops picked him up.1950s -
dragster
( n ) A car designed for drag racing. You'll never beat his dragster on the quarter mile.1950s -
drain
( n ) A place from which there is no return. I can see all my efforts to get into a good college going down the drain.1950s -
drain
( v ) To tire, exhaust, wear out. That girl had totally drained me; I wish she'd leave.1950s -
ducktail
( n ) A man's long hair style with the sides combed to the back of the head, then parted with a downward stroke of the comb. He is a cool cat with a ducktail, pegged pants, an blue suede shoes.1950s -
easy
( adj ) Easily seduced. All the guys like Mary; she's so easy.1950s -
eyeball
( v ) To look at. Lela, I saw Gordon eyeballing you in the office yesterday.1950s -
fantabulous
( adj ) Fantastic, fabulous. Billy did a fantabulous job on his science project.1950s -
fess up
( v ) Confess, own up. Fess up, you love him, don't you?1950s -
finger
( v ) Stick up the middle finger. When I told him he favored his dog a little, he fingered me.1950s -
fink
( n ) An informer, a tattle-tale. You're such a ratty little fink. Why do you always tell mom everything I do?1950s -
fire up
( v ) Get someone excited. OK! I'm all fired up to get this math homework done!1950s -
flat out
( adv ) To the limit. He was running the car flat-out.1950s -
flat-out
( adv ) Plainly, directly. He flat-out lied to me.1950s -
flattop
( n ) Men's hairstyle: a crewcut flat across the top. He cut off his ducktail and now he has a flattop.1950s -
flat-top
( n ) A short men's hair style cut flat across the top so all the hair stands up. He cut off his ducktail and now he has a flat-top.1950s -
flick
( n ) A movie. I haven't seen a good flick in a long time.1950s -
flip side
( np ) The other side (of a record). What kind of music do you have on the flip side of the tape?1950s -
floor
( v ) Push the accelerator to the floor. The coast is clear: floor it!1950s -
Forget it!
( int ) I won't do it! You want me to lend you $5 for the movies? Forget it!1950s -
four on the floor
( np ) Four-speed gear shift in a car. That sports car has four on the floor, man, cool!1950s -
freak
( n ) A strange person. There were a bunch of freaky freaks at that party.1950s -
freddie frat
( n ) A fraternity brother. I don't know what all those freddie frats were at a townie party.1950s -
from nowhere
( adv ) Bad, no good. His taste in women is from nowhere, man.1950s -
funk
( n ) Down-to-earth, original jazz. I think their music has too much funk in it; I prefer something more modern.1950s -
funky
( adj ) Musically down-to-earth, original. I love that funky New Orleans sound.1950s -
garbage
( n ) Nonsense. Everything you are saying is pure garbage!1950s -
gay
( n ) A homosexual. Gays are at last getting equal treatment in society.1950s -
gay
( adj ) Homosexual. There is nothing wrong with being gay.1950s -
geek
( n ) A studious, unsociable person. He is a geek so he keeps pretty much to himself.1950s -
get it
( vp ) To come to understand, catch on. I told her the joke twice but she just didn't get it.1950s -
get off your back
( vp ) To stop annoying, bothering. Get off my back, man; I'm tired of listening to you.1950s -
give me five
( vp ) Shake hands. You passed the test? Give me five!1950s -
give the finger
( vp ) Stick up the middle finger. I told him his mother wears combat boots and he gave me the finger.1950s -
glasspack
( n ) A muffler packed with fiberglass improve performance and/or increase noise. He just added dual glasspacks to his rod and doesn't it sound wicked!1950s -
go ape
( vp ) To lose control of yourself, go crazy. He went ape when his friends dropped a frog down his collar.1950s -
gone
( adj ) Totally carried away with. I think Martha's complete gone over him.1950s -
goof
( n ) A mistake, error. Making a pass at the boss's wife was a major goof.1950s -
goof off
( v ) Loaf, waste time. I am really a goof at times.1950s -
goose
( n ) A poke between the buttocks. Somebody gave the rat fink a goose in the hall and he jumped so high he fell.1950s -
goose
( v ) To poke someone between the buttocks. She goosed Freddy in class and he jumped halfway across the room.1950s -
goose
( v ) To speed up, accelerate. Hey, they're catching up. Goose it!1950s -
hardware
( n ) A gun. The police were surprised by all the hardware the gang members had.1950s -
haul ass
( vp ) Fly, move very fast. When he passed my house he was hauling ass.1950s -
have a cow
( vp ) Throw a fit. I thought mama would have a cow when she saw the damage to the car.1950s -
have a hissy
( vp ) Throw a fit. Mama had a hissy when she saw me in the tank top and miniskirt.1950s -
heap
( n ) An old, beat-up car. That old heap of his couldn't make it to the beach.1950s -
hissy
( n ) A fit. She threw a hissy when she saw him with another girl.1950s -
hit the books
( vp ) To study. Cut the gabbing; it's time to hit the books.1950s -
hit the sack
( vp ) Go to bed. Is it 11 o'clock already? Time for me to hit the sack.1950s -
hit man
( n ) A hired killer. Olga hired a hit man to off her husband but her contact turned out to be a police officer.1950s -
Holy moly!
( int ) An interjection of surprise. Holy moly! I just won the jackpot!1950s -
hop up
( v ) Increase the power and speed of a car. His wheels are faster since he hopped up the engine and installed dual glasspacks.1950s -
horny
( adj ) Sexually aroused; randy. I haven't been horny since I started taking that antidepressant.1950s -
horse
( n ) A large, strong man with a big appetite. Reilly is a horse; you had better fix him a big dinner.1950s -
horse's ass
( np ) A disgusting person. That horse's ass never showed up, so we had to do it all.1950s -
hot
( adj ) Sexy, attractive. That girl is hot!1950s -
hot and bothered
( ap ) Irritated. Don't get all hot and bothered about a parking ticket.1950s -
hot to trot
( ap ) Sexy, seductive (a female). Selma seemed hot to trot last night.1950s -
ID
( n ) Identification. Can you show me some ID please?1950s -
in the groove
( pp ) Excellent, outstanding. It was a real hep band that stayed in the groove all night long.1950s -
Ivy Leaguers
( np ) A type of men's pants with no pleats and a buckle in the back. I guess I've have to buy a pair of Ivy Leaguers; everybody else is wearing them.1950s -
jail bait
( np ) A girl too young for sexual advances. Don't hit on her; she's only 15 and jail bait.1950s -
jam
( v ) To make music informally. After the gig last night, the group went over to Tooter's and jammed the rest of the night.1950s -
jerk around
( v ) Mislead. Recently it seems like everyone is jerking me around.1950s -
jock
( n ) An athlete. He likes to hang out at jock bars and talk sports all the time.1950s -
Joe Blow
( np ) An ordinary, average person. Joe Blow doesn't buy many yachts in his lifetime.1950s -
john
( n ) Bathroom. The john really smells.1950s -
John Law
( n ) The police. Watch out for John Law.1950s -
joint
( n ) Jail or prison. He claims that he did time in the joint.1950s -
juiced
( adj ) Drunk, intoxicated. Orville got pretty juiced at the party last night.1950s -
kick the habit
( vp ) To end an addiction. If you don't kick the ice cream habit you're going to buy the farm.1950s -
knock
( v ) Criticize, insult. Hey, don't knock my new hat!1950s -
kook
( n ) An eccentric, non-conformist. The kook thinks he's making a fashion statement wearing his shirt backwards.1950s -
kooky
( adj ) Crazy, insane. What happened to your kooky friend?1950s -
lay a patch
( vp ) To screech your tires pulling out. Hilda just left; I heard her lay a patch pulling out.1950s -
lay a strip
( vp ) To screech your tires pulling out. Heidi just went home; I heard her lay a strip pulling out.1950s -
lay on
( v ) To tell. OK, lay the bad news on me; I'm ready.1950s -
lay rubber
( vp ) To screech your tires pulling out. Let's get out of here; lay some rubber, man!1950s -
lift
( v ) To steal. He was picked up for lifting hubcaps.1950s -
lockup
( n ) Jail or prison. He was picked up on a DUI and spent the night in the lockup.1950s -
loser
( n ) A person who cannot succeed. John is a loser who has never held a job for a year.1950s -
made in the shade
( vp ) Success guaranteed. Since Hoodad got that job, he has it made in the shade.1950s -
make no nevermind.
( vp ) To not matter. It makes no nevermind to me what she does.1950s -
make out
( v ) To hug and kiss. Their parents caught them making out on the couch in the living room.1950s -
make tracks
( vp ) To leave. When are you going to make tracks?1950s -
Man!
( n ) An emphatic interjection. Man, that was a hard test!1950s -
man
( n ) From of address to a male in the North. Hey, man, why are you doing that?1950s -
mean
( adj ) Excellent, outstanding. Rusty Carr's rod is the meanest car in town.1950s -
Mickey-Mouse
( adj ) Easy, simple. The homework the teacher gave us was mickey mouse.1950s -
midnight auto supply
( np ) Obtaining auto parts through theft. These hubcaps are too cheap; they must have come from midnight auto supply.1950s -
mirror warmer
( n ) A piece of pastel fabric from your girl tied around the rear view mirror. He was using one of her handkerchief's as a mirror warmer.1950s -
neck
( v ) To hug and kiss. There isn't enough room in my Beetle to neck.1950s -
nerd
( n ) A studious, unsociable person. See if you can get the nerd to leave his computer long enough to go for coffee.1950s -
nifty
( adj ) Neat, cute. She was wearing this really nifty, low-cut dress with a fringe around the hem.1950s -
No joke!
( int ) An interjection of dismissal. The vote was along party lines? No joke!.1950s -
No joke!
( int ) An interjection of emphasis. No joke! Ronnie really did let the air out of the tires of the squad car.1950s -
no sweat
( np ) No problem. It's no sweat to have the report in to you by Monday.1950s -
nooky
( n ) Female genitalia. [Use your imagination].1950s -
Not a chance!
( int ) An interjection of rejection. Loan you $20? Not a chance!.1950s -
number one
( np ) Yourself. I'm taking care of number one and you guys can fend for yourselves.1950s -
off the wall
( pp ) Crazy, insane. Most of what he says is off the wall.1950s -
on cloud seven
( pp ) Really happy. She's been on cloud seven ever since she got her new car.1950s -
on the rag
( pp ) Having one's menstrual period. I'm not in the mood; I am on my rag.1950s -
on the stick
( pp ) Bright, prepared. This new freshman is always on the stick when it comes to homework.1950s -
pain in the ass
( np ) Annoyance. Having to redo my homework is a real pain in the ass.1950s -
party-pooper
( n ) A squelcher. Don't be a party-pooper and leave so early.1950s -
passion pit
( np ) Drive-in movie theatre. We made out in the passion pit last night.1950s -
patootie
( n ) The buttocks. Get out of here before I kick you in the patootie!1950s -
pee off
( v ) To make angry, mad. Why are you peed off with me? I didn't scratch your fender.1950s -
pegged pants
( np ) Pants tapering to a narrow opening at the cuff. He was all decked out in a ducktail haircut and a pair of pegged pants.1950s -
peggers
( n ) Pants tapering to a narrow opening at the cuff. He always wore peggers and a T-shirt to class.1950s -
pickle
( n ) Jam, trouble. She is such an airhead, getting in one pickle after another.1950s -
pickled
( adj ) Drunk, intoxicated. He gets pickled after only one beer.1950s -
pip
( n ) A difficult person. Hulda is quite a pip; she likes to do things her way.1950s -
play chicken
( vp ) A head-on race between two cars in which the first to pull to the side loses. Manny was seriously injured playing chicken with his friend.1950s -
pony-tail
( n ) Long hair tied in back with a rubber band. The professor thought he was cool, wearing a pony tail.1950s -
poop out
( v ) Get tired. He pooped out after we started to do the hard work.1950s -
pooper
( np ) A squelcher. Don't invite Marvin; he is such as pooper he'll ruin the party.1950s -
Princeton cut
( np ) Close haircut. That Princeton cut makes him look too preppy.1950s -
psycho
( n ) A crazy person. Lila is a psycho who should be in a hospital.1950s -
push off
( v ) To leave. I am going to push off now.1950s -
put out
( v ) To intentionally allure men. Mavis was at the party putting out, as usual.1950s -
rabbit ears
( np ) Indoor television antennae. He can't get diddledy on his TV with those rabbit ears.1950s -
rack out
( v ) To sleep. I am going to rack out for two hours.1950s -
ragtop
( np ) A convertible car. There were a lot of ragtops at the auto show.1950s -
rake
( n ) A lowered front end on a hotrod. He just gave his rod a rake and twice pipes; nice.1950s -
rake
( v ) To lower the front end of a hotrod. It doesn't look like much now but when I rake it, it will be hot stuff.1950s -
ream out
( v ) To scold, chastise. The boss really reamed him out for his bad report.1950s -
ride
( n ) A car or other vehicle. That's a pretty rusty ride you have their, Lester.1950s -
Right on!
( int ) An interjection of agreement. You want to raise collards in the garden? Right on!.1950s -
ripped
( adj ) Drunk, intoxicated. He's so ripped he can't find his pocket.1950s -
road hog
( np ) Someone who takes up to much of the road. I can't pass because the driver ahead of me is a road hog.1950s -
rod
( n ) A car (hot-rodders). Delmar has the hottest rod on the block.1950s -
roll
( v ) To leave. Eleven o'clock? It's time to roll!1950s -
royal shaft
( np ) A great destructive unfair act. He got the royal shaft from the principal for cutting so many classes.1950s -
run off at the mouth
( vp ) To talk too much. He is always running off at the mouth.1950s -
sack
( n ) Bed. When did you hit the sack last night?1950s -
Say what?
( int ) Are you serious. Malik got shot last night. Say what?!1950s -
scratch off
( v ) Screech your tires pulling out. Nathan just left; I heard him scratching off.1950s -
screwup
( n ) A mistake, error. His marriage turned out to be one great screwup.1950s -
See you later, alligator
( int ) Good-bye. See you later, alligator. (After while, crocodile.).1950s -
sex-pot
( n ) A sexy or seductive woman. She thinks she is a sex pot when she wears those low-cut blouses.1950s -
shaft
( n ) A double-cross. I sent her out to buy a car but she gave me the shaft and skipped with the money.1950s -
shaft
( v ) To double-cross. I was shafted by best friend!1950s -
shag ass
( v ) To leave. This library sucks; let's shag ass.1950s -
sharp
( adj ) Attractive or appealing. Who was the sharp guy I saw her out with last weekend?1950s -
shoot down
( v ) To reject. Everyone shot down my idea.1950s -
shotgun
( n ) A place of honor in the front seat of a car beside the driver. Why do you always get to ride shotgun? It's my turn!1950s -
shuck
( v ) To cheat or deceive. Don't try to shuck me with your jive talk, man; I know what you're up to.1950s -
shucked
( adj ) Drunk, intoxicated. He came home shucked and his wife locked him out.1950s -
shuckster
( n ) A deceiver, liar, or cheat. I've learned my lesson: never buy a car from a shuckster.1950s -
side
( n ) A vinyl record. He has a great collection of sides at home.1950s -
skirt
( n ) A girl or a woman. Hey, Rube, take a gander at the legs on that skirt over there.1950s -
slammer
( n ) Jail or prison. The police threw them both in the slammer.1950s -
snafu
( n ) A mistake, error. Sending your gripe to everyone in the company was a major snafu.1950s -
snarf
( v ) Gulp, gobble, swallow whole Ted snarfed down the hamburger as though he hadn't eaten in a month.1950s -
snockered
( adj ) Drunk, intoxicated. Baldwin was so snockered, he couldn't find the bathroom.1950s -
snooker
( v ) To cheat or deceive. I don't know how I got snookered into referring the game.1950s -
snow
( v ) To make someone adore you. Olga has Percy snowed; he can't live without her.1950s -
split
( v ) To leave. It is time to split and go see the movie.1950s -
spring (for)
( v ) To pay for. It is my turn to spring for the doughnuts.1950s -
squirrel
( n ) The female genitalia. [Use your imagination].1950s -
stiff
( v ) To leave the bill for someone else to pay. He invited me out then stiffed me with the bill.1950s -
straight
( adj ) Truthful. That's straight, man; she cancelled the final!1950s -
stuff
( v ) Keep (contemptuous rejection). You can take your job and stuff it.1950s -
suicide knob
( np ) A knob on your steering wheel. When he hit the curb, the steering wheel spun around and the suicide knob knocked him out.1950s -
sweat
( v ) To worry. Don't sweat it; we'll finish on time.1950s -
swinging
( adj ) Full of jazz or the latest music. I like to go to a swinging club on weekends.1950s -
tad
( n ) A little. He is a tad up-tight tonight.1950s -
tank
( n ) A large sedan (usually driven by parents). You should see the tank her dad drives.1950s -
teach
( n ) A Teacher. She isn't such a bad teach.1950s -
tear up
( v ) To upset. She was torn up over losing her boyfriend.1950s -
tear-ass
( v ) Drive (or go) very fast. He dropped a water balloon then tore-ass down the hall.1950s -
the finger
( n ) The raised middle finger. The little twit gave me the finger when I asked him for a light.1950s -
the most
( n ) Excellent, outstanding. Thanks for all the help, Barry; you're the most.1950s -
the sack
( n ) Bed. It is time for me to hit the sack.1950s -
three on the tree
( np ) A car with 3-speed manual transmission with the shifter on the steering column. That old car is fast for wheels with three on a tree.1950s -
tight
( adj ) Drunk, intoxicated. After the party he sure had a tight head.1950s -
total
( v ) To completely destroy. He totaled his car last night.1950s -
town-gown
( adj ) Pertaining to relations between students and local residents in a college town. That guy over there isn't doing much for town-gown relations.1950s -
turkey
( n ) A stupid or foolish person. That turkey hasn't sense enough to come in out of the rain.1950s -
turn on
( v ) To show off. Go out in the surf and turn on for everyone.1950s -
twice pipes
( np ) Dual exhaust pipes. He has a cool ride with dual carbs and twice pipes.1950s -
up the creek
( pp ) In trouble. He's up the creek without a paddle.1950s -
walking-papers
( n ) Notice of being fired. I hear Sheila got her walking papers today.1950s -
wash out
( v ) To become jaded, no longer effective. I've worked on this job so long that I'm washed out.1950s -
Way to go!
( int ) Good going, nice job. Nice 3-pointer, Bev. Way to go!1950s -
wedgy
( n ) Pulling someone's pants up sharply to wedge them in the crack of the buttocks. Get Finley! He always loses his cool when we give him a wedgy.1950s -
What the frig?
( int ) An interjection of disgust. What the frig! We're having a pop quiz?1950s -
wheelie
( n ) Squealing tires. He can't pull away from the curve without making a wheelie.1950s -
wheels
( n ) A car. I can't take my girlfriend out tonight because I don't have wheels.1950s -
whomp
( v ) Beat, whip. If you don't shut up, I'm going to whomp you.1950s -
wipe out
( v ) To completely tire, fatigue. I've been shopping all day and right now I'm simply wiped out.1950s -
word from the bird
( np ) The truth. No school tomorrow and that's the word from the bird!1950s -
yack
( v ) To talk mindlessly. All she does is yack. It drives me crazy.1950s -
zonk
( v ) To hit. He zonked me on the head with his baseball glove.1950s -
have legs
( vp ) Be workable. Your idea doesn't have legs; it won't fly.1950s -
D. A.
( abb ) A man's long hair style with the sides combed to the back of the head, then parted with a downward stroke of the comb. He has gorgeous blond hair that he combs in a D. A..1950s -
fantabulous
( adj ) Fantastic, fabulous. Gigi always throws fantabulous bashes.1950s -
Get out of here!
( phr ) You're kidding me; I don't believe you. You won $500 at the track? Get out of here!1950s -
park
( v ) To hug and kiss in a parked car. Freddie and Mayola love to park up on Mulholland Drive.1950s -
zinger
( n ) Something that gets your attention; a sharp punch line. Aunt Mavis can always come up with a zinger for anything you say.1950s -
drag
( n ) Something depressing or disappointing. Sunny is such a drag I would never invite her to my parties.1950s -
wrap-up
( n ) A summary at the end of an event. Bert watched the late evening wrap-up of the news.1950s -
plugola
( n ) A bribe to promote someone or something. Anyone can become famous if they pay enough plugola.1950s -
pickle
( pp ) Trouble. Pedro forgot that he had invited Remona to the party and got himself in a pickle when he invited Kristin, too.1950s -
one-upmanship
( n ) Showing off by trying to be better than everyone else. Every thing that Polly Graf says about herself is colored by her constant one-upmanship.1950s -
oneupmanship
( n ) Showing off by trying to be better than everyone else. Every thing that Polly Graf says about herself is colored by her constant oneupmanship.1950s -
one-upsmanship
( n ) Showing off by trying to be better than everyone else. Every thing that Polly Graf says about herself is colored by her constant one-upsmanship.1950s -
hickey
( n ) Bruise on the skin left by sucking. They must have at least petted last night; she cam to work today with a hickey on her neck.1950s -
head
( n ) Bathroom, toilet. Hold the game, boys, I have to go to the head.1950s -
lame
( adj ) Bad, of poor quality. What a lame excuse!1950s -
-nik
( suf ) Someone associated with the root of the word: nogoodnik, peacenik, beatnik, refusenik. The nogoodnick flunked out of college then moved in with some beatniks in Soho.1950s -
frenemy
( n ) A friend who betrays you. That frenemy of Daphne's posted revealing pictures of her on the Internet.1950s -
hinky
( adj ) Nervous. Riding so fast in a car driven by a knucklehead left Clara a little hinky.1950s -
belt
( v ) To sing out loudly. No one could belt 'God Bless America' like Kate Smith.1950s -
lean on
( v ) To apply pressure, threaten. Fritzy wouldn't pay Tommy Gunn the $100 he owed him, so Tommy brought a couple of his friends to lean on Fritzy a little.1950s -
terminate
( v ) To kill. Rat on the mob? Are you crazy? I don't want to be terminated in my youth.1950s -
tube
( n ) Television, TV. I spent all day watching the tube yesterday.1950s -
wheel
( n ) An important person. Hardy Partier thinks he's a wheel because he's manager of the mailroom.1950s -
wheeler-dealer
( n ) An important person. Hardy Partier thinks he's a wheel because he's manager of the mailroom.1950s -
grease
( v ) To kill. If that squeeler lets the cat out of the bag, I'll grease him!1950s -
boat
( n ) A large luxurious car. Hey, man, I saw you cruising around in that old boat of your dad's1950s -
fazangas
( n ) Breasts. Did you see the fazangas on that girl?1950s -
dust off
( v ) To reactivate, resurrect. Why not dust off your old tap dance routine for the show.1950s -
H
( n ) Horse, heroine. I know where you can by "H" on the street corner.1950s -
turf
( n ) Territory claimed by someone. You're on my turf now; you do as I say.1950s
Do you like our Slang Dictionary?
You will probably like these other features of our website.- Slang Generation Checkup
If you enjoy our American slang dictionary, you should get a kick out of this glossary of words pronounced with a Southern accent. (Andy Griffith, look out!) - Dr. Goodword's Glossary of Quaint Southernisms
If you enjoy our American slang dictionary, you should get a kick out of this glossary of words pronounced with a Southern accent. (Andy Griffith, look out!) - alphaDictionary's Rebel-Yankee Test
Any Bubbaese in your speech? Everyone loves our Southern accent self-test. It also tells you how much of a Yankee you are. - Miss Spelling's Spelling Center Here is the complete toolbox to fix all your misspelled words plus a glossary of them and explanations of why English is so hard tos spell.
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