Chapter I: 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