Peel your ears (1) and get this, nickel rats (2). Some nighthawk (3)has been using his noggin (4) so much that rather than hittin’ the hop(5) they’ve compiled a collection of the best US slang from the 1920s to the 1960s. So grab a flop (6), chill your chat (7) and learn how to talk like a real hipster. Or something.
BARBECUE
A hot-looking lady.
CHICAGO OVERCOAT
Coffin.
CHICAGO LIGHTNING
Gunfire.
DEAD SOLDIERS
Empty beer bottles.
DIME DROPPER
An informer (someone who drops a dime in payphone to call the cops).
FACE LIKE A RUSSIAN FLAG
Embarrassed, ie red.
FREE TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT
Out of work, unemployed.
HAEMOPHILIA OF THE LARYNX
A blabbermouth.
HARLEM SUNSET
Knife wounds.
HAVE ONE ON THE CITY
Drink some water.
KNOW YOUR GROCERIES
Be hip, aware, alert to the situation.
OLD ENOUGH TO VOTE
Vintage liquor or wine.
PREPARING BAIT
Putting on makeup.
ROUNDHEELS
Party girl (deriving from a supposed natural ability to regularly fall over backwards).
SINHOUND
A priest.
SNIFFING ARIZONA PERFUME
Going to the gas chamber.
STRAIGHT FROM THE FRIDGE
Cool. Obviously.
TAKEN OFF THE PAYROLL
Killed/assassinated.
THAT VIBRATES ME
I’m impressed, I really like it.
VOMIT ON THE TABLE
Speak up.
YOUR ROOF IS LEAKING
You’re a bit crazy.
Intro footnotes…
1 Listen up 2 You cheap crooks 3 Late-night person
4 Brain 5 Doing drugs 6 Have a sit down 7 Shut up
The third edition of Straight From The Fridge, Dad by Max Décharné is out now (No Exit Press)
