Wise-crack dictionary
Author: Unknown
Date: 2025-11-29T00:00:00+00:00
Keywords: English language -- United States -- Slang; Americanisms -- Dictionaries

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Title: Wise-crack dictionary

More than 1,000 phrases and words in every day use collected from 10,000 communications received during a newspaper prize contest and other sources, a new addition to the American dictionary

Editor: George H. Maines

Bruce Grant

Release date: November 30, 2025 [eBook #77369]

Language: English

Original publication: New York: The Spot News Service Publishing Company, 1926

Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/77369

Credits: Carla Foust, Tim Miller and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WISE-CRACK DICTIONARY ***

WISE-CRACK DICTIONARY

More than 1,000 phrases and words in
every day use collected from 10,000
communications received during a
newspaper prize contest and other
sources—a new addition to the
American dictionary.

EDITORS
George H. Maines
Bruce Grant

Printed by
The Spot News Service Publishing Company
100 GOLD STREET, NEW YORK

Copyright 1926 by
SPOT NEWS SERVICE PUBLISHING CO.

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

C

Cradle snatcher—Person who prefers a younger companion

Communion suit—Best of anything

Cat’s meow—The latest thing

Can that chatter—Request for written statement

Come out in the wash—Be all right in the end

Cut the comedy—Stop joking

Cough it up—Say what you want

Coffin varnish—Bad whiskey

Carbolic acid—Goodbye in any language

Canned tongue—Bashful and untalkative fellow

Cauliflower cultivator—Pugilist

Can opener—Wife who serves hubby’s meals directly from the delicatessen

Chasing them in the open—Scratching the head

C. O. D. boy—One with a crush on dames

Clean up the Kitchen—Plate of hash

Calendar—One with many engagements

Chin music—Chatter

Cat’s pajamas—Something classy

Cat’s glee—Dumb but happy

Cold as grandmother’s kiss—Lacking in enthusiasm and ardor

Creeping Jesus—Joy killer

Cat’s whiskers—Nifty

Chew the rag—Engage in conversation

Canalboats—Large sized shoes

Call on one’s Uncle—Sightseeing beneath the sign of the three balls

Come up for air—Stop talking

Cold meat box—A coffin

Chamois pusher—Window cleaner

Calendar week—All dated up

Chair warmer—A politician

Chase the cow down this way—Pass the milk

Classy Rib—Nicely appearing young woman

Coffin nails—Cigarettes

Crackerjack lamp quencher—Female adept at giving black eye

Curbstone scratch—Street idler

China closet—Mouth full of false teeth

Call off your dog—You’re stepping on my foot

Cop a mope—Take a walk

Cauliflower carnival—Boxing match

Club steak—Girl whose appetite is great

Checker player—Girl who moves from one fellow to the other

Cigar lighter—One who never works

Chicken butcher—Lady killer

Crab the show—Spoil the affair

Cross-country man—An automobile thief

Cop and blow!—The skin game man’s signal to his confederates to win and walk away

Chive—knife or dagger

Corn crusher—Dancer who is particular about his partner’s feet

Capper—An auctioneer’s confederate who bids up

Cop!—The skin game man’s signal to his confederates to win

Cheaters—Pair of glasses

Carries his lunch in his hat—Never tips his hat

Cut up old dough—Talk over old times

Carrying the banner—Going all night without a bed

Crash a snowbank—Enter a cocaine sniffing joint

Conducer—Railroad conductor

Cold turkey—Definite statement of facts

Cork the glycerine—Stop the movie tears

Caser—One dollar bill

Croaker—Doctor, referred to in a sarcastic vein as the man who kills you

Crashing the gate—A mild divertisement of a man without a ticket

Clean—Broke

Capper—Come-on man in circus skin games

Camel snatcher—Flapper who likes her puff

Close your delicatessen before your tongue gets cold—Less Talk

Cut the gallows—Throw away that rope you’re smoking

Combination—Hobo term for regular meal

Corking party—Lots to drink

Cabaret sunburn—Liquor flush

Court plaster—Young lady summoned to court often

Crack up—Wreck of an airplane

D

Douse the glim—Put out the light

Dig a hole and pull it in after you—Leave and don’t come back

Dropping one’s roof—Losing one’s hat

Draw one at twilight—Put a little milk in the coffee

Doughnut with the cramps—A cruller

Dead but won’t lay down—Unintelligent

Do a Weston—Take a long and quick walk

Duck one’s fire extinguisher—Get away from one’s chaperone

Don’t be an Airdale—Rebuke for fickleness

Dish out the dirt—Tell the latest scandal

Doormat—A coward

Drag your freight—Hurry up

Decorate the mahagony—Lay the money on the bar

Danger signal—Pistol permit

Do a Steve Brodie—Take a chance

Dissolve your solder—Act as if you knew something

Double up on coffin nails—Give one’s companion a cigarette, too

Dead from the dandruff down—Exceedingly dumb

Drug store cowboy—Fellow who spends nothing but time

Date up with one’s Lizzie—Engage to take Lady for an automobile ride

Dutch treat—The way two girls take each other to lunch

Draw one in the dark—Draw a cup of black coffee

Door bell polisher—Hall petter

Drug store—Painted blonde

Don’t be a hero—Don’t show off

Down in front—Pull down your dress

Don’t mean maybe—When one don’t

Ducat—Ticket

Dicer—Hat

Dispepsia—Marriage disagreement

Dash of heat—Light for cigarette

Draw some rabbit tracks—Write a letter

Dropped the curtains—Put on long trousers

Do a flat—Be so tired as to sleep without turning over

Dip—Pickpocket

Duke me—Hand it to me

Deuce—Two dollar bill

Deemer—Dime

Don’t be a brace and bit—You bore me

Double saw—Twenty dollar bill

Declaration of Independence—Divorce

Dental mechanic from Queens—Brooklyn bridge worker

Ditched—Hobo term for being thrown off a train

Deck—When a hobo rides on top of a train

E

Exercise your nostrils—Invitation to take the air

Elephant’s tusk—Hard customer

Evening sticks—Night clubs

Eleven bottles—Term among professional men for a good case

Eye-opener—Short dress

Ear-bender—Fast talker

Elbow man—One who nudges the sucker out after he’s trimmed

Easter Egg—Painted and hard boiled flapper

F

Fools’ Paradise—Marriage

Full of static—Not worth listening to

Fits like a drink of water—Just the right size

Press the flesh—Shake hands

Fiddler’s monkey—A roaming person

Free Ride—Social trip with the police

French pastry inhaler—Cake-eater

Feel like a cent waiting for change—Feel embarrassment

Feather your nest—Go to bed

Freezing the tongue and giving the teeth a sleigh ride—Keeping still

Fan yourself—Calm down

Flying omelet—Yellow taxicab

Fag me—Give me a cigarette

Fadeout—Vanish

Flannel kid—Child who shrinks from washing

Fixer—Man who handles the officials in order to conduct any unfair game or business

Fly paper—A fellow who sticks around to catch something

Fly a Kite—Meaning just that—but out of the presence of the suggester

Fin—Five dollar bill

Flat joint—Unbeatable game

Face on the wall—Clock

Funeral march—Youth who is lost on the dance floor and doesn’t know it

Flat-tire—Girl never to be taken to a blow-out

Frogskin—Dollar bill

Fried chicken—Married flapper

G

Gate Slammer—Person who begs meals at back door

Galloping dominoes—Frollicking dice

Give your tongue a holiday—Stop talking

Getting spliced—Getting married

Gun-toter—User of a hypodermic needle

Give a tumble—Introduce

Guy knows his onions—Knows his strongest points

Grand—Thousand dollars

Goofy—Crazy

Going to a fire—In a hurry

Go by Shank’s mare—Walk

Good head for the lumber business—Blockhead

Go cook a radish—Don’t be a bore

Gold digger—Female prospector on Broadway

Getting the wrong number—Date with an ugly telephone operator

Gummy—Man without teeth

Globe Circler—A goldfish

Gunner—Girl out for conquest

Give us a crawl—May I have the pleasure of the next dance

Good case but bum lawyer—Intentions are good but outcome doubtful

Gimmick—Device used for making a fair game crooked

Go by shoe leather express—To walk

Grift—Thievery

Gang Plank—Old man who lets his family walk over him

Glims—Pair of spectacles

Gin-healer—Nice young woman who conceals her gin in her stocking

Gold in them hills—Easy customer

Gaff—Any system used for cheating

Gin-blossom—Flapper who likes to bloom now and then

Grease my mitt—Give me some graft money

Gadget—A trick

Gay cat—Tramp who never works

Gun between the sheets for a traitor—Ham sandwich for Sammy Moskowitz

Good soldier—Girl who can face powder

Got money in the bank—When one talks to oneself

Graft—Hobo lingo for occupation or job

Glom—Steal in hobo language

Go back in the oven you’re half-baked—You don’t act sanely

H

He’s got fish hooks in his pockets—He’s very stingy

Hot in the socks—Full of energy and pep

High shot—Rich fellow

Hooking up to a battery and blowing a fuse—Telling a lie

Hope to kiss a cock-eyed pig if I don’t—Affectionate determination

Hand him the jug—Put him in jail

Handy as a crutch—Able to do—nothing

Have a drag—Have influence

Hiding behind the bushes—Lacking a shave

Hang crape on the head—Mourn for the brain

Hold your horses—Rein in yourself

Half pint—Stunted individual

Hit the hay—retire

H. T. M. Girl—Hates to miss—anything

Hen’s teeth—Superlatively fine

Hot socks—Uncontrollable Charleston feet

Hot puppies in a haystack—Frankfurters and sauerkraut

Have a seat, Lady—Something not said in subways

Heebie-jeebies—Alcoholic shimmy

Heavy sugar papa—Sweet old man with fat purse

Hit the deck—Get out of bed

He’s a sketch—He’s comical

Hope to smoke a herring—Certain

He’s a tin type—He’s old fashioned

Hype—To overcharge. As, “That place has a hype on this week.”

Home run—Married man

Hire a hall—Tell it to a woman

Herring slinger—The man in a white apron at a restaurant

Hey Rube!—Signal for fight on circus lot

Holy picture—Man who needs a shave

Horse and buggy—Young lady out of date—with long hair

Her name is radio—She’s easily picked up

Hashslinger—Mystery man in a restaurant

Horizontal refreshment—Sleep

Hike—When a hobo has to walk

He has more coats than an onion—He’s full of apologies

He’s a bar fly—He sips all the free drinks he can

His old man’s a baker—Got lots of dough

How strong are you?—That is, your pocketbook

Head keeper—Father of a large family

Hold that lion!—Confession of paralyzing fear

How do you get that way?—Implying proved lunacy

Hot ziggetty dog—Expressing unlimited admiration

I

Interior Decorator—Bartender

If I don’t see you again, Hello—Goodbye forever

Imitate a tree—Leave

Italian Decoration—Spaghetti

Ice—Diamond

It’s Jake with me—It’s alright

In the bag—Prearranged result in a contest

Irish toothache—Punch in the jaw

Itch—Love

It’s a wow!—Great!

I’m from Missouri—Admission of something lacking

In the red—Losing money in show parlance

I love you—A boast

In the deep—In a losing game

Illuminated—Covered with 10 cent jewelry

I’ll see you on the installment plan—Once a month

I’m between salaries—I’m out of work

Incorporate!—You’re too clever for one man

Indoor tan—Dirty hands and neck

Ironsides—Girl with corsets

Indoor aviator—Elevator operator

I’ll say so—Emphatic agreement

I should worry—Disclaiming responsibility

It’s a bear—Highest form of praise

It’s the bee’s knees—Approval by comparison

J

Jew’s Harp—Abie’s Irish Rose

Jarring the cherries off grandma’s bonnet—Doing something that is excitedly up-to-date

Jam pitch—To work up a sale by a scale of refunds until the sucker has fallen for a high amount

Jip—To cheat or steal

Jawbone—Credit

Jumping tintypes—Movies

Jig—Negro

John Law—Policeman

Jump—Hobo term for move from town to town

Jewish salmon—Ham

K

Kitten’s fallen arches—Persistent fault finder

Kick in the pants—Libation in the hip pocket

Keeping your shirt on—Remaining cool and calm

Keep off my sidewalk-slappers—Keep off my feet

Kitchen mechanic—Culinary artist

Kid top—Side show in a circus

Knock-over—Cleanup

Kick-back—Have to return a sucker’s money

Keep your shadow the same—You’re getting fat

Knockout—Girl who knocks your eye out

L

Last sensation—A tight shoe

Let’s blouse—Let’s go

Loan me your frame for the next struggle—Polite way of asking for the next dance

Lit up like a lighthouse—Brilliantly inebriated

Lot of bologna—Gross exaggeration

Let me off the merry-go-round—Stop kidding me

Lounge lizard—Parlor sheik

Let the brakes off the beans—Table etiquette for asking for same

Liberty bond—Divorce papers

Landlord’s birthday—Day landlord calls for the rent

Lower than a snake’s belt-buckle—Not very high

Lay off the Bennie—Let go the overcoat

Lot of crust—Lot of nerve

Let’s have some inside dope—Expression of a man who wants a drink

Lip—Argument

Lamp it—Look it over

Lemon squeezer—One who prefers maiden ladies

Looking in the pink—Appearing in fine condition

Like a flea in a bale of hay—Not amounting to much

Long drink of water—Thin person

Landscape explorer—Youth who sits his girl on a park bench and talks about the scenery

Lay-down—Set of numbers on gaming table

Lift an elbow—Common talk where beer is concerned

Lush up—To get drunk

Leading a dog’s life—A girl who gets nothing but petting and scraps

Leave a good impression—Use lots of lip rouge

Lambs on the bum—When lambs escape on a ranch

Let it ride on a fish—Send it C. O. D.

Lottery ticket—Marriage license

Lily pad hopper—A dance hound

Laugh that off—Controversial triumph

M

Model in a spaghetti factory—A thin person

Mouthpiece—Legal adviser

Mitt me—Shake my hand

Money flows like glue—Sticks to the pockets

Mug masher—Prize fighter

Massage the tonsils—To eat

Meal ticket—Husband

Moving for another trial—Courting the second wife

Map laundress—Beauty shop proprietress

Micro-gabbler—Broadcasting scandalmonger

Missionary work—Dancing with wall-flowers

Muzzle—Kiss with no time off for air

Misplaced eyebrow—So-called mustache

Mouth organ—The tongue

Mystery—Hash

Meg—Any denomination of silver money between ten cents and one dollar; signified by fifteen megs, twenty megs, etc.

Mac—Man who lives off the earnings of a woman

Mollbuzzer—Man who snatches a woman’s pocketbook

Mark—Sucker

Mugglehead—Smoker of Mexican loco weed

Maple sugar—A refined sap

Monkey—Chump

Moll—Woman

Magazine—Crook’s term for six months to a year in jail

Matrimony—A word or a sentence

Main street judge—Male appraiser on a windy corner

Melt the iceberg—Hold me a little tighter

Monday furs—Ermine bought on the installment plan

Main stem—Main line of a railroad according to hobos

Maverich--Stolen calf in ranch terms

Main squeeze—Best girl

Mad money—Coin of a flapper who expects to have to walk back

Make a noise like a trunk—Express yourself

N

Needle work—Story of a drug addict

New set of threads—New suit of clothes

No soap—Can’t talk business

Nothing cooking—Nothing doing

November sheik—Turkey

Nickel nurser—One who has a passion for seeing that his nickels don’t stray

Nix—Don’t

Newspaper—Crook’s term for thirty days in jail

Nance—Sissy

Negroes in a snowstorm—Raisins and Rice

O

On the shelf—Pawnshop

Ostrich party—Necking party

Open the four of them—Admonition to a person wearing glasses to pay attention

Onion—One who tells sad stories that cause others to weep

Office cat—Office gossip

One on the city—A glass of water

Out of the picture—In the wrong company

Oil burner—Student

One burning moment—A spinster’s first kiss

Order of flats—Dish of wheat cakes

One-way pockets—Pockets of tightwad

One-straw guy—A fellow who never treats another to a soda

Open as a safe—A spy

On tick—On credit

Oil can—One who cannot grease the slides to popularity

On the cuff—Charge it

Oh, you Kid!—Corespondent

One-half check—Fifty cents

One-half yard—Fifty dollars

One-half grand—Five hundred dollars

On the up-and-up—Nearer heaven and squarer business

On the arm—Something for nothing in show business

Old pump—Heart

Outlaw—Runaway horse

P

Pop ’em up—Set up the drinks

Pick up the marbles—You win, you are right

Pulling a boner—Doing the wrong thing

Paper moocher—One who reads newspapers picked up on cars, subways, etc.

Put in the know—Enlighten, make clear

Put out the lamp—Soak in the eye

Paint the Hicks—Show a little life in a small town

Pickled—Drunk

Pumphouse—Insane asylum

Pie face—One with a lot of crust

Possum belly—Tent stake box carried under circus railroad cars

Pavey—Man who peddles goods on the sidewalk

Put the finger on him—Arrest him

Put that in your pipe and smoke it—Your brand doesn’t suit me

Pipe the rock—See the diamond

Pre-Volstead—Drunk

Putting away his ice—Pawning his diamond

Punk—Child in show business

Poke—Pocketbook

Plaster—Attachment on a show

Paper-hanger’s daughter—Wall-flower

Punk—Bread

Pass my disposition—Sugar, of course

Padlocked mama—Married woman

Plumb line your rags—Get your pants pressed

Popular as DeRussey’s Lane—Lots of crabapple sweeties

Pianola—Young lady who only plays when there’s a roll in sight

Pair of tights—Two drunks

Pipe the lid—Look at the hat

Pass out of the picture—In no state for another drink

Pie wagon—Patrol wagon

Put an egg in your shoe and beat it—Run along

Park your dogs awhile—Rest your feet

Put and take—Put on your hat and take a walk

Pig’s hips and cackle-berries—Ham and eggs

Punching the bag—Incessant talking

Plus four guy—Golf player

Pass the lumber—Pass the toothpicks

Part his hair—Club him on the head

Pencil-pusher—Office employee

Parlor athlete—A frequent caller at young ladies’ homes

Put out a stop signal—Detain a Marathon talker

Pig and Whistle—Pork and beans

Passing the buck—Shifting the blame for responsibility

Pig in a blanket—Sausage in a roll

Put on a new record—Change the subject

Pipe down—Shut up

Put on the feed bag—Sit down to the table

Put into circulation again—Stop going out with him

Parlor duty—Staying home and petting

Pin feather—Young girl under sixteen

Perpendicular your outline—Reduce a little

Paw Paw Indian—Petter

Pick and banjo—Pick and shovel to a hobo

Q

Qute—Twenty-five cents

R

Ring a doorbell—Request to say something

Rubbing it in—Recalling poignant memories

Remove the rubber band—Spend the paper money

Regular Humpty-Dumpty—On the fence

Red Mike and Violets—Corn Beef and Cabbage

Roll your hoop—Keep moving

Rum Hound—Prohibition agent

Remove one’s gloves—Wash one’s hands

Ritzy—Highclass in a snobbish way

Rubber dime—Counterfeit money

Raw egg—One vulgar in his remarks

Rubber doll—One who stretches the truth

Right off the bat—First hand

Racket—The art of cheating

Rag—Tent in a circus

Rumble—A tip-off to the police

Red one—Big engagement where show company can make lots of money

Razor back—Roughneck or stake driver in a circus

Round up—Arrest of a hobo gang

Rolls her own—Pushes a baby carriage

Rib roast—Lecture from the wife

Regular cut-up—A surgeon

S

Spook—Mind reader

Sand spider—A bathing suit censor

Stop the clock—Take your time

Snake’s Arm bands—Very good and unusual

Sky juice—Water

Step on it—Hurry

Swell dish—Very beautiful girl

Smell wood burning—Realizing that someone is trying to think

Shake a leg—Hurry up

Shove off—Get out

Social irrigation—Little drink

Shut your trap—Close your mouth

Sub Marine—Marine on a subway

Strut your stuff—Show your best wares

Stamp fighter—An office boy

Sling the institution—Put down your book

Say so—Be positive of a fact

Slip us five—Request for a handshake

Smack on the kisser—Hit on the mouth

Stow the gab—Stop talking

See you some Sunday during the week—Never again

Spill the beans—Tell the secret

Strike oil—What every gold digger wants to do

Swim the channel—Get across over the footlights

Sling the dope—Tell all about it

Sidewalk sailor—Man who walks his girl to and from the show

Sling a mean line—Talk persuasively

Sheika—Sheik’s sweetie

She likes to muscle—hug

Slip of the pen—Runaway pig

Steam roller—Heavy spender

Sea dust—Salt

Shoving the queer—Passing counterfeit money

She’s a high flyer—Hang onto your pocketbook

She knows her onions—She knows how to avoid them

Screen actor—Mosquito

Sidewalk surveyor—Drunken man

Speak United States—Explain yourself

Six o’clock straight—Tall and slim person

Sugar Daddy—Girl’s lollipop for the evening

Swell baseball team—Nine on a side—mustache

Smoking around the collar—Getting angry

Sardine bus—New York subway

Side-door Pullman—Freight car

Storm bound—Going to call on a lady friend

See me kid—Apache to his midinette when the check comes around

Shut off the waterworks—Cease weeping

Snow again, I didn’t get your drift—Please repeat

Sleeping time—One year in Jail

Stow your gab—Stop talking

So’s your Ol’ Antennae—Expression to disconcert radio liars

Storm and strife—Female in matrimony

Stringer—Big touch on a victim

Spread the salve—Soft, conciliatory talk

Sizzling Spitz—Hot dog

Soft peddle—Request for less noise

Small change—Person of not such high standing

Snap into it—Wake up

Straw pump—One fond of sodas

See you in church—Later, but of course, not there

Shut off the loud speaker—Stop talking

Sugar—Money

Slip the dincher—Give one a half-smoked cigarette

Strong joint—Unfair or cheater’s game

Squawk—A tip-off to the police

Slip—Shot of dope

Slum—Phoney merchandise

Scorf—To eat

Shill—Come-on man in any skin game

Sawbuck—Ten dollar bill

Shoo-flies—Detectives in parlance of the road

Sneakers—Rubber-soled shoes

Stick—A confederate who wins or loses at dealer’s will

Spring—To be released from arrest

Set joint—Unbeatable game

Soft—Paper money

Sail—Lose all your money

Second fiddler—Fellow who sticks around with a spooning couple

Sunkist lemon—Beautiful but—

Show a leg—No need to be addressed to flappers—but means “get up”

She rolls her own—Because she will let no one else roll them for her

Space to let—A vacant stare

Struggle buggy—Flivver on installment plan

Skating rink for flies—Baldheaded man

Stop rocking the boat—Go get a divorce

Slip us a kiss—Can I have a piece of your candy?

Stool-pigeon—One who informs on pals to keep out of trouble himself

Sit-down—Hobo talk for meal

Slipping something over—Pulling on a sweater

Swallow a battery—Get a sparkle out of life

She’s an angel—He can borrow from her

Stake—Hobo’s wages—when he works

Skinners—Bell hops according to hobos

Sun-fishing—When a horse bucks, jumps sideways and turns about

S. O. S.—Same old story

See you in the funny sheet—A humorous way of saying goodbye

Stop bending my ear—Stop lying

So’s your old man—Impudent comeback

Sit down, you’re rocking the boat—Arbitrary closing of an argument

Snap out of it—Rebuke for self-pity

T

Throw the bull—Lend a nickel

Talking through the hat—Talking nonsense

Throwing the oil—Telling glibe falsehoods

Take a tuck on your tongue—Don’t talk so much

Tell it to Sweeney—Expression of doubt as to veracity

Turn over the nickel and give the Indian a chance—Leave the bull alone

Throw a rock—Request of newlywed husband for wife’s biscuit

Thanks for the buggy ride—You’re crazy

Take it on the Lamm—Run away

Tin-type—Old fashioned without having a beard

Two shakes of a lamb’s tail—Right away

Tickled silly—State of happiness

Tickling the ivories—Playing the piano; brushing the teeth

Take the air—Begone

Tin Lizzie—A girl sixteen who has never been kissed

Tulip Gardner—An experienced kisser

Turn in—Go to bed

Take him over the jumps—Believe everything he tells you

Teeth in the law—Bloodhounds

Two cackles and a grunt—Ham and eggs

Take a flyer—Take a chance

Two babies in a cradle—Two oysters on the half shell

Traveling like a flea—Gone to the dogs

Take the glue off your shoes—Stop hanging around here

Toreador—A good salesman

Throw your optics on this—Look at this

Tomato receiver—Singer

Turn two pictures to the wall—Fry two eggs over

Take a sample—Take a kiss

Tear off a Rip Van Winkle—Take a long sleep

Tell your story walking—Get out

Tune off that station—Change the conversation

Take with a grain of salt—Treat lightly and advisedly

Tell the world—Mean it

Turn out—Get up

Tenement house disturber—An accordion player

Tell it to the Marines—They heard it in France

That’s the office!—Signal for skin game artists to close up and move on because of approach of police

Tears—Onions

The Gate—Crook’s term for freedom

The bird—Ridicule in English

Tax—Five cents

The Breaks—When Lady Fortune is riding beside you

Third rail—Girl you can’t touch

Tin cow—Evaporated milk

Two piece outfit—Prisoner’s ball and chain

Tell it to the Judge—Choking off a sob story

That’s out!—Rendered non-existent

Teacher’s pet—Of course they do

Top off a horse—When they say “Ride ’im, cowboy.”

Towel—Dry agent

Top—Spinster

Teddy tickle—Short mustache

This queen always follows the Jack—A gold digger

Take-off—Hop-off of an airplane

U

Useful as a Blacksmith in Detroit—Ask Henry Ford

Under new management—Married

Up the river—To Sing Sing

V

Vaccinated with a Victrola needle—Prone to talk frequently

Veterinary expert—One who follows the horses

W

White elephant—Fellow who buys a girl a soda and squeezes it out of her afterward

Waxed floor hound—Young man fond of dancing

Wild wave jockey—Three-mile bootlegger

Whispering soprano—Gossip

Woman’s crowning glory—Rolling pin

Wrinkle—A flapper’s mother

Write it on the ice—Let it melt away

Well-heeled—Has plenty of money

Wooden Kimona—Case for cold storage

Warm weather morals—Permits loving to keep warm

Wash out on the line—Train of thought held up

Wet the whistle—Take a drink

Wet sock—Old fashioned

Wet blanket—Person who dampens the ardor of the party

Wearing a high hat—Acting like one of the 400

Wooden nickels—Suggestions for wooden heads

Wring out the dish rag—An order of soup

Water on the brain which froze—Everything slips his mind

When the ghost walks—Referring to days when the Eagle screams

White line—Hobo term for alcohol

Wield a wicked lamp—Have a naughty eye

Weekly stipend—Husband

Will you take a chance?—Will you take a drink?

War bag—Cowboy’s sack for clothes

Wide open spaces—Collegiate pants

Worry like glue—Stick around

Wash—Wind thrown back from an airplane propeller

Water Lily—A young girl with water in her cranium

Y

Your ears don’t lap over—You heard me

Yanks are coming—Dentist reaching for his extractor

You must be twins—Polite way of saying one couldn’t be so dumb

Your old man must have been a furniture maker—Delicate way of complimenting a young woman on a well-turned leg

Yard of pork—Three pig’s feet

Yowl box—Radio

Yard—One hundred dollars

Your baby’s a scream—Meaning it does

You’d be surprised—Admitting entire satisfaction with results

Z

Zigzag in the steeple—Demented

Zoo—A saxophone

Transcriber’s note

Minor punctuation errors have been changed without notice. Hyphenization was standardized.

Entries under the wrong letter were moved to the last entry under the appropriate letter.

Spelling was retained as in the original except for the following changes:

| Page 6: “adapt at giving black eye” | “adept at giving black eye”
| Page 8: “Fyling omelet” | “Flying omelet”
| Page 8: “by shank’s Mare” | “by Shank’s mare”
| Page 9: “got Fish hooks in” | “got fish hooks in”
| Page 14: “Turn over the nickle” | “Turn over the nickel”
| Page 15: “A golddigger” | “A gold digger”
| Page 16: “A saxaphone” | “A saxophone”

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Table of Contents

- WISE-CRACK DICTIONARY
- FOREWORD
- Transcriber’s note
- THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG™ LICENSE