50 words of vintage slang that sound hilarious today

From Hoosegow to Hornswoggle, these terms of vintage slang are sure to give you a laugh.


Many things in the culture are cyclic. They areCool for a few years, then fall over a decade or two, then they returned again to cool down again. Just look at fashion, music or nutrition. But an aspect of the culture that never seems to get a second act isslang. It has a brief pushed to popularity, with a few exceptions, is swept in the trash of history. From time to time, a sentence of slang is to stay in power, like "hip" or "groovy". But these are the rare exceptions; The vast majority of slang gets a blow to glory. The expression "cat pajamas" will not return to the popular vernacular at any time soon. Here are 50 millitiousClaw This time has dominated the world today, it's just laughing. And for more language to look back, checkThe amazing origins of the terms of the argot of every day that you constantly use.

1
Wisenheimer

Coworkers sitting at workplace and discussing problems.
exit

If you think that think you were justa little smarter than everyone Otherwise, during the 1900s, you may have had this insult who has thrown you, which, to our modern ears, sounds a lot like a brand of Hot Dog. And for the lingo, you should lose as you get older,These are all argot terms that you are too old to use after 40.

2
Buttons sandwich

Woman boxing
Refuge

We are sure that this 40-year-old era slang - an expressive way to describe a fist that is ready to hit you in the face - is intended to be intimidating. But it is always just to hit us as adorable. Sorry for not shaking with fear in your fist's mental image between two slices of bread. And for more ways to optimize your argot knowledge, seeThe fascinating origins of these 30 common slang terms.

3
Arf'arf'an'Arf

Man's hand holds whiskey glass at bar
Refuge

When it is correctly translated, this British term gives us another word forBe embarrassing. And when used correctly, represents the exact moment your drunk brain has had enough - and when the English language is no longer accessible.

4
Shincracker Ducky

friends dancing at a crowded house party
Refuge

Maybe we live in the bad era, but when we think of cracking cracking, the first thing that comes to my mind is not "they must bea good dancerAnd for slang, children use these days, check40 words more than 40 years old do not understand.

5
Khaki Wacky

Soldier in fatigues
Refuge

In 2018,veterans supporting means to thank them for their service. But there was a time when having an admiration for the army meant that you were really impressed by their khaki uniforms. You could even say that you were crazy. And for more ways to stay cool, check the100 TELL TERMS OF THE 20th century that no one uses anymore.

6
SOCKDOLAGER

boss
Refuge

Someone who isparticularly remarkable and special, or at least think they are. AsKanye West, for example. How many times have you said to your friends: "What Kanye West is a SOCKDOLAGER?" Probably never, right?

7
Applesauce

liar
Refuge

In the 1920s, the mocking term of someone who wasBaloney was complex. If you were plenty of apples, it's not because you just had a delicious snack. And for more ways to stay up-to-date on the slang, do not miss the40 daily slang words that have been invented online.

8
Gigglegug

Woman smiling
Refuge

Someone who can not orwill not stop smiling. Hey, we can think of a way to wipe this smile from their face. I just called them a gigglameuse and see their expression fade from Happy to Rizzical.

9
Zozzled

hobbies for your 40s
Refuge

Words like "drunk" and "drunkenness" are so cold. If you will describe how you consume too many adult drinks, then you ridiculed, why not do it with a touch? Tell your friends: "I got so zozled last night", and they will start asking me if you dragged with Elton John.

10
Torch

man wearing plaid blazer black pants and brown shoes
Refuge

If you called someone a flutterbum during the 50s, they thought you compliit their appearance. Probably not sure to try this today because it looks like you to launch an insult. And for more argot words, new and entertainment content delivered in your inbox,Sign up for our daily newsletter.

11
Gigravel

A night with the boys Best Birthday Gifts for Your Husband
Refuge

Yes, we get it, the liquor can break down the inhibitions and make you laugh sometimes. But it's just a frightening and strange way to talk about alcohol. Do not believe us? The next time you share a dinner, ask your guests if they want to love gigurrent water with their meal. See how are you?

12
Sheep Shunter

Police Officers on Patrol
Refuge

This argot term of 1883 for a policeman leaves us a lot of questions. Do they mean sheep as in meat, or the style of the paws in the wraps? And how is he shunted?

13
Dog soup

water bowl for dog in home things in your house attracting pests
Refuge

Yeah, yes, we get it. The dogs drink water, thus offering a person a glass of water in the 1930s meant that you essentially offer them a dog soup. Except ... do not people drink water? So when the water was served at dogs, did they call the man soup?

14
Hothsy

Couple hugging and making up after a fight
Refuge

Something was not so good, but now it's great. "Yeah, we have been talking for a while, but everything is Hotsy-totsy now." You know, you do not just rhyme two random words to make a Gibberish word to explain an emotional state that is basically "everything is fine now".

15
But

Upset woman holds up her hand to keep man away
exit

Your hands. As in, "get out of your mesh!" Presumably from a time when more people had hooks coming out of their arms than the actual hands of the flesh and blood. It was a difficult time to be alive, my friend.

16
Row

two male colleagues fighting
exit

Not to be confused with the competitive sports sports sport, a row-of-row is a play room on the word "rowdy" or when a simple altercation turns into a combat in its own right.

17
Hornswogggler

elderly woman giving credit card details by phone.
Refuge

As you probably guessed, the name of one of the Hogwarts houses, Harry Potter's School. It's actually a word of slang for someone you suspect to deceive or worry about one way or another. As in, "does not open this email, it's just a spam sent from a hornwoggler!"

18
Bays

Senior man and woman dancing at home.
exit

First used in the 1908 bookSHOWGIRL PAINHe became popular during the 1920s as a way to describe something that is nice or fun. If it's bays, so it must be the best.

19
Jollocks

Man adjusting his belt.
Refuge

A UNKIND slang for an overweight person. Or at least it was. We are pretty sure that no one felt fat today if you call them Jollocks.

20
Nose bag

family on vacation on the beach
exit

According to the book of 1909Pass English of the Victorian era, a bag of nose is defined as "someone who takes aDay trip to the beach. He brings his own provisions and does not contribute at all to the station he visits. Umm ... okay. It's pretty sick ... we guess.

21
Pine layer

Dead Man in Morgue Facts about Life
Refuge

A coffin. Yeah, sorry, we do not care about the way you dress up, you're not going to make an attractive ringing coffin by calling it a coat. Do not work, sneaky funeral directors!

22
Zorros

nervous man over 40
Refuge

If you had a bad case of Zorros, you feel worried or nervous. At least you were during the 50s, when everyone ceased to remember that Zorro was also the name of a popular masked vigilant in books and movies.

23
Underside

underwear drawer
Refuge

We can not stop laughing at this one. If you have lived for a while where the underwear seemed so outrageous that they should never be mentioned, giving them a name like "unrents" does not help me. Just make the rest of us giglene even stronger. (And no, we did not drink with gig juice.)

24
Foozler

Confused man
Refuge

An affectionate term for someone who is clumsy or incompetent. Because obviously, if you can not manage your FoOZ, then you are only a Gosh Darn Foozler.

25
Pigeon

Man is scared in bed.
Refuge

Victorian-Era Slang for someone who behaves of cowardice. We do not know exactly why accuse someone to have the liver of a pigeon means they do not have a bravery. Do pigeons just produce a bile so as to avoid conflicts? Why do we bring livers in that at all? It's such a random insult, like saying, "He is caniche-gallbader-ed"?

26
Clover

close-up of cigarette pack
Refuge

Another word for a cigarette. To be honest, we love this one. Talk on the nose.

27
Pumblechook

Pick pocket
Refuge

The argot derived from Uncle Pumblechook, a character describes as the "Basest of Windlers" in theCharles Dickens novelGreat expectations. So, basically, it's not something you call a friend, unless you do not consider him a gourmet crook, or just a big fan Charles Dickens.

28
Gas pipes

man in skinny jeans standing against brick wall
Shutterstock / Luna Vandoorne

A term evocative for gentlemen with long legs that carried particularly tight pants. What we guess was something that happened a lot in the Victorian era. So you go there, the definitive proof that hipsters have been around for centuries.

29
Abercrombie

Abercrombie and Fitch Storefront
Refuge

Another term for knowledge - everything, this word of the 1930s may have inspired an entire chain of bare torso models, strong music and tanned cashiers to all shopping centers in America. And for more language hacks, see the40 Argot terms that no one over 40 should never use.

30
Muffin-wallet

Older Woman
Refuge

Prepare for the most sick burn you have ever heard in your life. An elderly or single woman who likes chatting with her friends, usually by sipping tea and snack cakes, can be described as a walloper muffin. You know, because of the difficulty of Walloping that Muffin.

31
Pink

man relaxing in office
Refuge

If Gen-Xers had come from age in the 1890s rather than in the 1990s, they would have called from Whoplpers, an argot expression for lazy. Unless you think that all the generational slang is stupid, then we can simply forget everything.

32
Handcuff

propose, engagement ring
Refuge

Another way to say a engagement ring. Or more honestly, another way of saying, "I'm not ready for marriage. All this makes me panic!"

33
Eater

a man buttoning up his suit cuff before going into work
exit

During the 1920s, calling someone a cake eater was a slightly nicer way to call them a man. Today, calling someone a cake eater is a slightly nicer way to call them a guy who can eat too many pastries. Seriously, guy, you have to slow it down with cakes or you will become a jollocks.

34
Phonus balonus

distrust
Refuge

A variation on the baloniscule, but with a pseudo-Latin theme. If you are filled with Baloney or Balonus, they should not trust and all they say are preeked as a false news.

35
O 'mystery bags

secretly hilarious things
Refuge

This slake of centuries for sausage is not just fun to say, it is hesitably accurate. The next time you get ready to bite in a hot dog, say "it's a delicious bag and a mystery" and it's like you have the culinary attitude of the devil-may-care of your grandfather .

36
Pitching Woo

man helping woman put on her coat in the middle of the road
exit

Something about this slang makes us think he's talking about falling baseball players. But no, it's just on the occasion of seduction. How were people in the 30's were they used to talk dirty without really talking dirty.

37
Daddy-o

jazz man
Refuge

If you call someone your dad-o and you do not wear zoot combination and they are not a trumpet player in your swing band, be ready to look at them as you have lost your mind never loving.

38
Hoosegow

close up of hands holding bars in prison
Refuge

A slang-term offense attributed to the cowboys of the nineteenth century of the Wild Western, it means a prison, as on "You Varmintes, it's all right for the hoosegow". It does not sound all this evil for us, really. More like a family restaurant with crazy memories on the wall, then a place with bars on the windows.

39
Spiffy

drunk man
Refuge

A more fantastic way to say that, ironically, is almost impossible to pronounce everything enk. And for more ways to maximize your knowledge of the slang, see the20 Sale Terms of the 1990s No more uses.

40
Brick ankle

boy jumping on bed in the morning.
exit

A child, apparently in Olden Times, had a bad tendency to bite adult ankles. Either this or adult confuse them with dogs.

41
Frosted

happy couple at airport
Refuge

This is another word of vintage slang that fills us with so much joy. When you are "frosted", you are seriously bored. But go, imagine really saying that someone. "I'm so mad at you now, I'm downrightfrosted! "All you need is a ridiculous word for all the negative energy to leave the room.

42
Whooperup

friends singing karaoke
Refuge

A singer who does not do a particularly good job to hit all the notes. If you have attended an evening where karaoke has been done, you have attended one or two horrible examples of an action job.

43
Juggling

save money on clothes and food,
Refuge

When looking for a man who can be designed to pay your liquor. How exactly it is accomplished, well, only Juggins-Hunter certainly knows.

44
Malmsey Nose

Woman with a glass of wine in her hand
Refuge

An allusion to the Malmeey wine, which, when consumed with a little too much enthusiasm and frequency, can lead to a red and disgraceful nose. Tell this to someone in 2018 and they will be like ", wait, what is it? Malm- Something wine? What are you saying exactly?"

45
Church bell

woman annoyed mad
Refuge

A woman too chatting. Yes, because if you are going to be crazy sexist, you could do it as well using the slang that refers to nineteenth century churches.

46
Steal

balding man wearing a mask
exit

A bald head, which could be hypothetically frozen frozen and used as rink for flies. It is such a strangely complicated insult, we are not sure to be offended or impressed.

47
Sewer

Two girls gossiping together
Refuge

Slang of the 1950s for someone who can not keep a secret. This makes us die of wonderfully less on gossip in the middle of the twentieth century than on what was happening with their sewers. There were sanitation systems ... Can not keep ...secret? It does not matter, it does not matter, we do not want to know.

48
Bretzel-Bender

two businessmen drink at a bar
Refuge

According to 1967American slang dictionary, a pretzel-bender could be a particular person or a person who plays the French horn, a wrestler or even an alcoholic. We are not sure that one of these things has to do with pretzels.

49
Sauce box

covering mouth spotting a lie
Refuge

Your mouth. As in, where you put sauces. We still guess, even if we still do not know why a mouth could be considered a box. Would not this be like calling your "symphonic waste cans" ears?

50
Spicy

coworkers gathered around a laptop laughing

When you are Pang-Wangling, you manage to find the right side of life, even if it becomes difficult. When the world tells you my lemons, you are lemonade. By Pang-Wangling it. We still think. Is not it like that you make lemonade, in Wangling some Pangs?


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