A list of slang words and phrases that were used during the 1940s, and their meanings. This is just icing on the cake when you consider what the decade already gave us in the form of patriotism, music, fashion, and movies. Now, a language!
In no particular order:
Take a powder – to leave
Fuddy-Duddy – old-fashioned person
Gobbledygook – double talk, long speech
Fat-head – stupid or foolish person
Chrome-dome – word for a bald headed man
Eager beaver – enthusiastic helper
Armored heifer – canned milk
In cahoots with – conspiring with
Snap your cap – get angry
Active duty – sexually promiscuous boy
Share crop – sexually promiscuous girl
Doll dizzy – girl crazy
Ducky shincracker - a good dancer
Above my pay grade – don’t ask me
Cook with gas – to do something right
Killer-diller – good stuff
Hi sugar, are you rationed? – are you going steady?
Stompers – shoes
Flip your wig – to lose control of yourself
Dead hoofer – poor dancer
Bathtub – motorcycle sidecar
Pennies from heaven – easy money
Ameche – to telephone
Gone with the wind – run off (with the money)
Lettuce - money
Gas - either a good time or something that was really funny
Grandstand – to show off
Brainchild – someone’s creative idea
What’s buzzin’, cousin? – how’s it going?
Khaki wacky – boy crazy
Hen fruit – eggs
Hi-de-ho - hello
Pass the buck – pass responsibility for
Motorized freckles – insects
War Slang: American Fighting Words & Phrases Since the Civil War by Paul Dickson
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VINTAGE PINBACK~1940s PIN~HUMOROUS BUTTON OLD SLANG SAYING~HOW DRY I AM
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McGraw-Hill's Essential American Slang (Paperback)
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Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang, Vol. 2: H-O, Lighter, Jona
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