1940s Slang

The 1940s slang came out of a time that was a rebound from the Great Depression yet it was a reminder of a war torn world at one end of the dissonance of the tragic Holocaust and the dawn of a new world order in 1949. It was an era that was dominated by war as well as the establishment of a new intelligence regime in the state department of the United States.

Historical Background

The 1940s was film noir at its peak here in the United States and the quintessential paladin of film in many other foreign countries. It was a time of picking up the pieces while forging new ground in technology, science,  government intelligence tracking and popular culture. It was the end of the golden age of swing and jazz as we know it today was slowly coming to the forefront. 

While Ol Blue Eyes (Frank Sinatra) ruled the airwaves and made the bobbysoxers swoon, artists like John Coltrane and Charlie “Bird” Parker were moving up the ranks to make their indelible mark on the jazz world. It is the remnants of the 1940s that remain today. Those small reminders of a legacy from a distant past have been passed down from one generation to the next. From the music, the movies, the fashion style and of course, the language – it was indeed one of the most memorable decades in American history. 

The 1940s slang was something that was altogether unique to the era. It told the story of the time and embodied the spirit of the minds who made the era exactly what it was – memorable.

1940s slang is something that has not disappeared completely. After all, those of us who have relatives – grandparents, aunts and uncles, who lived through the time, are made aware of the words that conveyed the meanings of a another time and place in great American history. Below are several examples of the popular ling of the time. Look closely and you will see that not so much has changed.

Examples of 1940s slang

• Bum rap – This referred to a false accusation.
• Bust your chops – This phrase was basically meant as a scolding, maybe to yell, but not to literally hit someone.
• Buzz – We still use this word today and it still refers to being tipsy.
• Call girl – This is another phrase that is used today. Back in the 1940s it referred to a by appointment only prostitute. Today it still refers to a prostitute, however more of an upscale prostitute.
• Cheesy – Yet another word that has managed to stay in contemporary vernacular. Back in the 1940s it meant cheap.
• Chicken – In the 1940s this word referred to a person who was being a coward about something. Today it still means the same thing.
• Chrome-dome – This used to be an offensive word for a bald headed man.  While “chrome-dome” is not exclusively used to refer to any bald man, the word “dome” still refers to the head.
• Cold – In the 1940s this word referred to leads that could no longer be pursued. Today it remains in contemporary vernacular meaning the same thing.
• Cracks me up – This means to make someone laugh.
• Dope – Back in the 1940s this word meant information, however now it is another word for drugs.
• Drop – This word meant to kill.
• Fat-head – In the 1940s people called stupid or foolish people  a fat-head.
• Fix –This word is sometimes still used today, and it means a dose of drugs (mainly narcotics); in the 1940s it was used when referencing drug fiends.
• Geezer – This word was a derogatory term for an older person.
• Gas – No this was not what you put in your car, it was however a word used to refer to either a good time or something that was really funny.

Hopefully this brief list will help you to better understand 1940s slang.