Ducks in a Row (1932); Bees Knees
Bapopik at AOL.COM
Bapopik at AOL.COM
Mon Dec 2 21:50:17 UTC 2002
DUCKS IN A ROW
13 June 1932, WASHINGTON POST, pg. 14:
We have a world filled today with problems and we are trying to get our economic ducks in a row.
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BEES KNEES
29 June 1923, WASHINGTON POST, pg. 15:
"Dis am de bee's knees."
25 January 1925, WASHINGTON POST, pg. SM7:
_THE EVOLUTION OF SLANG_
_Whether It's "Apple Sauce" or "The Oyster's Earrings," You Will Always Find the "Dippy Dialect" Expressive of the Fads and Foibles of Current Life, as Ada Lewis, the Comedienne of Bowery Fame, Here Tells_
NO NOON hour on the college campus or in the office lunchroom would be complete without the words: "Apple sauce," "red-hot mama," "dumb-dora," "petting," "the bee's knees," "the snake's hips," "the elephant's manicure," not to speak of the "tadpole's teddies."
(...)
(The following is in a box--ed.)
_Jargon of the Juveniles_
_Grandma_ _Mother_ _Daughter_
Charmer Vamp Red-hot mama
Hot air Spoofing Apple sauce
Wall flower Dead one Flat tire
Heart breaker Lady killer Sheik
The laugh Merry ha-ha Raspberries
Dude Sport Cake-eater
Four-flusher Sponge Lounge lizard
Sparking Spooning Petting
Cutie Chicken Flapper
Good for you! Bully! Attaboy!
Quit yer kiddin' Lay off Be yourself
Up stage Putting on the dog Ritzy
Ah, there! O you kiddo! Hot dog!
The goods The cheese Cat's meow
Guy Poor simp Poor fish
Beat it Skidoo Ankle along
Poor sport Tight-wad Cheap skate
(I'll have to look up "Ada Lewis, mistress of modern slang" in the NYPL Performing Arts Library's clipping files--ed.)
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