A to Z: Don't Scrape Your Nose on the Way Out

Hm? You're here for what? Oh, yes...well. I suppose I could condescend to continue with the April A to Z Challenge. I can't be bothered to explain the whole drab affair to you again, however, and the help has the day off, otherwise I'd ring them, so please redirect your inquiry here: A-Z, and all that jA-Zz

I really do think it's marvelous you came to my blog, though, darling. I apologize that I'm not dressed up for the occasion; I only wear this old thing when I don't care what I look like. And the language of commoners isn't quite the worthy spectacle, is it? So let's just be done with this next linguistic lesson in 1920s slang, as featured in my upcoming novel Seven for a Secret--which I'd love for you read, if it's not too high-brow for your tastes, of course... ;)

~*~  HIGH HAT  ~*~

Meaning: Snob

"Boy, would I like to give those high hats a real spit-shine!"

A to Z: The Young and the Yawning

*yawn*
Hm? What? Oh sorry, I must have zoned out for a second there on this dull and dreary day. But that's not the right attitude, is it? We must have zest for life! Live like there's no tomorrow! That's the fun of a flapper, after all, so let's dance!

If you're scratching your head in a daze because you missed my original post about the A to Z Challenge, don't feel deflated. You can find it here:  A-Z, and all that jA-Zz

Meanwhile, the Devil is finding work for idle hands to do, so let's keep ourselves occupied brushing up on our 1920s slang:

~*~  FLAT TIRE  ~*~

Meaning: A bore

"Boy, this road trip sure became
a real flat tire once we got
that...flat tire."

A to Z: You Snooze, You Lose

 
Rise and shine! Get outta bed, you lazy lunks--there's work to be done here! Language lessons to be learned!

If you missed my first post about the Blogging from A to Z Challenge and can't be bother to navigate back to it manually, I'll make it easier for you: A-Z, and all that jA-Zz

And now it's time to roll up your sleeves to take on a new 1920s slang term. This one appears in my contemporary/historical romance novel Seven for a Secret (due out in August), so stop dawdling,  you dandy, and get wise to the jive:

~*~  DEWDROPPER  ~*~

Meaning: An unemployed young man who lies around all day

"At least have the decency to remove your hat,
you idle dewdropper."

A to Z: Felines are the Fashion

Ladies and gentlemen! Step right up to the latest craze since knees on bees...

But first, if you missed my original post about the Blogging from A to Z Challenge: A-Z, and all that jA-Zz

And now, without further ado, I give you today's installment of 1920s slang to prepare you for when Seven for a Secret is the next greatest thing. ;)

~*~  CAT'S MEOW  ~*~

Also, the CAT'S PAJAMAS or WHISKERS

Meaning: Something great, wonderful

"I'm telling you, 
cats in hats are the cat's meow.
Everyone's doing it."

A to Z: The Bee's Knees She Ain't

Well, good morning, everyone! Welcome back to my humble abode, where by the end of the month, I hope to have you speaking in Twenties tongues.

In case you missed my original post about the Blogging from A to Z Challenge:

 A-Z, and all that jA-Zz

The full list of A-Z blog-hoppers

I now bring you the next installment of 1920s slang so you're hip to the jive by the time my 1920s novel Seven for a Secret come out. I will be the first to say that this one's rather mean, but it does appear in the book, so I'd be remiss not to help you translate:

~*~  BUG-EYED BETTY  ~*~

Meaning: An undesirable woman

"Fellas, just wait-n-see. 
I'm not the bug-eyed Betty I used to be."

A to Z: Talk the Talk for Walking the Walk

Welcome one, welcome all...well, one or two of you. *shields eyes and squints* There are at least a couple of you out there, right? Good. Let's get started, before you click away to the website you were really trying to view.

First, a little background:

A-Z, and all that jA-Zz 

My fellow A-Z blog-hoppers

Up to speed? Brilliant. Now then, I'd like to kick off the 2014 Blogging from A to Z Challenge with my first favorite bit of 1920s slang so that you, too, can talk the talk by the time my 1920s novel Seven for a Secret comes out:

~*~  ANKLE  ~*~

Meaning: To walk or to leave

"Ladies, let's ankle!"

The Life of the Mind

"My job is to plumb the depths, so to speak. Dredge up something from inside, something honest. I got to tell you, the life of the mind…there’s no road map for that territory. And exploring it can be painful." (Barton Fink, 1991)