If you want to make your 1920s murder mystery sound more realistic, we’ve got some very interesting words that you could add to your vocabulary. This is definitely not required for your dinner party, it’s only something that you could add in for fun or to make your character sound super realistic.

Ask yourself: Does your character want to charm, stall, threaten, or expose a someone? We have lines for everything.

For the full hosting structure these phrases can slotted into, see our complete 1920s speakeasy murder mystery hosting guide.

How to Use Period Slang at a Party

A good idea is to print your favorite lines on small cards and leave them out for guests to read (with explanations). Guests can pick and choose lines that they like and use them whenever they feel like, without having to memorize them. It’s something optional for fun, and definitely shouldn’t be forced.

Hearing someone dressed as a 1920s gangster calling someone a “bluenose” or describing someone as a “jake”, is so funny in person. It really brings characters to life. And if you need more ideas to help make your characters costumes come to life, see our guide on how to make 1920s costumes from your own closet.

Some ground Rules for 1920s Dialogue

• Pick a side of the Atlantic. American jazz club or British country house. Stick to that voice.
• Short sentences are best. People talked fast in busy rooms.
• Use period slang as seasoning, not for every line.
• Avoid modern tech talk or tech talk. It quickly pulls you out of the atmosphere.
• Keep cursing mild. People hid their claws in sugar.

Say this, not that:

• Say “swell” or “the bee’s knees” – not “awesome”
• Say “on the level” – not “for real”
• Say “giggle water” – not “booze” if you want a lighter tone
• Say “scram” – not “beat it” if you want American speakeasy color
• Say “old sport” or “old thing” in posh circles – not “bro”

Quick time and place cues:

• American speakeasy: “flatfoot” for a cop, “giggle water” for liquor, “on the lam” for escape
• British manor: “rotter” for a scoundrel, “cad” for a man with bad manners, “dash it” for mild anger

Keep it humane. The period had ugly language. You do not need it to feel real.

Our Favorite Compliments

Dress and looks:

• You’re the bee’s knees tonight.
• That dress is the cat’s pajamas.
• Those pearls are the berries.
• You look like a million bucks.
• Spiffy suit. Sharp as a tack.

Charm and talent:

• You’re a real sheba. Every head turned.
• He’s a sheik, and he knows it.
• You’ve got moxie, kid.
• That tune was aces.
• You’ve got the goods on stage.

Status and taste:

• This place is ritzy.
• That motor is a real hayburner, and I mean that in a good way.
• Your cellar is top-notch.
• That was a smart play. Clean and quick.
• Class act, old sport.

Grit and honesty:

• You kept your nerve. Solid work.
• Straight talk. I like that.
• You don’t rattle easy.
• On the up and up. I trust you.

Flirt, light and quick:

• Buy you a splash of giggle water?
• That smile ought to need a license.
• I had other plans. Now I don’t.

Our Favorite Insults

Use clean hits. Punch the idea or behavior, not someone’s identity.

Brains and sense:

• Don’t be a boob.
• He’s a sap.
• What a mug.
• You saphead, you missed it again.
• Silly ass. Try your eyes next time. (British)

Honesty and nerve:

• Four-flusher. All hat, no hand.
• You’re a phony from tip to toe.
• Cheap talk. No backbone.
• That alibi is baloney.
• Cad. Bounder. Rude to the core. (British)

Money and class:

• Piker. Won’t spend a dime.
• Tight as a tick.
• Drugstore cowboy. All show, no ride.
• Lounge lizard. Lives off other folks.

Boredom and vibe:

• Flat tire. Kills any room.
• Wet blanket. Party’s over when you speak.
• What a pill.

Drinking and crime:

• Pie-eyed already? It’s not even nine.
• Zozzled and useless.
• Yegg work. A second-rate burglar could do better.
• On the lam and still loud. Clever.

Cops and crooks slang for spicing things up:

• Flatfoot. Gumshoe. Copper. Bull.
• Big cheese. Big shot. Big house.
• Heater. Gat. Rod. Roscoe.

Pick lines that fit the scene. Would your flapper use “rotter”? Not likely. Would your butler drop “flatfoot”? Only in a private whisper to a maid he trusts.

Some Role-specific Lines

Flapper or jazz singer:

• Relax, big cheese. I run this floor.
• Buy me a giggle water and I might remember your name.
• I like your tie. Shame about your story.

Bootlegger or gangster:

• Keep it on the level or I walk.
• You pack a heater or are you just fond of the bulge?
• Pay today. Talk tomorrow.

Detective or reporter:

• Save the poetry. Give me times and places.
• Your story limps. Where were you at ten?
• Cute answer. Now the real one.

Society host or hostess:

• Do try to be civil, old sport. The staff has ears.
• Your taste is… brave. The hat fights the head.
• We keep our promises in this house.

Butler, maid, or valet:

• The silver is counted, sir. Unlike the guests.
• Very good. Shall I fetch truth with the tea?
• I see all, madam. I say nothing. For now.

Doctor or nurse:

• The bruising tells its own tale.
• He wasn’t shot here. Look at the spatter.
• You’re pale and jumpy. Why?

Police inspector:

• Cut the flapdoodle.
• Sit tight or I cuff you.
• Funny how no one saw a thing when the lights went out.

Bookie or gambler:

• Odds are bad and you’re worse.
• You’re chasing losses with lies.
• Cash talks. Yours whispers.

Pick one line. Try it out loud. Does it feel like your character? If not, trim it. Make it punch.

Crime, Booze, and Money Lines

Crime and heat:

• On the lam – hiding from the law
• Case the joint – study a place before a job
• Stool pigeon – informant
• Fall guy – the one who takes the blame
• Chicago typewriter – Thompson gun
• Drop a dime – tip the cops
• Beat it – leave fast

Booze and parties:

• Giggle water – alcohol
• Blind tiger – secret bar
• Bathtub gin – bad gin
• Speakeasy – hidden club
• Ossified, pie-eyed, zozzled – very drunk
• Hair of the dog – morning drink

Money and deals:

• Dough, scratch, clams – money
• Sawbuck – ten dollars
• C-note – one hundred
• Clip the ticket – take a cut
• Put it on the cuff – on credit
• Bum’s rush – thrown out

Praise and put-downs in a flash:

• The cat’s pajamas, the bee’s knees, the berries – great
• Flat tire, pill, wet blanket – boring
• Big cheese – boss or important person
• Four-flusher – fake

British add-ons for manor games:

• Rotter, cad, bounder – bad character
• Blighter – annoying person
• Old thing, old bean, old sport – friendly address
• Dash it, blast – mild expletives
• Topping – very good

Euphemisms for death:

• He got bumped off.
• She took a one-way ride.
• He’s pushing up daisies.
• She’s gone to meet her maker.

1920s Insults and Compliments for your Murder Mystery

We chose a lot of line that characters in our Jazz, Moonshine and Murder game would be likely to use . Their talking points, backstories and secrets mean that they’ve got a lot of secrets to hide and most of them won’t take nonsense from anyone in the speakeasy.

Regardless of what game you choose to go with, these lines are best printed out and used sparingly throughout the night. You’ll never get the opportunity to use most of them, but there’s always more parties and you can try out more each time. I’d recommend putting a few on some cards and leaving them around for guests to use, so that they can join in – but also, so that they understand what you’re saying to them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most famous piece of 1920s slang?

“The bee’s knees” is probably the most recognized term from the era, and it means something outstanding or excellent. It’s also a really tasty cocktail. “Speakeasy” itself is also a slang term, that becamse the de facto name for illegal bars.

Is 1920s slang still used today?

A few terms, yes. “Pushover,” “wet blanket,” “cheapskate,” and “ritzy” are sometimes still used today. Most of the more colorful terms faded out with Prohibition itself.

Do I need to teach guests the slang before the party?

Nope. I’d recommend printing out some of your favorite terms (and their explanation) on some cards and leaving them around for guests to read and use if they feel like it. You could also put some of them onto a fake wall poster and have players notice is while exploring the venue.