Hilarious 1950s Slang That People Need To Start Using Again

Every decade has its own signature slang. The '60s were groovy, man. The '90s were pretty rad. The present is on fleek — unless that term has already become passé. However, there was only one period of time that produced the catchiest idioms and colloquialisms in the English language. And This was the 1950s, of course — the postwar boom that gave rise to fast cars, rock and roll, and mass consumerism. But as much as people continue to love this decade, many of us have fallen out of touch with the decade's best slang. Some of these sayings sound like they're from another planet, but it sure would be fun to have them back in regular conversation.

1. Wig chop

Every pompadour needs a touch-up now and then. Elvis and other greasers went to their local barbers for a regular trim. Wig or no wig, if you'd have asked your barber for a wig chop back in the '50s, you'd be guaranteed a haircut of some kind. Elvis must have asked for a wig dye too, as he was actually a natural blonde!

2. Come on snake, let's rattle

The 1950s was no exception when it came to bizarre phrases and playful language, either! And to kick things off, what better than a piece of slang that would be a firm favorite for the likes of Mia Wallace and Vincent Vega. The reptilian idiom is an invitation to dance, perhaps to Chuck Berry's "You Never Can Tell." So get those snake hips a shakin', let's move!

3. Backseat bingo

It's time to dim the headlights and settle in to not watch the movie. The premise of this type of bingo is simple — you just need a drive-in theater, the backseat of a car, and a sweetheart who wants to lock lips. A go-to date activity, this is slang for making out. Unlike actual bingo, your chances of winning this game are decently high — plus it's actually fun most of the time.

4. Give me a bell

Way back when, phones weren't the high-tech gadgets they are today. Believe it or not, you couldn't take photos or play Candy Crush. All you could do was dial for your friends and hope they'd pick up. This request meant that you wanted someone to call you, as folks used to actually look forward to a ringing phone.

5. Bird dog

You'd need a 1950s slang dictionary to get this one without any explanation. Going by the words alone, you'd be forgiven for thinking a bird dog was something out of a horror film. Luckily, it really doesn't refer to some mad science experiment gone awry. A bird dog, like a bloodhound following a trail, is a shifty guy who tries to steal someone else's date.

6. Radioactive

Despite the Cold War tensions of the era, 1950s folk still used the word radioactive in a positive way. The short and snappy phrase came to be used to describe incredibly popular things. This probably made sense because nuclear technology was relatively new at the time, although now, nobody would want to get close to radioactive food or clothes.

7. Later, gator!

Presumably, this fun farewell must have caused some issues when it first got started. Nobody wants to be called a huge and angry scaly monster, right? Often followed by, "After a while, crocodile," this one is just a cool way to say goodbye. Bill Haley and His Comets even managed to score a hit song in 1955 called "See You Later, Alligator."

8. Ankle biter

It's not just Charlie from the famous YouTube video that has a biting problem. If this common phrase is anything to go by, then '50s tots must have been constantly sinking their teeth into their parents' legs. Why else would adults of the decade have coined the term ankle biter to refer to any young child? In retrospect, they should have just worn shin pads.

9. Made in the shade

A nice shadow is more than just a way to avoid sunburn at the beach. And you know what they say, one man's made in the shade is another man's worst nightmare. Confused? Take note... This idiom describes an ideal situation where nothing is wrong or something that is a total success. Relaxing alongside a load of adorable cats without a care in the world — now that's what we call made in the shade! 

10. -ville

Possibly the most versatile of the lot, you can add this suffix to any adjective to describe a place, real or imaginary. Coolsville is where all the hip daddy-os hang out, or Scoob and the Mystery Inc. gang. Squaresville is full of nerds. Snoozeville is a real bore. And Nashville, well, that's actually just the name of a city in Tennessee.

11. Cruising for a bruising

If you're the brawling sort, then this one is for you. Tough guys like James Dean dropped this catchy line to let other fellas know that they were seconds away from instigating a fight. Violence is never the answer, but at least these toughs had a passion for rhymes.

12. Pile up the z's

Frank Sinatra would've done this after a long night of performing and partying with the Rat Pack out in Vegas. It just means going to sleep — with or without the most famous set of blue eyes in the world. You've probably heard the phrase used today, too. But did you know that it was first used in a comic as early as 1903 to depict a snoozing character?

13. Razz my berries

That jazzy performance really razzed my berries, if you know what I mean. No, well then listen up... How did people in the 1950s feel about fruit? Quite simply, if something got your proverbial berries razzed, then you felt excited or impressed. There's no evidence of anyone's berries ever being cranned or blued, however.

14. Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

At the end of a long digression, people would have used this phrase to get a conversation back on track. The line is a reference to western dramas, which were everywhere in the 1950s, and was meant to curtail blabbermouths. Unfortunately, the phrase might have died out, but the motormouths are still running riot everywhere.

15. Go for pinks

Hear those motors rumbling in the distance? That sound usually follows this phrase. It's time to rev those engines because if someone had you going for pinks, then they were challenging you to a drag race. You see, the winner would get the pink slip to the loser's car, giving him ownership. Not to be confused with famous drag queen, Ru Paul's 21st-century drag race, however. Though there may be a lot of pink, that's something entirely different. 

16. Bash my ears

Ralph Kramden probably wasn't hip enough to know the slang of his time, but the main character of The Honeymooners certainly knew what it was like to get your ears bashed. Or, in other words, to get talked at too much. Now, what were we saying? Ah yes, meanwhile, back at the ranch... 

17. Knuckle sandwich

Can I get extra knuckle with that? And hold the hot sauce. If you're familiar with this dish, then you know you won't be able to find it on an actual menu. Yup, A knuckle sandwich is nothing but a punch delivered straight to the mouth. Worst of all, it doesn't even come with fries.

18. Earth pads

You might be thinking this term has something to do with the space race, but you can get those images of rockets and satellites out of your head. The real meaning is much more down to Earth — literally. And that's because Earth pads are the strips of rubber keeping your feet off the dirt, otherwise known as shoes.

19. Agitate the gravel

This saying isn't literal, so no need to start a brawl with your driveway. It could roughly be translated to "let's go," but with lots of extra syllables. Perfect for when you're at a boring place but aren't in a hurry. Time to agitate the gravel, because I've had my ears bashed in by grandma for the past three hours, and she's cruising for a bruising. 

20. Daddy-o

Every greaser knew daddy-o referred to a man, usually a cool one. Nowadays, Americans won't find a self-described daddy-o outside of a vintage diner, but we think it's about time the suave style and catchy name were due a comeback. Head feeling a little frazzled with all this new lingo? Well, perhaps it would make sense that the '50s were so full of bizarre phrases if you knew a few more of the absurd things that people in the '40s were uttering. C'mon, don't be a fat-head — it'll all make sense soon enough... 

21. Doll dizzy

If you had a reputation as the doll dizzy type, then you were well known to only have eyes for one thing — the ladies! This catchy phrase was reserved for people who were completely girl-crazy. However, girl-crazy simply does not have the same ring to it. Next time you meet a Romeo, why not call him what he is with this vintage term?

22. Dusty shincracker

Picture this: the strobe lights are flashing and you're busy busting some serious moves in a nightclub when you look up and you see someone across the floor. They're dancing their heart out beneath the disco ball. Shimmy on over and break the ice by letting them know they're the best dusty shincracker you've ever laid eyes on. Hopefully, they'll know you're paying their moves a high compliment!

23. Snap your cap

Uh oh, Uncle Jimmy has gone and snapped his cap again! Better run — and make it snappy. Although this turn of phrase means to lose your temper, let's be honest: how could you possibly snap your cap if someone described your fury by using such a ridiculous set of words? Cap snapping just sounds like fun nonsense!

24. Mud

Nothing puts a pep in your step first thing in the morning like a hot mug of mud. Boil some water, pour it over some grounds, then strain the liquid when you're ready to dunk. Yep, you guessed it — mud refers to a cup of the good stuff — coffee. Maybe hold off on using this at your favorite coffee house if you want to avoid any curious looks.

25. Khaki wacky

Have you been paying attention? Good! Well, we already know that back in the '40s, gents had the phrase doll dizzy, so it's only right that the women get an equivalent. To call a lady a khaki wacky was just like calling a man a doll dizzy. In a perfect world, every khaki-wacky woman would find a doll-dazed man!

26. Dead hoofer

It's a well-known fact that for every dusty shincracker doing their thing on the dance floor, there's at least one dead hoofer out there, too. This is slang for a horrible dancer. And back in the 1940s, being a dead hoofer meant you could kiss a dating life goodbye. Not everyone can work the floor like Fred Astaire!

27. Sugar, are you rationed?

On the subject of romance, pick-up lines were very different during the war years. If a love interest enquired about your rationing schedule, then you'd have been in luck. You see, you would have been the sugar! It was a common way to ask a young woman if she had a boyfriend or if she was single and khaki wacky.

28. What's buzzin' cousin?

No, this wasn't only used if you wanted to address the children of your aunt and uncle. A much more useful expression, it was used as a general greeting, like "what's up?" Well, we know which one is more fun! Seems like people in the past took a more Dr. Seuss approach to language — favoring rhymes over logic.

29. Pennies from Heaven

Wouldn't it be nice if we could all fill our bank accounts with pennies from heaven? Ahh... bliss! Let us explain: sometimes, you have to put in a hard day's work to get your hands on that paycheck. Other times, you get pennies from heaven, meaning easy money. Birthday cards from grandma? Just pennies from heaven.

30. Anchor cranker

An alternate version of Popeye's theme song might go, "I'm Popeye the anchor cranker!" Sure, it's not quite as catchy, but in the 1940s, this term was used to describe a sailor. The phrase is best avoided nowadays, though, as it has come to take on a far less neutral meaning.

31. Fat-head

Don't be fooled by the fact that this one is less whimsical than the other phrases we've heard so far! In the age of body positivity, there are a whole host of reasons to avoid dropping this remark into your everyday vocabulary. But you can't deny that it really gets straight to the point — fat-head means stupid. Though they might prefer just being called stupid. But what do they know? They're a fat head.

32. Motorized freckles

Jeeze, would you get that thing out of here? This place is filled with motorized freckles, and I can't stand that incessant buzzing noise. Self-explanatory, this one is not! It is, however, undeniably silly. If you hadn't guessed it already, the phrase was used to refer to small irritating insects — usually lice. It's tough to use this lingo without cracking a smile. 

33. Bathtub

Grab your goggles and meet me out front for a quick trip in the bathtub. If you head this back in the day, you'd be mistaken if you also packed your bathing suit. And that's because, during the '40s, motorcycles with sidecars attached became pretty popular. Instead of calling the additions sidecars, well... side cars, though, owners named 'em bathtubs. Certainly, not as cool as riding the popsicle itself.

34. Popsicle

Slicked back hair, a sharp leather jacket, the echoes of an "ayyyyyy!" ringing out — we can only be talking about one character. But Fonzie was popular on Happy Days not only for Jumping the Shark like no other, but because he rode the coolest popsicle in town. No, he didn't have an enviable frozen treat; he rode a motorcycle, or, in '40s slang, a popsicle.  

35. Hen fruit

How do you like your hen fruits in the morning? Boiled, fried, scrambled, poached, heck — maybe you even prefer an omelet! However you serve 'em, we can all agree that no cooked breakfast is complete without some hen fruit on your plate! In '40s slang, eggs went by a nickname that's probably better off in the past.

36. Going fishing

If a young man claimed to be going fishing yet lived far inland and didn't have a pole, he was probably going to look for a date rather than a seafood platter. No one should go to the sock hop solo. It seems the angling idioms haven't died out in the 21st century, either. As anyone who's suffered heartbreak will know, there are reportedly plenty more fish in the sea. 

37. Active duty

With most of the '40s being defined by the escalating tensions of World War II, it seems only natural that a few slang terms would have originated as a direct result. Instead of being a full-time member of the military, this one was used to describe a particularly promiscuous gentleman who was out on the town on active duty looking for ladies.

38. Killer-diller

A love of rhyming strikes again! And no, this is not the playfully named follow-up to Kill Bill: Vol. 3. Although the phrase did lend itself to a 1948 musical starring Nat King Cole as himself. But what does it mean? Well, killer-diller should be used to express that something is cool or of high quality. For example, "Charlie Chaplin's new movie was killer-diller!"

39. Stompers

Nothing feels better than kicking back after a long day on your feet, unlacing your stompers, freeing those tootsies, and putting your feet up. Or, if you're with us here in the 21st century, you'd be taking off your shoes. Come to think of it, the word stompers does seem like a lot more fun.

40. Chrome-dome

If you've ever spotted someone with a perfectly spherical head, then you may have been left wishing you had chrome-dome in your vocabulary. Go careful who you say this one to, though, as it could be considered somewhat insensitive to people who are challenged in the hair follicle department. That's right, this one is used to describe baldness. The nonsensical phrase crown has got to go to the Victorians, though. If you umble-cum-stumble, then that's just bang up to the elephant. And there's plenty more where that came from...

41. "Don't sell me a dog!"

One thing that's never good in excess is lying, which is why Victorians were fond of the saying, "don't sell me a dog." Many people who sold dogs back in those days often tried to pass off mutts as purebreds, so this phrase came to mean "don't lie to me."

42. Chuckaboo

While "chuckaboo" may sound like the name of an imaginary creature you made up when you were eight, Victorians actually used the word quite often. "Chuckaboo" was what they called their closest friends, or, in our terms, their BFFs.

43. A case of the morbs

When life hits you hard, someone from the Victorian Era might tell you you've "got the morbs." This rather clever phrase from 1880 means to experience some momentary melancholy. One to try at the water cooler?

44. Shake a flannin

Hopefully you've managed to sober up, because one your friends is about to "shake a flannin" with a stranger. This is the Victorian way of saying they're going to fight. That's not how Victorian gentlemen are supposed to behave!

45. Shut your sauce-box

If a brisk bust-up wasn't enough to get you seeing straight, then how about stuffing some hearty food into your "sauce-box?" If you can't figure that one out, you're probably still way too arf'arf'an'arf and should order another portion of fries.

46. Butter upon bacon

To Victorians, bacon and butter were considered luxuries on their own. So, put them together, and you've got yourself an overindulgence that just wouldn't have been tolerated. And there we have it – if something was simply a little too extravagant, they'd say it was "butter upon bacon." Hungry, anyone?

47. Doing the bear

Nothing beats true friendship, and the best way to show love to a buddy is by "doing the bear". Wrap your arms around them and give them a big bear hug.

48. What a bunch of whooperups...

Karaoke nights are known for attracting some not-so-great singers, but instead of hurling your drink at them, just call them "whooperups". The meaning? It roughly translates to "inferior, noisy singers." Here's hoping they won't understand, and it saves you from another rendition of My Heart Will Go On. It's a win-win!

49. Do you umble-cum-stumble?

Now, on the flip side, if you wanted to say you "completely understand" in Victorian slang, all you have to say is "umble-cum-stumble." It'll likely sound like you have too much food in your mouth, but maybe someone else will "umble-cum-stumble."

50. Batty-fang

Excuse me? Although it sounds like gibberish, some of the silliest-sounding Victorian slang words actually have pretty intelligent origins. Batty-fang, for example, is a Low London phrase that basically means "to beat someone up". Some say it's derived from the French battre a fin. How fancy!

51. You're a bricky dude

When trouble's a-brewin', there are those who chose to run, and those who chose to be "bricky." If you're the "brave and fearless" type, then this word is perfect for you. Much like a brick, you are strong, solid, and dependable. It's a compliment!

52. It's bang up to the elephant

Back in Victorian England, you might describe something as "bang up to the elephant." This bizarre phrase has a rather simple meaning: "perfect, complete, and unapproachable." Much like elephants themselves, right?

53. Time to shake daddles

As silly as "daddles" may sound, it's literally just another word for your hands. So if anyone ever tells you "nice daddles," just remember: they're only being slightly less creepy than they seem. And we mean slightly.

54. You love to suggestionize

Not all Victorian slang is completely ridiculous — in fact, some of it is even used by business professionals today. Lawyers, for example, use the word "suggestionize," which means "to prompt." They could've just said "prompt" in the first place and left the Victorian dictionary at home...

55. Smothering a parrot

Fret not, animal lovers; the saying "smothering a parrot" doesn't mean what you think. The alcohol absinthe was once also known as "parrot" due to its green color, so, in short, the phrase means to drink some absinthe. We wouldn't be surprised if a whiff of absinthe gave a parrot an instant hangover, though.

56. Collie shangles

While this saying unfortunately spawned from the act of dog fighting, "collie shangles" was actually coined by Queen Victoria herself. The phrase basically means to have a quarrel or fight with someone.

57. Fifteen puzzle

If some of this slang has you confused, no sweat: there's even a term for someone who feels complete and absolute confusion. Next time you're caught in a pickle and left scratching your head, you can say you're feeling like a "fifteen puzzle."

58. Arf'arf'an'arf

"Smother the parrot" one too many times with your favorite "chuckaboos" and one of you might end up a little "arf'arf'an'arf." No, we don't mean they'll drop on all fours and start barking like a dog. This phrase means to be terribly drunk. Then again, the barking may come along with that.

59. What's with your gigglemug?

If "chuckaboo" still has you grinning from ear to ear, someone from the Victorian era might call that a "gigglemug." The phrase refers to a "habitually smiling face." It makes sense: "giggle" means to laugh, and "mug" is another word for one's face.

60. "Damfino!"

A portmanteau of "damned if I know," "damfino" was probably uttered by this young gentleman when his wife asked where he parked their other wagon. "Did you leave it by the streetlamp, Bartholomew?" "Daminfo, Catherine!"

61. Bone box

Even 100 years before Queen Victoria's reign, wild sayings were used around the country. A "bone box," for example, was another word for mouth. As in, "Shut your bone box before I shut it for you." This is another fun term included in the updated version of A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, and there's a lot more where that came from.

62. Owl in an ivy bush

Someone drunk/with messy hair. "I found Carl in the yard this morning, looking like an owl in an ivy bush." Again, we are graced with a term from A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. English pubs used to hang ivy over their doors — apparently attracting messy-haired drunkards.

63. Waesucks

Grab your kilts: we're headed to ancient Scotland. This handy saying was invented through Scottish Middle English and stems from "woe's sakes." And this one's simple. When a Scot was horrified, heartbroken, or just plain sad, they'd let out a "waesucks" or two. It's fun to say, though a bit hard to spell.

64. What a gollumpus!

A big, clumsy guy. "Thank goodness Santa isn't a big ol' gollumpus or he'd fall down chimneys all the time!" The word "gollumpus" comes from a 1785 book titled A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, packed with enough fun words to make your great-great-grandmother blush.

65. Whipt syllabub

Meaningless conversation. "This reality show is a bunch of whipt syllabub... but I can't stop watching!" A "whipt syllabub" was a popular drink that was sweet, not very strong, and a little thick — just like some people's conversations.

66. He's totally shipwrecked

Drunk. "I was shipwrecked last night, blokes!" Back in the 1700s, what was getting wrecked the most? Ships, of course. This one’s kind of cute, no? We can’t stop picturing a tipsy sailor.

67. A bottle-headed fool

Humorless or dim. "That bottle-headed fool doesn't realize we're laughing at his jokes." Since wine bottles are generally smaller up top, this seems like a very appropriate way to describe someone who isn't too bright. Great... now we're craving cabernet.

68. Oil of gladness

A beating. "He's gonna get the ol' oil of gladness, that's for sure." This one's pretty ironic. Jesus was "anointed" by God's oil of gladness... and, if you're familiar with Jesus' story, didn't turn out all that great for him.

69. Don't wake snakes...

To provoke intensely. "Don't go waking snakes at your ex's wedding, Alex." There's a mix of witchery and/or biblical references in there. Either way, we definitely won't be waking snakes anytime soon.

70. Delicious bags o' mystery

Sausages. "The best bags o' mystery are in Central Park." What's in a sausage? No one knows. It's quite literally a bag of mysteries. Well, some of us know what's inside — and that is why some of us won't go near 'em.

71. Big, shiny fly rink

A bald head. "Check out the fly rink on that guy!" Picture a fly wearing ice skates on all six of its legs. Now picture it skating around on a bald guy's head. There you have it — a fly rink. Makes perfect sense to us!

72. A skilamalink situation

Shady. "This Uber driver's rating is only 3 stars. Pretty skilamalink if you ask me." In Victorian London, this term was used to describe gang meet-ups and sketchy "business" meetings. If you can pronounce it, you're free to use it.

73. An afternoonified affair

Smart and fashionable. "You look positively afternoonified in that Armani dress, Madam!" Oddly, this has nothing to do with the time of day. Upperclass rich folks would use this term to describe things (and people) they considered high-society. Snooty much?

74. Screw jaws

A mouthy person. "That screw-jawed Facebook commenter was a troll." Here's another sample from A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. The person mouthing off is implied to have a screw loose in their jaw, hence all the nonsense flying out.

75. Irish apricots

Potatoes. "I could go for a baked Irish apricot right about now." This was a term used to poke fun at Irish ships that were full of potatoes. What's wrong with potatoes? We like potatoes! This seems like an unnecessary insult to us, and it's not the only one. History is full of old curse words that now make us laugh rather than cry...

76. What a churl

Ever felt like slinging around the term "trailer trash" but thought better of it at the last minute? Well, this could be the one for you. In a time when Europe had clearly defined upper and lower classes, calling someone a "churl" was a major insult. And given that it means peasant, we can see why. Now, the noun may have disappeared, but we still use part of it in the word "churlish" today.

77. A deplorable knave

We're headed to the Renaissance's illicit underbelly for this slur, and things are about to get criminal. If you ever need to call out a liar, cheat, or con artist, then why not give "knave" a try? Its connotations weren't always so immoral, though. Originally the word would have been used to refer to a peasant or servant in medieval times. How things have changed!

78. That darn cozen

The verb "cozen" was reserved for only the sneakiest of scoundrels during the Renaissance. It likely originated from the phrase "to make a cousin of" — a popular scam of the time. It involved someone claiming to be a part of the family and then conning the target out of their money. One moment you're sharing a cup of tea, and the next, you're penniless. 

79. Scumber

Before the dawn of the poop emoji, there was no better way to lament on excrement than "scumber." Although the lighthearted phrase doesn't actually sound like a curse word, rest assured, it's pure filth. But be warned, if you want to try and bring this verb back, it only applies to dogs and foxes. So be careful where you scumber!

80. "'Sblood!"

Shakespeare was famous for including this swear in many of his plays. When a character uses this exclamation — like "'Sblood, I would my face were in your belly" in Henry IV, Part 1 – you know something is about to go down. It's short for "God's blood," and it packs a powerful punch in the Bard's work. 

81. A bad case of the scald

Ahoy, me hearties! This one is for the sailors and pirates. Ever heard of scurvy? Well, "scald" is just another word for the disease that afflicted those who spent prolonged lengths on open water and didn't get enough Vitamin C. Victims of the scald would have loose teeth, terrible skin, and a whole host of other awful complications. Aaaarrrrgggghhhh!

82. You're acting like a bedlamite

This insult started out in the Bethlem Royal Hospital. Founded in 1247, it was the longest-operating psychiatric unit in Europe. And it's little wonder the patients were mentally unstable, as, in the 1600s and 1700s, it became known for its terrible conditions. That's right, calling someone a "bedlamite" meant you thought they were a total fruitloop.

83. Gadzooks, man!

Feeling angry or surprised? "Gadzooks" is the exclamation you need. The expletive is a shortened version of "God's hooks," or the nails that were pounded into the cross. The phrase goes way back to the 1600s, though it also sounds like it easily could have originated in 1930s American crime movies. 

84. Tarnation and thunderation

What in tarnation does "thunderation" mean? Well, if you prefer to keep the blaspheming to a minimum, then it'll do the trick. A lighter version of the swear "damnation," it's the perfect way to show your irritation without taking the Lord's name in vain. We can certainly see an old prospector or saloon owner hollering this one, which makes sense since its heyday was in 1830s and '40s America. 

85. Stop being such a smellfungus, Karen

If you've ever traveled with someone who wouldn't quit complaining, then you were probably in the company of a "smellfungus." This is the kind of person who always has the worst things to say about absolutely any vacation spot. That Karen who always leaves brutal Yelp reviews – yep, she's a smellfungus! 

86. You little whelp

This Renaissance-era term could be used for both naughty dogs and human children. How versatile! It's meant to insult the misbehavers by comparing them to fragile little puppies. Despite how harsh the taunt may seem, though, "whelp" was used well into the 1970s in some communities. Maybe hold off on bringing this one out at your next family get-together. 

87. Consarn it, partner!

As you may have guessed, partner, "consarn it" came straight from the Wild West. Those on the frontier would have let out an exasperated "consarn it" to show their displeasure about anything and everything. And we imagine there was probably quite a lot to be riled up about out there on the lawless plains of the Old West. Now quit your caterwauling and saddle up!

88. The man is a jobbernowl

One of the better curse words from long ago, "jobbernowl" can trace its origins all the way to France. It was an insult that translates to “stupid head” or “numbskull.” The comical word was a perfect way to let someone know that you thought they were dumb.

89. Don't be a rakefire

If you're an introvert, then you're probably afraid of rakefires: guests who overstay their welcome. Of course, common custom prevented most hosts from outright booting their guests out the door. But a good shout of "rakefire!" could sure help vent some frustration.

90. Bloody Nora

Our sincere apologies to Noras everywhere – it's the pesky Brits who are to blame for this one. Back in the day, Cockneys would often utter "flaming horror" to show their complete and utter disbelief about something. Naturally, those rhyming Cockneys just couldn't resist changing things up. And what do you get? Bloody Nora! 

91. Cacafuego

A Spanish word that basically translates to "s**tfire," "cacafuego" was also the name of pirate Sir Francis Drake's ship. And despite the literal meaning of the term, it was originally used to refer to someone bragging too much about their accomplishments. Now this one we can understand!

92. Pander/Bawd

Elizabethan pimps were called panders (if they were male) and bawds (if they were women). And if you were cruising the smoggy streets of Elizabethan London, then Mary Firth wouldn't be someone you'd want to meet down a dark alley. She was one of the most famous bawds of the time and an infamous pickpocket to boot. She even bagged the nickname Moll Cutpurse and inspired the play The Roaring Girl.

93. Sard

This medieval turn of phrase is a little obscene, so we’ll let a tenth-century Bible translation do the explaining. The holy book contains the phrase, "Don't sard another man's wife." Got it? That's right, "sard" is an old version of the f-word. Sard it all!