The Most Popular Slang the Year You Were Born

The money-flush times of the Roaring Twenties gave rise to this term for a woman who is interested in a man, but only for his money. It came from the appropriately titled "Mantrap" by Sinclair Lewis.

Hollywood couldn't get enough of Clara Bow — so much that she was branded the "It Girl."

It's hooey, it's baloney. This word can be traced back to an article in The Saturday Evening Post, which referred to something phony as being a bunch of balony (their spelling).

A couple of years after the "It Girl" came Hollywood's "It Boy," which referred to basically any handsome young guy.

Instead of being "bookish," anyone who took an interest in reading was "booksy."

This word perfectly articulated the elegant-but-also-flashy style of Hollywood starlets and heartbreakers alike of the early part of this decade.

The word "burp" almost replicates the noise one makes when belching.

This would be the year that Prohibition would be repealed, an occasion that was robustly celebrated.

This word originated from the burgeoning comedy scene, where a line that delivered a big laugh was a "boffo."

This could refer to your grandpa, or any older person you felt like insulting.

This referred to, yes, the bingo halls that became a hot fad (and then a long-loved game).

Another great word here, referring to something that's pretty gross.

Another entertainment industry term that made its way into common language, "fave" was used exactly how it is now: to refer to a favorite thing.

Before we trash-talked, we engaged in bad-mouthing our opponents in sports.

The rise of parenting experts lead to a whole new vocabulary for new parents. The term "baby blues" would refer to any sadness felt by a mother after the birth of her baby.

Yet another phrase borrowed from Hollywood, this time to refer to a handsome actor. Though generally used for younger celebrities, we still think Cary Grant is a dreamboat.

No longer considered a polite term these days, but this shortened version of "hyperactive" was used to describe kids with a lot of energy.

This one was a surprise! Though we associate "Duh" with the '90s, it was widely used as an off-handed remark in the '40s (OED cites a "Merrie Melodies" cartoon as the source).

Interestingly, a "tag-along" was a military term that originally referred to a bomb. It was then repurposed into slang, to describe anyone who was unexpectedly joining in on your plans for the day.

Another surprise from the '40s! Before Homer Simpson had this catchphrase, this offhanded expression had roots in radio programs. Specifically, the program "It's That Man Again." Doh!