SLANG OF AGES is a regular segment on the show in which we learn the etymology of unfamiliar slang from the past, as discovered in various Frank Sinatra-related media.
”Rusty dusty”
The Road to Victory (1944)
This means “butt”, especially with the implication of laziness. To implore Americans to buy war bonds, Bing Crosby sings: “Get on, get on, get on the road to victory / Get off, get off, get off the rusty dusty.”
“In the chips”
The All-Star Bond Rally (1945)
To be “in the chips” is to be doing well financially. This presumably refers to poker chips, as used in a casino. To implore Americans to buy war bonds, Bob Hope says: “This is Bob ‘7th War Loan’ Hope, telling you to buy those bonds, get that load off your hips and when the war is over, your pocketbook will be in the chips.”
“Full of ginger”
Las Vegas Nights (1941)
To be enthusiastic, eager. A character in the courtroom scene says, “Here I am, all full of ginger!”
“Having triplets”
Ship Ahoy (1942)
To be worked up, making a fuss. Bert Lahr’s character says, “The editor’s having triplets!”
“Paste”
Reveille with Beverly (1943)
The secretary at the radio station says to her overbearing and rude boss, “I’d like to have your picture, Mr Kennedy. You see, I have a book at home where I paste pictures of big people, and I’m just dying to paste you.” This line is actually funnier taken at face value if you don’t know what “paste” means. The idea that this woman has a Book of Big People at home and sarcastically wants to paste her boss’ photo in it is hilarious. But it is in fact intended to be a double entendre, as to “paste” someone at this time referred to punching them in the face.
“Clown in clover”
Higher and Higher (1944)
A fool in good luck. From the song “I Saw You First”: “You gave it this, I was like a clown in clover/And that first kiss, that was the time that you took over.”
“Dorogotory”
from an article by ‘The Chiel’ in The Argus (18th November 1944)
A man named Alexander Dorogokupetz threw eggs at Sinatra during a New York concert in 1945. A Melbourne newspaper coined the expression “dorogotory” is to be derogatory towards Frank Sinatra in the manner of Dorogokupetz. This is explained in more detail in the episode The Sinatra Kids, and in the Sinatra Fans Climb Harbour Bridge story on this website.
“Lollapaloozie”
Anchors Aweigh (1945)
Wow, a great one! A big deal! A corruption of the word “lollapalooza” that appears in Gene Kelly and Sinatra’s rendition of “If You Knew Susie”: “Susie is a lollapaloozie!”
“Stage door Johnnies”
Till the Clouds Roll By (1946)
Theatre groupies of the male variety. In “Life Upon the Wicked Stage”, Virginia O’Brien sings: “Life upon the wicked stage ain't ever what a girl supposes/Stage door Johnnies aren't raging over you with gems and roses.”
“Sell you the Brooklyn Bridge”
It Happened in Brooklyn (1947)
This originates from a scam run by a man called George C. Parker, who would meet vulnerable immigrants fresh off the boat in New York City and offer to "sell” them the Brooklyn Bridge. This later became a saying: “If you believe that, I’ve got a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.” In the song “Brooklyn Bridge”, Sinatra sings: “Don’t let no-one tell you that I’ve been trying to sell you the Brooklyn Bridge.”
“The way of all flesh”
On the Town (1949)
This originates from the Bible, specifically Genesis 6:12 -(“And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth”) and 1 Kings 2:2 ("I am going the way of all flesh: take thou courage and shew thyself a man."). It can mean “to die”, or alternatively, as in On the Town, “to have sex.” Sinatra’s character asks Kelly’s, “Which way do we go?” He replies, “The way of all flesh, Junior. The way of all flesh.”
“Hoosegow”
Double Dynamite (1951)
Jail. According to WorldWideWords.org: “The word is from Mexican Spanish juzgao, a jail, which came from juzgado for a tribunal or courtroom. It shifted to mean a jail because the two were often in the same building, and the path from the one to the other was often swift and certain.” So there is a certain wry sarcasm to it, implying that court just funnels you to jail. In Double Dynamite, Groucho Marx’s character says: “We may end up in the hoosegow.”
“Deuce”
Meet Danny Wilson (1952)
Danny Wilson, Sinatra’s character, tips a waiter and says to him, “Here’s a deuce. Get yourself a B-29.” This refers to a two dollar bill, with a B-29 being a bomber jet used in the Korean War of this period.
“Lady Astor’s horse”
From Here to Eternity (1953)
In this film, a woman is accused of “acting like Lady Astor’s Horse.” The "Mrs. Astor" in the phrase refers to American financier William Astor's wife Caroline, a legendary 19th-century New York City socialite known for her lavish parties. Her husband was a horse breeder. The implication is that her parties were so over-the-top that even her horse would get dressed up. So a Lady Astor’s Horse is someone aspiring to classiness by proximity who really isn’t very classy at all.
“Stool pigeon”
Suddenly (1954)
This means snitch, police informant. The etymology is interesting - long story short, a “stool pigeon” is a decoy bird used by hunters to attract real birds. Since it only shows up for the first time in an “informant” context in 19th century America, it seems to have been influenced by informants sitting around on barstools. In Suddenly, a cop says: “The LA police picked up a small-time stool pigeon named Smiley Bitters.” This phrase was also famously used in a song by Kid Creole and the Coconuts.
“Six two and even”
Young at Heart (1954)
In this film, Sinatra’s character talks about how he wishes to die: “One day I'm walking along and down comes a bolt of lightning. Pow! Six two and even. That's the way I leave the world - lightning.” This means something along the lines of “one and done.” There are a few theories about this phrase. Dick Tracy used to say “Six two and even, over and out” into his watch radio to sign off, and some say the show’s writers made it up. Others say it comes from horse racing odds, meaning “a sure thing”: “6-to-1 to Win, 2-to-1 to Place, and even money to Show.” Still others say it comes from radio, referring to the dials that display power levels: six on one, two on the other, numbers holding steady.
“Cheesecake”
Soundies: A Musical History (2007)
Sexy broads; sex appeal used as a selling point. Often refers specifically to legs. An industry term popular around the Soundies era of the 1940s.
Various jazz slang
Episode 6 of Rocky Fortune (1954)
Bull fiddle - a double bass
Jazzbo - a jazz enthusiast. May have originated from Al “Jazzbo” Collins
Fleabag - a dirty or dilapidated hotel. Typically used as an adjective, but here vividly as a noun: “a fleabag.”
Thrush - a female singer
For Bellevue - a psychological hospital in New York, i.e. “this person’s for Bellevue” means they’re mentally unwell
Dogwatch - night shift
Going to weep city - crying
Bag and baggage - all of one’s belongings, especially when leaving with them
Seven Santini Brothers - a moving company founded by Italian immigrants, active from 1905 to 1993
Heater - gun
“(Great) Caesar’s Ghost!”
Three Coins in the Fountain TV pilot (shot 1966, aired 1970)
“Caesar’s ghost” is a motif in this obscure TV pilot. The exclamatory phrase “Great Caesar’s Ghost!” originates from a scene in Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar in which the ghost of Caesar comes back to haunt his murderer, Brutus. “Thy evil spirit, Brutus.”
“Squarehead”
Not as a Stranger (1955)
This is an obscure racial slur for a Scandinavian or Germanic person, typically from either Sweden on Norway. In this film, Sinatra plays Dr. Al Boone. Boone scolds his colleague, Dr. Lucas Marsh (Robert Mitchum) for entering into a puportedly loveless marriage with their Swedish nurse colleague, Kristina Hedvigson, in order to pay his medical fees. Boone says, “You’re taking advantage of a poor squarehead who’s afraid of becoming an old maid.”
“According to Hoyle”
Guys and Dolls (1955)
During the climactic prayer meeting scene, Sky Masterson (played by Marlon Brando) says, “Anybody who does not play out this hand strictly according to Hoyle will answer to me personally.” In the world of card games, this means “correct” or “authentic.” The phrase originates from Edmond Hoyle, who published several books laying out the rules of various card games in the 1700s, beginning with A Short Treatise on the Game of Whist in 1742. Another famous use of this phrase was in 1994’s Pulp Fiction, where Jules (played by Samuel L. Jackson) says, “Whether or not what we experienced was an according-to-Hoyle miracle is insignificant.”
“A lick and a promise”
The Tender Trap (1955)
This phrase refers to making a superficial attempt at a task, and promising to return to and finish it later. Jessica offers to clean Charlie’s apartment and says “A lick and a promise won’t do.”
“Post time”
The Joker is Wild (1957)
A term from horse racing indicating that it is time for the horses to line up at the post and begin the race; used in this context to mean, “I am about to get very drunk very quickly.”