Do the words 23 skidoo mean anything to you?
Inland 360 production editor Julie Breslin remembered the early 20th century term, which had a brief resurgence during her youth, and thought 2023 seemed like a good time to bring it back yet again.
The idiom was new to me, but a quick Google search revealed the following, from good old Wikipedia:
“23 skidoo is an American slang phrase generally referring to leaving quickly, being forced to leave quickly by someone else, or taking advantage of a propitious opportunity to leave. Popularized during the early 20th century, the exact origin of the phrase is uncertain.”
Next time you take advantage of an excuse to leave that party a little early, you can say you “23 skidooed.” I think.
This fun little phrase got us thinking about other lingo that’s gone by the wayside. Can you match each approximately 1920s-era slang term with its meaning (without Google’s help)?
- Lettuce.
- Choice bit of calico.
- Banana oil.
- Elephant ears.
A. Nonsense.
C. Police.
D. An attractive woman.
Answers: 1. Lettuce is B), folding money; 2. Choice bit of calico is D), an attractive woman; 3. Banana oil is A), nonsense; and 4. Elephant ears means C), police.
