1940s Slang:
General:
* Ace: Excellent, wonderful
* Bop: To dance to jazz or swing music
* Boogie: To dance to swing music
* Broad: A woman (often derogatory)
* Chick: A young woman
* Crumb: A nice person
* Dig: To understand, appreciate, or enjoy
* Ditch: To leave, abandon
* Do the jitterbug: To dance a fast and energetic dance
* Glimmer: To shine, sparkle
* Goofy: Silly, foolish
* Heebie-jeebies: Nervousness, jitters
* Hunky-dory: Everything is fine, great
* Jack: A fellow, a guy
* Jive: To talk nonsense, to fool around
* Keen: Great, excellent
* Lousy: Bad, terrible
* Mocky: Very nice, excellent
* Mug: A face
* Nuts: Crazy, foolish
* Palooka: A clumsy or stupid person
* Peachy: Wonderful, great
* Razz: To tease, make fun of
* Sharp: Smart, stylish
* Swell: Excellent, great
* The works: Everything, the complete package
* Whiz: To move or go quickly
Dating and Romance:
* Beat it: Go away, leave
* Butter up: To flatter someone
* Cheesecake: An attractive woman
* Cutie: A cute or attractive person
* Doll: A beautiful woman
* Go steady: To be in a serious relationship
* Make a play for: To try to attract someone romantically
* Mince: To walk or behave in an affected or effeminate way
* Neck: To kiss passionately
* Pet: To cuddle or show affection
Wartime:
* G.I.: A member of the armed forces
* Jeep: A military vehicle
* Rosie the Riveter: A woman working in a factory during the war
* Salute: To show respect (often by tipping one's hat)
* Spitfire: A British fighter plane
Other:
* Big cheese: A powerful person, a boss
* Bum's rush: To be thrown out, ejected
* Catch a cold: To get sick
* Chump: A fool, a sucker
* Drag: A boring or unpleasant experience
* Flip: To turn over or change one's mind
* Flip your wig: To become very upset or angry
* Give the lowdown: To give detailed information
* Go bananas: To go crazy or act foolishly
* Hotshot: A skilled or confident person
* Make a killing: To earn a lot of money
* Put the kibosh on: To stop something
* Shaky: Nervous, unsteady
* Take it easy: To relax, slow down
It's important to remember:
* These are just a few examples, and many more slang words were in use during the 1940s.
* The meaning of some words has changed over time, and some might be considered offensive today.
* The use of slang varied depending on region, age, and social group.
This list gives you a taste of the language that was popular in the 1940s. You can use it to add authenticity to your writing or just to learn more about the history of the English language.