what's do the phrases glad rags, icy mitt blue nose iron your shoe laces manacle berries Oliver twist and sockdollager from the 1920's mean

1 answer

Sure! Here are the meanings of those phrases from the 1920s:

  1. Glad rags: This phrase refers to fancy or fashionable clothes, often worn on special occasions or when going out.

  2. Icy mitt: While this phrase isn't as commonly used today, it generally refers to someone who is emotionally cold or unapproachable, possibly in the context of a romantic or social interaction.

  3. Blue nose: This term can be a pejorative for someone who is priggish or overly puritanical, especially in terms of morals or behavior.

  4. Iron your shoelaces: This phrase is likely meant as a humorous or nonsensical statement, as shoelaces cannot be ironed. It may suggest being overly meticulous or fussy about trivial matters.

  5. Manacle berries: This phrase doesn't have a widely recognized meaning and may be a playful or nonsensical combination of words, or perhaps slang with very specific regional or contextual uses.

  6. Oliver Twist: Referring to the character from Charles Dickens' novel, the name can be used to denote someone who is poor or in need, or someone who embodies innocence and vulnerability.

  7. Sockdollager: This term means something that is decisive or has a strong impact. It originated in the 19th century and was used to describe a knockout punch or a major event.

These phrases capture a mix of fashion, social commentary, and colorful language typical of the 1920s era!