So, I've got a thing set in 50's America, and I was wondering if anyone had any tips on some unique phrases and styles that I could use? Or slang terms, that would be good. I'd really like to do it right. Thanks.
Google is full of this kind of information. Unfortunately, I was a child in the 1950s, not a teenager, so I'm not necessarily a person who could say what was what back then. I'd be very careful about over-slangifying speech, though. Pick out a few terms that interest you, but don't overwhelm the story with slang, unless you have a character who is defined by that sort of speech. One of the things you could also do would be to check out contemporary movies that might contain some slang, and context as well. It's important to understand how the slang is delivered as well. How are the phrases strung together, and on what kinds of occasions. This might be a classic case of 'less is more.' Here's a start ....http://www.daddy-o.us/slang.htm
Just had a look at the first few letters of this list (through D) and scribbled down the ones I recognise. Of course a few of these were probably in use for longer than just the 1950s, but I can attest to these actually being used in my memory. stable the horses (park the cars) ankle-biter - child (usually said by somebody who isn't keen on them or their behaviour) go Ape - completely lose the plot baby - girl friend, etc ...more or less what it still means when not referring to an ankle-biter - one important distinction, though. It was not generally used by a woman to refer to her boyfriend, as it sometimes is now. bash - a party (a big one, usually) bread - money bug - bother (as in 'that really bugs me' - I still use that one!) burn rubber - accelerate the car too fast Cloud 9 - a very happy place cooking/cooking with gas - something is working well cool - well, hey ...coool... (definitely the go-to expression that lasted for many decades) cool it - simmer down (as my dad would say) - chill (a command!) cool your jets - stop ranting and raving cream - dent or demolish something (often a car) cruisin' for a bruisin' - asking for trouble dibs - a claim (I've got dibs on that seat) dig - understand/enjoy and etc....
I don't intent to drown the dialogue in cultural artefacts. Just want to pepper it with them. And yes, how the phrases are strung is what I mean by phraseology. It's what the word means actually . Thank you for your info.
A lot of that stuff is still in use among the right people, some even generally; "bugging me" is a common phrase I think. Thanks again. Cruisin' for a bruisin' is an awesome phrase btw. So going to use that. Why did they not continue this beauty?
Yeah, you're right. I don't know when it stopped being used. Mind you, I've been in Scotland for 30 years (this May) so I'm out of touch with American slang. Cruisin' for a bruisin' was usually used in a joking manner. I don't know if it was ever used seriously or not ...probably was. But basically it was said when somebody was teasing somebody else, and this was the response to the teasing. I'm trying to think what people would say now, in that situation.
And I'm Australian. So maybe, just maybe American media is depriving us of this highly entertaining slang phrase? For shame if so.
Hey @Oscar - @jannert is too modest, she left the States, a scuffle with these wise guys, nb 'King of Surf Guitar' in da moosik soundtrack.
What about "rat" and "fink"? Like, "Frank, you fink! You dirty little rat!!" I think I've heard phrases like: "Gee wilikers!" "Holy smokes!"/"Holy moley!" "Oh boy!" ...Uh, in the movies, I mean. I wasn't alive back then.
