February 28, 2011

“Hold your lava, Vesuvius!”

Teen lingo, circa 1941:

A peek at the script turned up these gems, which Jane says are in the vocabulary of most any 15-year-old these days: “Hold your lava, Vesuvius!” (To a talkative friend). “There I was — with egg on my face!” (Describing embarrassment).

The Bee (Danville, Virginia), 27 Aug. 1941.

(Thanks, Allen.)

posted by in history, language | * | 4 comments 

comments

  1. Joel Bernstein on February 28th, 2011 at 5:45 pm

    This new lingo is the bees’ knees.

  2. Dave Vogt on February 28th, 2011 at 10:26 pm

    Have you ever had the pleasure of a visit to Danville, Va.? I can’t say that I have either, although I have been there.

  3. Sheila Ryan on February 28th, 2011 at 10:28 pm

    No. And here I am, with egg on my face.

  4. Rick Neece on February 28th, 2011 at 10:38 pm

    Dave, you made me wheezy laugh. Thank you.

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