Christopher tm Herdt (cherdt) wrote,
Christopher tm Herdt
cherdt

diligent coiners of neologisms

Cartoonist Thomas Aloysius Dorgan, one of the "most fecund makers of American slang," gave the following terms and phrases to the English language:

  • Dumbbell - a stupid person
  • For crying out loud - exclamation of astonishment
  • The cat's meow (and the cat's pajamas) - superlatives
  • Drugstore cowboy - a loafer or ladies' man
  • Hot dog - a sausage served in a bun

    There are many others, some of which I was previously unaware of (ever call a stingy person a nickel-nurser?).

    He also penned the phrase "Yes, we have no bananas."

    (Source: Cigars and the Comics, Neil A. Grauer, publ. 1995 in Cigar Aficionado)
    • Tags: slang, words
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