“I should worry, I should care, I should marry a millionaire…”
"I should worry" became a famous slang phrase in the United States in 1912 and 1913. "I should worry. I should fret. I should marry a suffragette..." and "I should worry, I…
“I should worry. I should fret. I should marry a suffragette…”
"I should worry" became a famous slang phrase in the United States in 1912 and 1913. "I should worry. I should fret. I should marry a suffragette..." and "I should worry, I…
“Take a local, take an express, don’t get off ‘til you reach success”
"Take a local, take an express, don't get off 'til you reach success" is a motivational rhyme that was printed in The Echo (New Lebanon, NY) on March 6, 1951. It refers to local…
“55” or “Fifty-five” (root beer)
Newspapers.com 10 July 1985, The Times-Mail (Bedford, IN), "Soda jerk unique on American scene" by Ink Mendelsohn, pg. 5, col. 4: FIFTY-FIVE -- root beer Newspapers.com 29 November 1997,…
“5” or “Five (a large glass fof milk)
Newspapers.com 29 November 1997, Pueblo (CO) Chieftain, "Word Mysteries" by Chris Woodka, pg. 5A, col. 4: 5 -- Large glass of milk (2 1/2 was a small glass).
“21” or “Twenty-one” (a customer who doesn’t tip)
Newspapers.com 8 April 1939, Sheboygan (WI) Press, "What Is Your Number?," pg. 14, col. 2: 21 -- The customer who doesn't tip.
“99” or “Ninety-nine” (an exceptionally pretty girl has arrived)
Newspapers.com 8 April 1939, Sheboygan (WI) Press, "What Is Your Number?," pg. 14, col. 2: 99 -- An exceptionally pretty girl has arrived.
“90” or “Ninety” (a pretty girl has arrived)
Newspapers.com 8 April 1939, Sheboygan (WI) Press, "What Is Your Number?," pg. 14, col. 2: 90 -- A pretty girl has arrived.
“91” or “Ninety-one” (English muffin)
Newspapers.com 1 April 1946, Roanoke (VA) World-News, "Observant Citizen" by W. C. Stouffer, pg. 6, col. 7: "Fifty-one" means a hot chocolate and "ninety-one" for an…
“88” of “Eighty-eight” (customer is waiting for the check)
Newspapers.com 1 April 1946, Roanoke (VA) World-News, "Observant Citizen" by W. C. Stouffer, pg. 6, col. 7: "Eighty-eight" means the guy is standing there with his dough…
“87 1/2” or “Eighty-seven and a half” (good-looking customer)
Newspapers.com 27 September 1981, The Herald Statesman (Yonkers, NY), "Counterwailing" by Dan Carlinsky, Suburdia Today, pg. 18, col. 4: 87 1/2: There's a good-looking girl in the…
“99” or “ninety-nine” (manager)
Newspapers.com 9 February 1930, Tampa (FL) Sunday Tribune, "Soda Jerkers Here Talk in Language Hard to Understand," pt. 4, pg. 6, col. 2: 99 -- Here's the manager. Newspapers.com 29…
“98” or “Ninety-eight” (assistant manager)
Newspapers.com 9 February 1930, Tampa (FL) Sunday Tribune, "Soda Jerkers Here Talk in Language Hard to Understand," pt. 4, pg. 6, col. 2: 98 -- Here comes the assistant manager.…
“91” or “Ninety-one” (seltzer)
Newspapers.com 27 September 1981, The Herald Statesman (Yonkers, NY), "Counterwailing" by Dan Carlinsky, Suburdia Today, pg. 18, col. 4: 91. Glass of seltzer.
“44” or “Forty-four” (coffee)
Newspapers.com 27 September 1981, The Herald Statesman (Yonkers, NY), "Counterwailing" by Dan Carlinsky, Suburdia Today, pg. 18, col. 4: 44. Cup of coffee.
“21” or “Twenty-one” (two of an item for the same person or table)
Newspapers.com 27 September 1981, The Herald Statesman (Yonkers, NY), "Counterwailing" by Dan Carlinsky, Suburdia Today, pg. 18, col. 4: 21. Two of an item for the same person or table.…
“14” or “Fourteen” (special order)
Newspapers.com 27 September 1981, The Herald Statesman (Yonkers, NY), "Counterwailing" by Dan Carlinsky, Suburdia Today, pg. 18, col. 4: 14. Special order. Newspapers.com 10 July 1985,…
“41” or “Forty-one” (a glass of milk)
Newspapers.com 27 September 1981, The Herald Statesman (Yonkers, NY), "Counterwailing" by Dan Carlinsky, Suburdia Today, pg. 18, col. 4: 41. Glass of milk. 42 means two glasses of milk,…
“89” or “Eighty-nine” (a movie star is in the store)
Newspapers.com 10 June 1929, Pittsburgh (PA) Post-Gazette, "Pittsburghesque" by Charles F. Danver, pg. 8, col. 6: The Soda Jerkers' Code.The young bartenders in one of those big…
“95” or “Ninety-five” (a customer who walks out without paying)
Newspapers.com 29 March 1936, Helena (MT) Daily Independent, "National Youth Administration Compiles Lexicon of the Soda Jerker After Five Months Work" by Helen Dallas, pg. 2, col. 8: It…