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Home>Sinatra and the Jazz Connection>Frank Sinatra>Sinatraspeak
| Sinatra gave an interview in the early ’60s to Art Buchwald a Paris based columnist for the now defunct New York Herald Tribune, and offered the following interpretations:
Broad an affectionate word for “woman”. Less uncouth, allegedly, than “dame”
Bunter “The opposite of gasser… a nowhere. He can never get to first base”
Clyde a catch-all noun. “If you want someone to pass the salt I would say, “Pass the clyde”. “I don’t like her clyde might mean I don’t like her voice”. “I have to go the clyde could mean have to go the party”.
Fink a loser. “Fink comes from a strike-breaker named Fink who killed his friend during a strike. So to me a fink is a guy who would kill his own friends”.
Gasser “Applies to a person. He’s a big-leaguer, the best. He can hit the ball right out of the park”.
Harvey “A square. Harvey, or Harv, is the typical tourist who goes into a French restaurant and says “What’s ready?”.
Other elements of Sinatraspeak, mostly identified by Arnold Shaw in his book from 1968, include:
Bag an area of interest, as in “What’s your bag”.
Big Casino dead, as in “bought the big casino in the sky”.
Big Leaguer a capable, reliable fellow who will handle all manner of things correctly.
Bird a catch-all noun, often referring to the male member.
Bombsville or Endsville disappointment, breakdown, failure.
Bum or creep or crumb a disliked person.
Charley or Sam a general form of address, as in Charley Greenface or Suntan Charley for the pale-faced Bill Miller. (Sinatra’s long time pianist)
Charlies a lady’s chest.
Chick a girl who is youthful and attractive.
Cool or Crazy an adjective of approval.
Dame a mildly derogatory term for a woman, possibly older and possibly unattractive.
Dig to approve, as in "I dig you baby”.
End a noun that shows extreme approval, as in “That chick is the end man”.
Gasoline alcohol in general, and in particular Jack Daniel’s (Sinatra’s favourite bourbon)
Hey-hey fun, often physical, as in “a little hey-hey”.
Mothery adjective of approval, often for a party.
Mouse demure female.
Player a significant fellow.
Punk a disagreeable, lower-class fellow.
Rain a noun used in phrases such as “I think it’s going to rain” to indicate displeasure with social proceedings.
Ring-a-ding an adjective showing approval
Scramsville hasty departure.
Square a Harvey.
Tomato a female who is a “ripe tomato” may be ready for seducing or marrying.
Twirl a female who likes to dance.
The above information is from "The from Rough Guide to Frank Sinatra” by Chris Ingham (The Penguin Group)
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| The Jazz Man recommends ”The Rough Guide to Frank Sinatra” by Chris Ingham published by The Penguin Group.
This small compact book (pictured) covers every aspect of the life, legend and music of “The Voice”.
Everything you want to know about the man, the music, the films, the facts and much more.
“……it’s more than just a mini encyclopedia on Ol Blue Eyes – it’s a fascinating read” – Gordon Onans, founding President of The International Sinatra Society, Melbourne, Australia.
“…...the perfect reference book for anyone interested in this larger-than-life 20th century music legend” – Barry Skinner -“The Sounds of Sinatra” 95.7FM - Golden Days Radio.
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