2380?

'Twenty-three/eighty' is a slang expression popular in the nineteen- twenties
and thirties.
 >> Stay informed about: 2380? 

<< From: seriesbook2.TakeThisOut@aol.com (Seriesbook2) >>


<< 'Twenty-three/eighty' is a slang expression popular in the nineteen-
twenties
and thirties. >>

Any idea if it means anything?


___________
"Call the American Teleservices Association, toll-free,
at 877-779-3974, and tell them what you think.
I'm sure they'd love to hear your constitutionally protected views!
Be sure to wipe your mouthpiece afterward,''- Dave Barry
 >> Stay informed about: 2380? 

  >> 'Twenty-three/eighty' is a slang expression popular in the nineteen-
  >> twenties and thirties.
 >
 > Any idea if it means anything?

I wonder if its related to the famous "twenty-three skidoo" phrase?

--
slidge<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: 2380? 

<< From: slidge.RemoveThis@slidge.com >>


<< >> 'Twenty-three/eighty' is a slang expression popular in the nineteen-
  >> twenties and thirties.
 >
 > Any idea if it means anything?

I wonder if its related to the famous "twenty-three skidoo" phrase? >>

Yeah, I thought of that when they were saying it. Of course I have no idea if
THAT means anything either. My aunt (who was born in the 1890s) used to say
that; she explained to me that you said it, and then people knew you were
really having fun!


___________
"Call the American Teleservices Association, toll-free,
at 877-779-3974, and tell them what you think.
I'm sure they'd love to hear your constitutionally protected views!
Be sure to wipe your mouthpiece afterward,''- Dave Barry<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: 2380? 

slidge RemoveThis @slidge.com wrote

 > I wonder if its related to the famous "twenty-three skidoo" phrase?

The story I heard about "23 skidoo" has it originating at the
intersection of Broadway, 5th Avenue and 23rd Street (The Flatiron
Building) in New York City. The legend goes that the intersection was
quite windy and the young bucks of the day would gather to see the
wind blow the ladies' skirts and perhaps catch a glimpse of ankle. The
cop on the beat would shoo them away, hence the "23 skidoo".
....................................................
Bob Finnan
The Hardy Boys Unofficial Home Page
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://users.arczip.com/fwdixon" target="_blank">http://users.arczip.com/fwdixon</a>
New & Out Of Print Books, Tapes, DVD's, CD-ROMs and More For Sale
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"Bookman" <fwdixon.RemoveThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:66b0d9d8.0309180408.a055cb@posting.google.com...
 > slidge.RemoveThis@slidge.com wrote
 >

 >
 > The story I heard about "23 skidoo" has it originating at the
 > intersection of Broadway, 5th Avenue and 23rd Street (The Flatiron
 > Building) in New York City. The legend goes that the intersection was
 > quite windy and the young bucks of the day would gather to see the
 > wind blow the ladies' skirts and perhaps catch a glimpse of ankle. The
 > cop on the beat would shoo them away, hence the "23 skidoo".
 > ...................................................


Probably a false origin as the phrase has been around since the 1890's and
the Flatiron building was built in the 20's. See this:
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.greenapple.com/~words1/back-v.html#23" target="_blank">http://www.greenapple.com/~words1/back-v.html#23</a>

Still no luck on 23 80 though, darn!

HC<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: 2380? 

"Happy Camper" <dcwhitemannospam.DeleteThis@comcast.net> wrote
 > Probably a false origin as the phrase has been around since the 1890's and
 > the Flatiron building was built in the 20's. See this:
<font color=purple> > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.greenapple.com/~words1/back-v.html#23</font" target="_blank">http://www.greenapple.com/~words1/back-v.html#23</font</a>>

Actually the Flatiron Building was built in 1902 but it has nothing to
do with the story other than to provide a current geographical marker.
The term "23 Skidoo" dates from the 1920's according to every source I
checked.
....................................................
Bob Finnan
The Hardy Boys Unofficial Home Page
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://users.arczip.com/fwdixon" target="_blank">http://users.arczip.com/fwdixon</a>
New & Out Of Print Books, Tapes, DVD's, CD-ROMs and More For Sale
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://users.ArcZip.com/fwdixon/amazon.htm" target="_blank">http://users.ArcZip.com/fwdixon/amazon.htm</a>
....................................................<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: 2380? 

"Bookman" <fwdixon.DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:66b0d9d8.0309181059.a9ebf6e@posting.google.com...

>
> Actually the Flatiron Building was built in 1902 but it has nothing to
> do with the story other than to provide a current geographical marker.
> The term "23 Skidoo" dates from the 1920's according to every source I
> checked.
>

Here's where I got my info on the Flat Iron building and 23 Skidoo:

http://phrases.shu.ac.uk/bulletin_board/4/messages/804.html
 >> Stay informed about: 2380? 

<< From: "Happy Camper" dcwhitemannospam.DeleteThis@comcast.net >>


<< Probably a false origin as the phrase has been around since the 1890's and
the Flatiron building was built in the 20's. See this:
http://www.greenapple.com/~words1/back-v.html#23

Still no luck on 23 80 though, darn! >>

Good site! I subnitted the 2380 question to him.


___________
"Call the American Teleservices Association, toll-free,
at 877-779-3974, and tell them what you think.
I'm sure they'd love to hear your constitutionally protected views!
Be sure to wipe your mouthpiece afterward,''- Dave Barry
 >> Stay informed about: 2380? 

"ANIM8Rfsk" <anim8rfsk.TakeThisOut@aol.comNOSPAM> wrote in message
news:20030918131858.06329.00000981@mb-m10.aol.com...

 > Good site! I subnitted the 2380 question to him.
 >


Another great site for 1920's slang:
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://home.earthlink.net/~dlarkins/slang-pg.htm" target="_blank">http://home.earthlink.net/~dlarkins/slang-pg.htm</a><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: 2380? 

   >>>> 'Twenty-three/eighty' is a slang expression popular in the nineteen-
   >>>> twenties and thirties.
   >>>
   >>> Any idea if it means anything?
  >>
  >> I wonder if its related to the famous "twenty-three skidoo" phrase? >>

 > Yeah, I thought of that when they were saying it. Of course I have no
 > idea if THAT means anything either. My aunt (who was born in the 1890s)
 > used to say that; she explained to me that you said it, and then people
 > knew you were really having fun!

According to my voluminous reserach (if "voluminous" is a synonym for
"google search"), it would appear that "23 skiddoo" derives from two
sources - the "23" comes from the old code system at diners (where
numbers replaced words, so that maybe "55" would equal "without sugar",
and you'd have "Cup of coffee, 55"), and the "skiddoo" apparently is a
contraction of "skedaddle".

The number system, at least to me, must come out of telegraphy, where it
was quickly apparent that a code system would cost less (less letters,
less $$ to spend), and that must have crossed over to other businesses
(a great book to read about the telegraph and its impact on the US is
"The Victorian Internet" - highly recommend it).

However, I also read in my search that "23 skiddoo" may come out of
Cockney rhyming slang, but I didn't really buy that argument.

--
slidge<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: 2380? 

"Happy Camper" <dcwhitemannospam RemoveThis @comcast.net> wrote in message
news:g7ednZL7B6huKPqiRVn-uQ@giganews.com...
> Been watching the movies and one quote keeps coming up. Something to do
> with '2380'. Like I bet you 2380 that's the reason... Anyone have any
> idea
> what that refers to? TIA
>
> HC
>
>


> Been watching the movies and one quote keeps coming up. Something to do
> with '2380'. Like I bet you 2380 that's the reason... Anyone have any
> idea
> what that refers to? TIA
>
> HC


For anyone still interested in this, 4 years later someone has sent me this
information regarding 2380:

“23,80” was actually “23.80,” with a decimal, and what should have preceded
it in the captioning was a dollar sign — $23.80. It was the weekly take home
pay for an employee of the Works Public Administration, the New Deal relief
effort to put the unemployed to work. The amount became a slang term of the
day to indicate something small or insignificant, not very much.



My reference:
http://www.heralddemocrat.com/articles/2007/03/23/local_news/community...mm01.tx


Good sleuthing on that fellow's part. Not sure it's 100% accurate, but I'd
be willing to bet you $23.80 it's close!

HC
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