Moxie: The 1930s Word for Grit, Pep, and Nerve
Summary: From a soft drink name to a national shorthand for courage and drive.
In this post:
- What “moxie” means and where it came from
- How people used it in the 1930s
- Modern equivalents and pop-culture examples
- Related slang to explore next
What does “moxie” mean?
“Moxie” evolved from a tonic brand into slang meaning courage, vigor, and determination.
How it was used in the 1930s
Papers praised athletes with “real moxie.” In everyday talk: “She’s got moxie—give her the tough assignment.”
Modern equivalents
• grit
• drive
• guts