speak-easy

A man enters a hidden speak-easy through a secret door.

Definition

Noun (plural: speak-easies): - An illegal bar or nightclub: A "speak-easy" refers to an establishment that sold alcoholic beverages illegally, especially during the Prohibition era in the United States (1920–1933). The term derives from the practice of speaking quietly or "easily" inside such venues to avoid detection by law enforcement.

Usage Examples

• (Illegal bars operating in the 1920s–30s.)
• (A clandestine drinking establishment with discreet entry.)
• (An underground bar serving illegal liquor.)

Advanced Usage

• "to run a speak-easy": to operate an illegal bar.
  • She ran a successful speak-easy in her own home. (She managed a secret drinking establishment.)
• "speak-easy culture": the social practices and atmosphere associated with these illegal bars.
  • The jazz music and flapper dresses defined speak-easy culture. (The lifestyle of secret bars in the 1920s.)

Variants and Related Words

• Speakeasy (noun, variant spelling): The same meaning, often written as one word without a hyphen.
  • The speakeasy was hidden behind a bookstore. (The illegal bar.)
• Speak-easy (adj, attributive): Used to describe something related to such establishments.
  • They hosted a speak-easy party with vintage cocktails. (A party themed after illegal bars.)

Synonyms

• Illegal bar: a bar that operates without a license.
• Blind pig (US slang, historical): a similar term for an illegal drinking establishment.
• Gin joint (slang): a low-class bar, often associated with illegal alcohol.

Related Idioms

• "A speak-easy password": a secret code or phrase used to gain entry.
  • You need to know the speak-easy password to get in. (The secret word for admission.)
• "Speak-easy era": the historical period of Prohibition (1920–1933).
  • The speak-easy era ended with the repeal of Prohibition. (The time when illegal bars thrived.)