Prohibition roots

The real McCoy: You still use Prohibition-era slang without realizing it

Everybody knows what people mean when they talk about "moonshine," but do you really know where that name comes from? We often hear someone say something is "the real McCoy," or a friend mentions they’re "on the wagon." The thing is, behind these familiar phrases is a hidden piece of American history. Even if you’ve never set foot in a speakeasy, chances are you’ve been using words that were born or popularized during Prohibition (1920 to 1933). Here’s the story behind them: how they started, what they meant back then, and how they’ve survived in everyday American conversation for over a century.

Picture a hidden basement bar packed with people drinking, laughing, and trying not to attract attention. Somewhere in the crowd, the bartender warns a noisy customer to "speak easy" so the authorities outside won’t hear. From that old habit came one of the terms most closely tied to Prohibition: the "speakeasy."

Already in use by the late 19th century, "speakeasies" originally referred to places that sold alcohol without a license. But during Prohibition, when bars didn’t disappear but simply went underground, the term became famous across America. Today, the word still carries that same meaning, though it’s also widely used by modern bars and restaurants trying to recreate the jazz-age atmosphere and glamour of the Roaring Twenties.

You’ve probably heard the term "moonshine" countless times in movies, documentaries, advertisements, or even everyday conversation. But most people rarely stop to think about where the word actually comes from.

"Moonshine" was already widely used in the early 1800s in the United States to refer to illegally distilled homemade alcohol, and it became even more common during the Prohibition era after 1920, for logical reasons. But what does the light of the moon have to do with a drink? The answer is simpler than you might think: people who made it illegally often worked at night, using only the moonlight to avoid being caught. Today, "moonshine" still refers to homemade alcohol, but it’s also used more loosely for strong, homemade-style liquor or modern spirits inspired by traditional recipes.

An antique watch, a painting, a piece of jewelry, or even a jersey worn by a famous player: all of these can be "the real McCoy." The term is used in everyday language to describe something genuine, authentic, or high quality, but why do we call it that?

In use since the 19th century, there are several theories about its origin. One of the most common links is to Elijah McCoy, a Canadian-American engineer who, in 1872, created a highly reliable engine lubrication system. It was so effective that buyers reportedly began asking for "the real McCoy" to avoid cheaper imitations. But the story that interests us most here is that of Bill McCoy, a Prohibition-era rum-runner known in the 1920s for refusing to dilute his liquor. It’s believed that his reputation for selling "the good stuff" may have helped reinforce the phrase during that time.

"Hooch" is a slang word used to describe homemade or low-quality liquor, though that wasn’t always its original meaning.

After the United States purchased Alaska in 1867, the government attempted to ban alcohol production from native communities. In response, members of the Tlingit community created a strong homemade drink known as Hoochinoo, made with ingredients like molasses, sugar, and yeast. The liquor became popular among miners and hunters, who eventually shortened the name to simply "hooch." Over time, the term came to refer to almost any illegally made or very strong alcohol, and eventually also became associated with liquor considered cheap or of poor quality.

Have you heard a friend turn down a drink by saying they’re "on the wagon"? It’s still a widely used expression today, but few people know where it actually comes from.

The phrase began appearing in the US in the late 1800s and became especially popular during the Prohibition era. But what does giving up alcohol have to do with a wagon? One of the most accepted explanations traces it back to the horse-drawn water wagons that traveled through dusty American streets in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. People who promoted moderation or abstinence allegedly joked that they would rather drink water from those wagons than alcohol. Before long, being "on the water wagon" was shortened to simply "on the wagon."

Have you ever heard an American town described as "dry," but not because of its climate?

Long before the 18th Amendment established Prohibition in 1920, the United States already had a powerful temperance movement made up of people who campaigned against alcohol consumption and pushed for nationwide bans on its sale. By the late 1800s and early 1900s, supporters of alcohol prohibition became known as "Drys," while anti-prohibitionists, brewers, and saloon owners were called "Wets." The terms quickly became part of everyday American political language. Entire states, counties, towns, politicians, and even newspapers were labeled "dry" or "wet" depending on their position on alcohol laws.

Toward the end of the 1800s, before nationwide Prohibition was enacted, alcohol had already been banned in certain states and cities. In those years, a colorful new term emerged for places that sold liquor illegally.

As often happens in history, people quickly found creative ways around the law. One popular trick was advertising strange attractions like a "blind pig," a "blind tiger," or even a "striped pig," charging customers a small admission fee to supposedly see them. Once inside, visitors were "given" a complimentary drink. Technically, the owner wasn’t selling alcohol, but charging admission to see the attraction, whether the animal actually existed or not. It didn't take long before "Blind Pig" and "Blind Tiger" became well-known slang terms for illegal drinking establishments across the country.

If you’ve ever been thrown out of a bar, turned away from a restaurant, or told a menu item was no longer available, you could say you’ve been "86’d." But where did that number come from?

One of the most famous origin stories traces it back to Chumley's, a Prohibition-era speakeasy in New York City. According to the story, when a police raid was about to happen, officers on the take would warn the staff to "86" the customers, meaning sneak them out the back door onto 86 Bedford Street before the authorities arrived. Today, the term is still used in some restaurants and bars. A dish can be "86’d" when removed from the menu or when it’s sold out, and an unruly customer can still be "86’d" right out the door.

Has anyone ever warned you, "Don’t drink that rotgut"? Contrary to "the real McCoy," "rotgut" was the slang term for harsh, cheap, poorly made liquor that people knew could make you sick.

The word existed long before Prohibition, but it became especially common in the late 1800s and early 1900s, when some saloon owners and moonshiners tried to stretch their profits by mixing whiskey with questionable ingredients like river water, molasses, or even turpentine. It didn’t take much imagination to understand the name: "rotgut" literally described liquor rough enough to ruin your stomach. When Prohibition began under the 18th Amendment, the term spread even more, since illegally made alcohol often came with those dangers.

Back in rural America, hunters sometimes used a cruel but effective trick: tying a pigeon to a stool so its frantic flapping would lure other birds into a trap. But what does that have to do with Prohibition?

Like almost every era, Prohibition had its share of informants. Some people secretly slipped into speakeasies, gathered information, and passed it along to the police in exchange for money, favors, or protection. Much like those decoy birds that lured others into danger, these informers became known as "stool pigeons", a term we still use today for a snitch or informant.

The truth about your brain

You won’t believe what happens in your brain while you sleep

Image: Milad Fakurian

Your brain is one of the most powerful and mysterious organs in your body. It controls everything from your thoughts to your emotions and even processes information at lightning speed. But how much do you really know about it? Some long-believed myths about the brain have been debunked, while other surprising facts reveal just how incredible this organ truly is. Get ready to be amazed by these fascinating brain facts!

Image: Natasha Connell

You’ve probably heard this one before, but it’s completely false! While it’s true that not all parts of the brain fire at the same time, imaging studies show that most regions are active throughout the day, even when we sleep.

Your brain is constantly working, controlling bodily functions and emotions, and processing information. So next time someone says you’re only using 10% of your brain, you can confidently tell them that’s just a myth!

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Here’s a weird fact: While your brain processes pain signals from the rest of your body, it has no pain receptors of its own. This is why surgeons can perform brain surgery on conscious patients without causing them pain.

However, the membranes and tissues surrounding the brain do have pain receptors, which is why headaches and brain injuries can be so excruciating.

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How come we have headaches if the brain has no pain receptors? Well, that’s because headaches are triggered by chemical activity in the brain, changes in nerves and blood vessels, and even fluctuating serotonin levels.

In some cases, hormones like estrogen can also play a role, which explains why migraines are more common in women.

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Dreams are proof that your brain never rests! (Warning: this fact can make you feel exhausted.) While you sleep, your limbic system, that is, the part of the brain that deals with emotions, becomes especially active, which is why dreams often feel so intense.

On average, humans experience four to seven dreams per night, even if we don’t always remember them. And what about that scary nightmare about falling? Well, you can thank your amygdala, the brain’s fear center, for that one.

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Have you ever walked into a room and instantly forgotten what you were after? That’s because short-term memory only lasts about 20-30 seconds! That’s not enough!

Your brain holds a limited amount of information in its active state before deciding whether to store it or discard it. Ironically, we can’t really choose what makes the cut, but we do hope these facts stay with you!

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That sharp, icy pain when you eat something too cold? It’s your brain’s way of telling you to slow down! Officially called sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia, a brain freeze happens when cold food or drinks rapidly chill the blood vessels in your throat, causing them to constrict and then rapidly expand. This sends pain signals to your brain, warning you of the sudden temperature shift. It’s annoying, but it’s actually your body trying to protect itself!

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You didn’t need us to tell you, but let’s look at the details: The average person has between 12,000 and 60,000 thoughts per day. What’s even more interesting? 95% of those thoughts are the same ones you had yesterday. Is that not surprising enough? Hear this out: 80% of them tend to be negative. That’s because our brains are wired for survival, constantly analyzing risks and potential dangers.

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Even though it only makes up about 2% of your body weight, your brain employs a major quantity of energy! It consumes 20% of your oxygen and blood supply, making it one of the most demanding organs in your body.

If your brain goes without oxygen for just five minutes, brain cells start dying, leading to irreversible damage. This is why deep breathing and cardiovascular exercise are great for brain health!

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Do you know that feeling when you hit the back of your head and see stars? That’s because your occipital lobe, which controls vision, is located at the back of your brain. If you get hit there, your brain momentarily misfires, causing flashes of light.

Interestingly, your brain processes vision on the opposite side; while your right brain controls your left eye, your left brain controls your right eye. It’s one of the many ways the brain operates in a complex way.

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Believe it or not, your brain generates between 12 and 25 watts of electricity when you’re awake. If you can’t really grasp how powerful that is, check this out: It’s enough to power a small light bulb! Your brain’s electrical activity is what allows neurons to send signals at speeds of up to 260 miles per hour.

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Your brain may be the fattiest organ in your body, consisting of at least 60% fat! This is why consuming healthy fats, like omega-3s and omega-6s present in fish, for example, is essential for brain health.

Healthy fats stabilize brain cell walls, reduce inflammation, and support cognitive function. So go ahead and enjoy that avocado toast, it’s food for your brain!

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It’s not just your memory that fades over time; the brain itself physically shrinks as one gets older. It continues developing until your late 40s, but after that, it slowly decreases in size.

Now, size doesn’t equal intelligence, so a smaller brain doesn’t necessarily mean a less capable one. Staying mentally active, exercising, and eating brain-boosting foods can help keep it in top shape!

Image: Lisa Yount

We often think of cholesterol as bad, but your brain actually depends on it! In fact, 25% of your body’s cholesterol is stored in your brain, where it helps with learning and memory. However, unlike other organs, the brain can’t absorb cholesterol from the blood, it has to produce its own. So, while too much cholesterol in the body can be harmful, the right amount is vital for brain function. At least you can use that as an excuse to get that burger!