General
the bank's closed
What does the bank's closed mean?
More broadly, a refusal that the well of favors or attention has run dry.
"You want another loan? The bank's closed, pal."
Origin
A 1920s flapper slang phrase used to rebuff a romantic advance, especially to stop a date's kissing. It belongs to a cluster of cheeky money-and-romance metaphors that flappers used to set boundaries.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'the bank's closed' mean in slang?
It was a flapper's playful way of saying no more kissing or affection. The romance, like a bank, was shut for the night.
Where did 'the bank's closed' come from?
From 1920s flapper slang, part of a set of witty money metaphors young women used to fend off overeager dates.
Was 'the bank's closed' only about romance?
Mainly, but it stretched to any refusal, telling someone the supply of favors had run out.
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