General
the berries
What does the berries mean?
An exclamation of enthusiastic approval.
"A whole night of dancing? The berries!"
Origin
1920s American slang for something excellent, part of a family of '-superlative' food-and-animal phrases alongside 'the cat's pajamas' and 'the bee's knees'. Widely attested in Jazz Age glossaries and humor columns of the period.
Frequently asked questions
What does the berries mean?
It means something is excellent or the best, equivalent to saying it's terrific.
Where did the berries come from?
It is 1920s American slang, one of many playful superlatives like 'the bee's knees' and 'the cat's pajamas'.
Is the berries the same as the cat's meow?
Yes, both were Jazz Age ways to call something the very best.
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