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Home > Phrases & Sayings > The origin of "speakeasy"

The origin of "speakeasy"

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kjc0123 | 10:11 Mon 04th Oct 2004 | Phrases & Sayings
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I know that a "speakeasy" was an establishment that was used for selling and drinking of alcoholic beverages during the period of U.S. history known as Prohibition. By the way, I don't know why people started calling such an establishment "speakeasy", so I want to know the origin of "speakeasy".
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Avatar Image Ewood27
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10:48 Mon 04th Oct 2004
Avatar Image CrazyJohn
People called these establishments Speakeasy's because they knew that they could relax in the company of everyone else (as they were all doing wrong by being there in the first place). You could talk to everyone easily without watching what you were saying as nobody there was going to persecute you for it - hence speak easy.
13:04 Mon 04th Oct 2004
Avatar Image ERIGENA

'Speakeasy' was Hiberno-English for 'speak quietly'.

The point being that the police would not know that the place was open for illegal drinking etc!

19:31 Sat 23rd Oct 2004

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