Bodenheim slang of the day: Banana oil

February 26, 2010
Banana oil: Insincere flattery; nonsensical exaggeration.

Ruth made up her mind to try him out. What was the use of living unless she allowed a dog to bite her sometimes; found out whether it hurt, whether it made her feel vomity? All of this self-esteem and purity that people were forever making speeches about--what was it except sleeping, or suffering, in a classy hotel-room and paying for it with your blood-drops because you were afraid to open the door, because you imagined that the payment established your superiority over other people? The old banana oil!

(from Naked on Roller Skates by Maxwell Bodenheim)