Phrase Meaning – Meaning of ‘Full of Juice and Vinegar’

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In Sweet Smell of Success (1957), J.J asks his press agent Sidney
about this boy Dallas who is having a affair with his sister:

Sidney: I've cased this kid. I know his ins and outs. He's full of
juice and vinegar, just waiting…for a big shot like you to put on
the squeeze.

What does "full of juice and vinegar" mean?

Best Answer

As @Micheal_Harvey has mentioned, the original phrase is "full of piss and vinegar":

To say that people are “full of piss and vinegar” is to say that they are brimming with energy. Although many speakers assume the phrase must have a negative connotation, this expression is more often used as a compliment, “vinegar” being an old slang term for enthusiastic energy Source

So the story is telling us that Dallas is super energetic.

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