"Making love" in the 1930s.

[SquishySquirmy]

When did the term "making love" start meaning what it does today?
I am sure I have read classic literature where the term is used but doesn't seem to refer to sex - it seems to mean something more like courting or even heavy flattery.
But I am currently reading a book written and set in the 1930s which uses this term. Does anyone know what this term would typically mean to readers in the 1930s?
It's annoying me because in the context it could mean either, but obviously completely changes the meaning of the scene!

Does anyone use the term 'making love' nowadays? I thought it was dismissed as coy ick-talk that died out years ago. Is it back in fashion or have people been 'making love' for decades while my back was turned?

Sounds like a Barry White thing.

My DP uses it.

In my grandmother’s large collection of Mills and Boon that I inherited, mostly published between the 30s and 60s, I would say the term in the earlier books was definitely that of heavy kissing rather than sex. It’s only in the later books where it seems to have more of a ‘wink wink’ to it as a term.

So, in short, I’d read it contextually - if the author seems a bit outré in other aspects of the book, I’d think it was sex, but if you don’t get that vibe I’d say it’s much more likely to be snogging!

It means 'pitching woo' as a PP said.

Lots of 'Oh Darling!', 'Oh Reginald!' and maybe but not necessarily some demure kissing.

A bit of a tangent but...

When my grandparents were first introduced (in church!), my grandma apparently said "Alfred? Well that's a name to go to bed with!" and he apparently replied, "You never know pet, some day you might!"

This would have been in the 1930s I think, when 'to go to bed with' apparently similarly didn't necessarily mean actually having sex...

I think " going to bed " always meant sex . " Making love' seemed to mean loving talk, kissing etc until about the 50's , after which it meant having sex. Funny how language evolves, isn't it.

@CamsPaisleyCuffs

In the 1946 film It's a Wonderful Life, Mary exclaims "He's making violent love to me, Mother." (Mother is in a different room and there's not a chance Geroge Bailey was sexually assaulting Mary).

"Making love" was used to describe merely romance or courting. In fact George though "a little passionate necking" to be rather risqué".

Yes, this was the film I was watching. Also heard it in another film recently, similar period but can’t remember which film.. !