# Anyone familiar with this racist term?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-familiar-with-this-racist-term/790936>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [July 10, 2017, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-familiar-with-this-racist-term/790936 "2017-07-10T17:27:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 55

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**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\
**Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-familiar-with-this-racist-term/790936/55 "2017-07-11T13:34:31Z")

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That phrase was common in New England where I (and Dr. Seuss) grew up. It meant that something hidden was making things not work right.

I haven’t heard it in about four decades. And I don’t use the “N-word” though I know a few people to whom it would apply.

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