# "Do me a solid" - does anyone actually say this? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 31, 2012, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-me-a-solid-does-anyone-actually-say-this/611347 "2012-01-31T22:33:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-me-a-solid-does-anyone-actually-say-this/611347/1 "2012-01-31T22:33:55Z")
I’ve been watching a US sitcom recently and the phrase “do me a solid”, as in do me a favour, has been used several times. Has anyone had first hand experience of this being used in conversation? “Do me a solid” sounds like a command you give to a patient when requesting a stool sample. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-me-a-solid-does-anyone-actually-say-this/611347/2 "2012-01-31T22:35:26Z")
It was more popular back in the early 90’s, if I recall. I used to say it occasionally; now I do sometimes just to be all nostalgic-like. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-me-a-solid-does-anyone-actually-say-this/611347/3 "2012-01-31T22:36:12Z")
I have heard it used in the US. Not very often, though. It may be regional. ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-me-a-solid-does-anyone-actually-say-this/611347/4 "2012-01-31T22:39:09Z")
My ex says it. He means it to be in a throwback, Linc from Mod Squad kind of way. He wouldn’t say it in a business situation. ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-me-a-solid-does-anyone-actually-say-this/611347/5 "2012-01-31T22:39:19Z")
I do. But then again, I saw that episode of _Seinfeld_ too. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-me-a-solid-does-anyone-actually-say-this/611347/6 "2012-01-31T22:40:27Z")
Yes. It’s what you say when you try to get someone to do you a favor you would never do for them. ---
**Author:** ![ShelliBean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@ShelliBean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShelliBean)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-me-a-solid-does-anyone-actually-say-this/611347/7 "2012-01-31T23:03:04Z")
My kids say it - I think they got it from Adventure Time or Regular Show. I heard one say to the other just the other day “Hey, you do me a solid and keep being awesome.” I think there were “finger guns” involved as well. ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-me-a-solid-does-anyone-actually-say-this/611347/8 "2012-01-31T23:04:22Z")
> [@ShelliBean](#): > > My kids say it - I think they got it from Adventure Time or Regular Show. I heard one say to the other just the other day “Hey, you do me a solid and keep being awesome.” I think there were “finger guns” involved as well. Yup - sounds like Cougar Town alright 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-me-a-solid-does-anyone-actually-say-this/611347/9 "2012-01-31T23:09:53Z")
It’s in semi-regular parlance in my social circle. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-me-a-solid-does-anyone-actually-say-this/611347/10 "2012-01-31T23:18:20Z")
I’ve only heard it on _Seinfeld_. ---
**Author:** ![breezman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@breezman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/breezman)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-me-a-solid-does-anyone-actually-say-this/611347/11 "2012-01-31T23:36:04Z")
I had only heard it on Regular Show, but my wife says she has heard it. ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-me-a-solid-does-anyone-actually-say-this/611347/12 "2012-02-01T00:19:35Z")
> [@Illuminatiprimus](#): > > Yup - sounds like Cougar Town alright 🙂 That was Regular Show allright. That episode was pretty funny actually. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-me-a-solid-does-anyone-actually-say-this/611347/13 "2012-02-01T00:22:14Z")
I say it sparingly, and it usually draws a laugh (and that’s good when you’re looking for someone to do you a favor). ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-me-a-solid-does-anyone-actually-say-this/611347/14 "2012-02-01T00:27:09Z")
Well, shit - I live under a rock then. I don’t recall any Seinfeld references, and I’ve never heard it get a laugh either. It’s just a way of saying “Hey, I REALLY need a favor, and you’re not gonna like it too much …” Which, come to think of it, could still be an aspect of the stool-sample scenario\*\* in the OP. \*\* Say THAT five times fast! ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-me-a-solid-does-anyone-actually-say-this/611347/15 "2012-02-01T00:30:51Z")
I had someone say it to me _once_. And then I told everyone I knew about him saying it and we all laughed. But in my defense, I did the favor. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-me-a-solid-does-anyone-actually-say-this/611347/16 "2012-02-01T01:17:43Z")
Bill Murray said it to David Letterman way back when. It was the first show after Letterman moved to CBS from NBC. I remember this as though it happened yesterday, but don’t ask me to recall my own cell phone number. mmm ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-me-a-solid-does-anyone-actually-say-this/611347/17 "2012-02-01T09:03:16Z")
> [@Illuminatiprimus](#): > > “Do me a solid” sounds like a command you give to a patient when requesting a stool sample. I was looking for the Cyanide and Happiness comic that portrays this very thing, but they’re blocked at work. No one says it in my social circles, but it does make me think of someone’s asking for my leavings. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-me-a-solid-does-anyone-actually-say-this/611347/18 "2012-02-01T09:06:23Z")
I’ve heard people say it, so, yeah. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-me-a-solid-does-anyone-actually-say-this/611347/19 "2012-02-01T16:03:18Z")
The one and only time I recall hearing it was in _The Incredibles_. I must have seen the _Seinfeld_ you’re talking about, but I don’t remember it. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-me-a-solid-does-anyone-actually-say-this/611347/20 "2012-02-01T16:14:13Z")
> [@ShelliBean](#): > > My kids say it - I think they got it from Adventure Time or Regular Show. I heard one say to the other just the other day “Hey, you do me a solid and keep being awesome.” I think there were “finger guns” involved as well. My 7-year-old says it, and I suspected one of these programs, which he lives for. It’s pretty humorous coming from a cute little kid. Of course I now ask him to do me solids all the time: pick up your toys, put on your pants, stop shrieking at the top of your lungs, etc. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-me-a-solid-does-anyone-actually-say-this/611347.md?page=2)