# Do non-Jews take haircuts? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 12, 2015, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-non-jews-take-haircuts/717485 "2015-04-12T14:21:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2015, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-non-jews-take-haircuts/717485/1 "2015-04-12T14:21:31Z")
Question #34577 in my series on Yinglish. By my anecdotal evidence, non-Jews get their haircut, or have their haircut, or go for a haircut, and Ive noticed that most (NYC) Jews I’ve met–when my awareness of ethnic background and arousal of linguistic inquiry coincided–take a haircut, as I do, which I’ve been told sounds a little off. My _frisseur extraordinaire_ is not fluent in idiomatic English, so he can’t be relied on for further data. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2015, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-non-jews-take-haircuts/717485/2 "2015-04-12T14:25:25Z")
I get a haircut (no space) or go get my hair cut (space). ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2015, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-non-jews-take-haircuts/717485/3 "2015-04-12T14:33:16Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > I get a haircut (no space) or go get my hair cut (space). Yes, my first reaction, too. I live in NYC and of my Jewish male acquaintances, I’ve never heard “take a haircut.” Or from anyone for that matter. It does sound off. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2015, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-non-jews-take-haircuts/717485/4 "2015-04-12T14:34:20Z")
I’m a Jew whose family is all from the NY/NJ area, and I’ve never heard the term “take a haircut”. ---
**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:** [April 12, 2015, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-non-jews-take-haircuts/717485/5 "2015-04-12T14:34:54Z")
This sounds more like an NYC thing than a Jewish thing. You might find the same phrase used among various immigrant or closed culture groups. It reminds me of my grandmothers phraseology such as “Close the light”. ---
**Author:** ![TwoCarrotSnowman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twocarrotsnowman/32/15879_2.png) [@TwoCarrotSnowman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwoCarrotSnowman)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2015, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-non-jews-take-haircuts/717485/6 "2015-04-12T14:36:16Z")
British non-Jew here. I would “go and get my hair cut” or “have a haircut” or “go for a haircut” or “get my hair cut”. Well, I would if I had any hair. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2015, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-non-jews-take-haircuts/717485/7 "2015-04-12T14:52:26Z")
I get \*all \*of my hairs cut. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2015, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-non-jews-take-haircuts/717485/8 "2015-04-12T14:58:32Z")
I never “take” or “have” a haircut. I “get” a haircut. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2015, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-non-jews-take-haircuts/717485/9 "2015-04-12T15:07:02Z")
Cajuns get their hair_s_ cut. Americans “take a piss,” while Britons “have a pee.” But American mothers don’t take a baby unless they’re deranged. Americans make decisions, Britons take them. And tea, and everything else they eat or drink, while Americans “take” only medicine. The a Welsh in particular “take.” Because they’re theives. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2015, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-non-jews-take-haircuts/717485/10 "2015-04-12T15:13:58Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > And tea, and everything else they eat or drink, while Americans “take” only medicine. We do take our medicine. But we also take a seat, take our place, take our time, take a look, and take care. But we’re Americans, so we don’t take any shit. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2015, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-non-jews-take-haircuts/717485/11 "2015-04-12T15:40:03Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > This sounds more like an NYC thing than a Jewish thing. No it doesn’t. I live in NYC and have never heard anyone say this. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2015, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-non-jews-take-haircuts/717485/12 "2015-04-12T16:02:46Z")
I was raised Jewish, and lived in or around NYC for 25 years. I never heard of anyone taking a haircut. You can take a bath, take a hike, or take a shit. Not a haircut. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2015, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-non-jews-take-haircuts/717485/13 "2015-04-12T16:22:01Z")
“taking a haircut.” has a meaning entirely divorced from the trimming of hair. The term would not be restricted to the members of any faith or no faith. > [@](#): > > Definition of haircut > > In debt restructuring agreements, a haircut is a percentage reduction of the amount that will be repaid to creditors. For example, when Argentina defaulted on its bonds in 2001 it agreed restructuring terms with over 90 per cent of its creditors which involved haircuts of between 45 per cent and 75 per cent. > **[Financial Times](https://www.ft.com)** > > News, analysis and opinion from the Financial Times on the latest in markets, economics and politics ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2015, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-non-jews-take-haircuts/717485/14 "2015-04-12T16:24:33Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I was raised Jewish, and lived in or around NYC for 25 years. I never heard of anyone taking a haircut. You can take a bath, take a hike, or take a shit. Not a haircut. Never heard it either. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2015, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-non-jews-take-haircuts/717485/15 "2015-04-12T17:14:21Z")
Another NY Jew here who’s never heard the phrase. I have heard “haircut” used in the sense that **bob++** describes above, but not often enough to remember whether it was used with take or something else. > [@TriPolar](#): > > This sounds more like an NYC thing than a Jewish thing. You might find the same phrase used among various immigrant or closed culture groups. It reminds me of my grandmothers phraseology such as “Close the light”. I used “close the light” with my son a couple years ago! He thought that it was the most ridiculous thing he’d ever heard and wasted NO time in telling me that. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2015, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-non-jews-take-haircuts/717485/16 "2015-04-12T17:26:21Z")
I’ve never heard “take a haircut” IRL, across America, the places I’ve lived or traveled to or in movies, books or television. It sounds totally weird to my ears. An no, I am not Jewish. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2015, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-non-jews-take-haircuts/717485/17 "2015-04-12T17:27:44Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > …I used “close the light” with my son a couple years ago! He thought that it was the most ridiculous thing he’d ever heard and wasted NO time in telling me that. We jokingly use “shut off” or “turn on” the window, when we want some light (or less) in the room. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2015, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-non-jews-take-haircuts/717485/18 "2015-04-12T17:38:06Z")
Interestingly, this [presumably modern book on American regionalisms](https://books.google.com/books?id=yXY0yQnvmmUC&pg=PA631&dq=%22take+a+haircut%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=i6wqVdq4ApG1oQSO4oC4DA&ved=0CCcQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22take%20a%20haircut%22&f=false) (Copyright 2000) seems to imply that “taking a haircut” is the usual form of the phrase 😕 : > [@](#): > > **get a haircut** - A New Yorker _gets a haircut_; he or she doesn’t _take a haircut_ as many other Americans do. Few, if any, New Yorkers say “I’m going to take a haircut.” I’ve always known it as “getting a haircut,” and I’m not a New Yorker. I can’t remember anyone anywhere ever saying they’re “taking a haircut.” ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2015, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-non-jews-take-haircuts/717485/19 "2015-04-12T17:42:41Z")
In the rare instance (once every year or two) that my hair is cut, I get a haircut. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2015, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-non-jews-take-haircuts/717485/20 "2015-04-12T17:47:01Z")
And while we’re on the subject of things that are said in a strange way, it took me a long time to get used to hearing the ex say that she was “going to leave the dog out”, when in reality she was going to let the dog out. For a while. (As an ex, I don’t listen to her say that anymore.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-non-jews-take-haircuts/717485.md?page=2)