# Is salty replacing bitter as an adjective to describe that emotion?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-salty-replacing-bitter-as-an-adjective-to-describe-that-emotion/775723>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 27, 2016, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-salty-replacing-bitter-as-an-adjective-to-describe-that-emotion/775723 "2016-12-27T19:14:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Pantastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3bc359/32.png) [@Pantastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pantastic)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2016, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-salty-replacing-bitter-as-an-adjective-to-describe-that-emotion/775723/21 "2016-12-28T22:04:11Z")

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The way I’ve heard it used in online gaming is not just that the person is bitter, but that they’re spewing complaints about some perceived injustice. It’s term making fun of and dismissing the people who constantly complain when they’re not winning.

> [@John\_Lazarus](#):
>
> According to the Online Etymology Dictionary,[4] the U.S. slang sense of \*salty \*meaning angry or irritated was first attested in 1938.

I find it amusing that, aside from slang that specifically references a piece of technology or modern-only phenomenon, someone always seems to find an example of slang being used by ‘kids today’ before WW2.

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**Author:** ![Tom\_Terrific](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tom_terrific/32/342_2.png) [@Tom\_Terrific](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Terrific)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2016, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-salty-replacing-bitter-as-an-adjective-to-describe-that-emotion/775723/22 "2016-12-28T22:37:00Z")

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In the late 60’s and early 70’s salty was used as a way to say someone had a I don’t give a fuck attitude, usually used by Sailors or Marines. Short timers were known for being salty.

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**Author:** ![Trancephalic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trancephalic/32/380_2.png) [@Trancephalic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trancephalic)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2016, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-salty-replacing-bitter-as-an-adjective-to-describe-that-emotion/775723/23 "2016-12-28T23:42:48Z")

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> [@Loach](#):
>
> Yes that is the current usage to a certain subset of mostly younger people. It seems to have come out of gamer culture.

I first heard the word used in the context of a Canadian-produced cartoon (Ed, Edd ‘n’ Eddy) several years ago. Later I again heard it watching the Canadian “Super Best Friends”, who are big, influential gamer celebs.

I just assumed this usage originated in Canada.

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