# let's blow this popsicle stand **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 27, 2003, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-blow-this-popsicle-stand/209808 "2003-10-27T07:40:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![seaworthy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@seaworthy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seaworthy)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-blow-this-popsicle-stand/209808/1 "2003-10-27T07:40:19Z")
3 questions about some phrases I hear a lot. Is it “let’s blow this popsicle stand” or “let’s blow this pop stand”? Or maybe, since I’ve never seen a popsicle OR a pop stand, it’s hot dog or pretzel stand. Any theories on the origins of the expression “3 sheets to the wind”? And finally, how many ways to Sunday do you beat someone? Or is it from Sunday? ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-blow-this-popsicle-stand/209808/2 "2003-10-27T07:54:51Z")
[Wordorigins.org](http://www.wordorigins.org/wordort.htm): > [@](#): > > The phrase dates to 1821. The sheet is a reference to a rope on a sailboat. To have a sheet loose in the wind is bad seamanship, to have three loose means you are not capable of controlling the boat. Occasionally you will see one sheet to the wind meaning half-drunk. ---
**Author:** ![thatDDperson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de0a6/32.png) [@thatDDperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thatDDperson)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-blow-this-popsicle-stand/209808/3 "2003-10-27T08:03:13Z")
FROM: [bartleby.com](http://bartleby.com) The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. 2002. To be “three sheets to the wind” is to be drunk. The sheet is the line that controls the sails on a ship. If the line is not secured, the sail flops in the wind, and the ship loses headway and control. If all three sails are loose, the ship is out of control. Here’s all the pertinent legal stuff on the quotation. There was not enough to do just a bit, then reference it, so there we are… (The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. Edited by E.D. Hirsch, Jr., Joseph F. Kett, and James Trefil. Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. ) How can you be seaworthy and not know that?? As to the other two…I’ve always heard “sodapop stand” more that popsicle, and that’s six ways from Sunday. ---
**Author:** ![seaworthy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@seaworthy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seaworthy)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-blow-this-popsicle-stand/209808/4 "2003-10-27T08:13:47Z")
I’d figured out the “sheets” part, but the number 3 seemed rather arbitrary considering the number of sails found on most tall ships. But it was the other 2 that really bothered me as I can’t seem to find a common usage. I thought it had to do with geographic location, because here in the south we don’t call it soda pop, but I have a friend from Ohio who says it’s popsicle. And the other one, well, I’ve heard 6, 7, and 9 ways to Sunday, 7 ways from Sunday, and now 6 ways from Sunday. I have a feeling this is going to just confuse me. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-blow-this-popsicle-stand/209808/5 "2003-10-27T13:42:10Z")
“Let’s blow this town!” – Oscar Wilde 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-blow-this-popsicle-stand/209808/6 "2003-10-27T15:31:25Z")
And leaving aside the stupid homophobia… The number of ways to beat someone to Sunday is six. I interpret this to mean that since there are six days in a week leading up to Sunday, you’re beating someone every day, once a day. I have always heard “pop stand.” ---
**Author:** ![tanookie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/48db29/32.png) [@tanookie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanookie)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-blow-this-popsicle-stand/209808/7 "2003-10-27T15:47:15Z")
Just to confuse the issue further… we say: ‘Let’s blow this clam bake’ 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-blow-this-popsicle-stand/209808/8 "2003-10-27T15:57:35Z")
I’ve heard popsicle stand most of the time. I haven’t heard “pop” stand, but I understand that’s a regionalism some weird folks Up Nawth say. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-blow-this-popsicle-stand/209808/9 "2003-10-27T16:25:52Z")
> [@](#): > > And leaving aside the stupid homophobia… :rolleyes: “Joke”. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-blow-this-popsicle-stand/209808/10 "2003-10-27T16:29:09Z")
Just a guess: The phrase was originally “Let’s blow this pop stand” (there are stands, such as along a beach boardwalk or at a stadium, that just sell soda pop), when “pop stand” was a term of derision for a cheap bar. But maybe because people in certain parts of the U.S. refuse to use the unfamiliar slang term “pop”, they changed it to the more familiar, Popsicle[sup]®[/sup], although the original meaning of the phrase got lost. ---
**Author:** ![seaworthy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@seaworthy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seaworthy)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-blow-this-popsicle-stand/209808/11 "2003-10-27T16:37:31Z")
pop stand is a term of derision for a cheap bar? That’s odd. But see, the whole point of asking this was for everyone to tell me that it was popsicle and that my friend was strangely mistaken. Hmm… I just hate the word pop (when referring to soda) almost as much as the words panties and cream (when not referring to the stuff that comes from milk). ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-blow-this-popsicle-stand/209808/12 "2003-10-27T17:32:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by seaworthy \* > **pop stand is a term of derision for a cheap bar? That’s odd.** What’s odd about it? ---
**Author:** ![seaworthy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@seaworthy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seaworthy)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-blow-this-popsicle-stand/209808/13 "2003-10-27T18:21:43Z")
it’s just odd that until yesterday, I didn’t think such things as pop stands existed (I still haven’t seen one) and now I find out that it’s slang for cheap bar. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-blow-this-popsicle-stand/209808/14 "2003-10-27T18:40:27Z")
[Some examples of pop stands.](http://www.mouseplanet.com/dca/standsbug.jpg) Also found at amusement parks, fairs, zoos, and numerous [other](http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~drclas/publications/revista/Tourism/Pictures/ptorico/pcolada.gif) outdoor tourist attractions. Also known as refreshment stands. ---
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-blow-this-popsicle-stand/209808/15 "2003-10-27T18:45:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Otto \* > \*\*And leaving aside the stupid homophobia… \*\* To echo **Johnny L.A.** : :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![PoorYorick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PoorYorick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorYorick)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-blow-this-popsicle-stand/209808/16 "2003-10-27T18:48:50Z")
I’m not saying this is the true origin of “let’s blow this pop stand,” but I’d always assumed it was this: When I was growing up in Oklahoma (mid to late '60’s), we’d often call Coke and other soft drinks “pop.” Driving around a Sonic or McDonalds (that is, some place that sold soft drinks, a “pop” stand) or whatever in your car was the usual way to see and be seen as a teenager. It wasn’t uncommon to meet with someone there, decide to go some place else, and say, “Let’s blow this pop stand.” You might say the phrase in other venues, but it was pretty much understood in my peer group that “pop stand” meant just that. Yeah, it sounds pretty stupid when I think about it, but the phrase wasn’t that uncommon, and usually seemed to refer to a drive-in. I’ve never heard the phrase “popsicle stand” before. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-blow-this-popsicle-stand/209808/17 "2003-10-27T18:49:09Z")
Oh gee sorry, I forgot the rule about how if you say something bigoted but put a big smiley face after it, it doesn’t count. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-blow-this-popsicle-stand/209808/18 "2003-10-27T19:51:44Z")
Yes, implying that Oscar Wilde enjoyed gay sex is bigoted and means that you fear homosexuals. Meanwhile, let me tell you my joke about Colin Farrell, which implies that he enjoys a lot of straight sex . . . ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-blow-this-popsicle-stand/209808/19 "2003-10-27T21:19:16Z")
Whatever you say Walloon. You’re right as always Walloon. Please be sure to dazzle us more with your insight into what is and is not offensive to others Walloon. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-blow-this-popsicle-stand/209808/20 "2003-10-27T22:05:27Z")
**Otto** : I must say that I don’t appreciate your calling me a bigot. I assure you I am not. Oscar Wilde is well known to have been a homosexual. Many homosexuals engage in oral sex. “Blow” is a euphamism for oral sex. “Let’s blow this town” does not denegrate homosexuals. I don’t see how it can be contorted to imply that homosexuality is “bad”. I made a joke. You didn’t think it was funny. Fine. Not everyone finds all of my jokes funny. But it’s _just a joke_. It’s a witticism derived from the OP. Nothing more. I think you need to lighten up and let this thread return to the the subject of where “Let’s blow this popsicle stand” came from. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-blow-this-popsicle-stand/209808.md?page=2)