Also common here in Central NC.
Philly area. I’ve been hearing it for years, probably my whole life.
Honeymooners episode “Head of the House” (1956)
Ralph: “How did you get that bump on your head?”
Ed: “I told Trixie that I’m going to play pool with you and she can either like it or lump it. She lumped it.”
Yep. My whole life.
Northeast. Heard it all my life, but infrequently. I’ve never heard of a specific definition for ‘lump it’, but the meaning is clear.
Raised on east coast, heard and used it often.
“lump it” seems to mean disagree but put up with something.
A WordOrigins discussion has this to say. Another site says this.
Yeah, those convey the meaning. It’s basically saying something is going to happen whether you like it or not. The implication is that complaining is futile. I’d guess it’s more about the alliteration than any specific definition of ‘lump it’.
As far as the entomology goes, I had always assumed that it referred to gravy, with gravy being considered a “treat” with “Dinner” (not “supper”). If poorly mixed, the gravy would be lumpy. So, you had a choice to “like it” and be grateful for it, or you could “lump it” and complain about the lumps in the gravy. Either choice would not change the gravy, only your perception of it.
I’ve heard it all my life (since the 1960s anyway). I am not sure if I just assumed the above from context as a child, or if it was what I was told when I asked what it meant. It really could be either, since I probably did ask (I asked a lot of questions as a kid), but my siblings were as likely to tell me “I’ll tell you when you’re older” than anything else, particularly if they did not know. In the absence of a believable explanation, I would have made up my own, so I really don’t know where this came from. I was hoping this thread would solve this lifelong mystery for me.
I guess I’ll have to dig some more…
excavating (for a mind)
Know it. TN.
Yep, absolutely. PA, born in 1978. I’ve always heard it as “take it or leave it.”
Grew up with it, have used it in the last year or so. Born in 73, lived in NJ until mid 90s.
Joe
New Zealand, common phrase.
25 years old here, grew up in Oregon, lived in Texas for 3 years now, never heard it. But I like the way it sounds.
Familiar. Former Alaska of 41 years here…I don’t use it any more, but I do remember hearing it and using it quite a bit as a teen and young 20 something (1970s and 80s).
Sydney, Australia.
Know it and use it.
Canadian. Know the phrase. (Newfoundland born, live in Ontario, heard it in both places.) Never use it, but know it.
I don’t think that means quite the same thing - “like it or lump it” - at least in my understanding, means the option to leave it is not available - the choices are: take it willingly/take it unwillingly, but without complaint.
I am a Chicago girl, heard it often but never really knew what it meant. I always guessed it was similar to take it or leave it.
Born and raised in SE Michigan.
Never heard that phrase in my life.
UK, heard it all my life. The only other time I’ve hear lump used in this context was a radio feature called “Lump him or dump him” which polled listeners on the shortcomings of someone’s husband/boyfriend.