# "My bad" - phrase origin **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 6, 2002, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bad-phrase-origin/107601 "2002-05-06T19:28:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2002, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bad-phrase-origin/107601/1 "2002-05-06T19:28:22Z")
I’ve only noticed “my bad” being used in the sense of "my mistake’ for the past year or two. It may have been in use for much longer, but since I don’t live in the U.S. I may have missed it. Given that [even Cecil is now using it](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/020503.html), I’ve become curious about its origins. A few questions: How long has it been around? What area/subculture did it originate in? Was it popularized by a specific movie, TV show, or song? ---
**Author:** ![peepthis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9d8465/32.png) [@peepthis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peepthis)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2002, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bad-phrase-origin/107601/2 "2002-05-06T19:50:00Z")
Although it was around before then, I think the movie “Clueless” (in 1995) included it as a catch phrase that brought it to the general public. My guess is that it originated in urban English (ebonics). ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2002, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bad-phrase-origin/107601/3 "2002-05-06T20:03:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by peepthis \* > \*\*Although it was around before then, I think the movie “Clueless” (in 1995) included it as a catch phrase that brought it to the general public. My guess is that it originated in urban English (ebonics). \*\* I’d concur. I first ran into that phrase playing basketball as a youth with folks of all hues, circa 1987. ---
**Author:** ![Amok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f17d59/32.png) [@Amok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amok)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2002, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bad-phrase-origin/107601/4 "2002-05-06T21:39:41Z")
I remember first hearing it in early 90s West Coast rap, though I can’t think of a specific example at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![Saen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d2c977/32.png) [@Saen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saen)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2002, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bad-phrase-origin/107601/5 "2002-05-07T02:19:38Z")
I have used it for years. On fellow asked me if I played volleyball when he heard me say it once. It so happened I was a big volleyball freak at the time and Karch Kiraly was my hero. So of course I said “ummm yeah how’d you guess.” He said that term was used in volleyball but forgot where it originated specifically. ---
**Author:** ![alciabiades\_the\_fair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/da6949/32.png) [@alciabiades\_the\_fair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alciabiades_the_fair)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2002, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bad-phrase-origin/107601/6 "2002-05-07T21:50:50Z")
I always thought it was from the latin phrase “mea culpa” which was popularized in prayer, like this [one.](http://www.oldstmarys.org/sacredliturgy/confiteor.html) (I will not make a Britney Spears joke. I will not.) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2002, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bad-phrase-origin/107601/7 "2002-05-07T21:54:03Z")
My friends and I used in the 7th grade (ca. 1976). We picked it up from the black guys in our school. ---
**Author:** ![tourbot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@tourbot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tourbot)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2002, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bad-phrase-origin/107601/8 "2002-05-07T22:47:51Z")
follow up question: How come nobody says “My good”? Just too humble, or what?