I must admit, I like this expression. Do we have any William Safires here who can tell me when it originated? I first recall hearing it on MST3K a coiple of years ago, but now it’s become ubiquitous.
Just thought I would share this with you, Eve, I did a search on the internet and found a message where someone was asking “What’s the origin of the phrase ‘Bite Me!’” ?
Unsuspectingly, I clicked on the link “Next Response” and saw [url=http://www.mrcranky.com/movies/antoniasline/2/101.html]this answer[/utl] (warning, not for young eyes.) I don’t suppose this was what you’re looking for.
Upon reflection, it’s probably better that my link was incorrectly UBB-coded. :o
You must call your library and see if they have the Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang! It’s really great, and they use an amazing amount of examples from MST3K.
However, not on “Bite me.” For “Bite me,” they first say it derives from “Bite it” and other related expressions (“Bite the rag,” “Bite the bag,” etc.) going back to 1949; and then for “Bite me” itself they cite Married with Children, 1992.
I’m pretty sure I heard “bite me” from David Letterman, prior to 1992. Anyway, I’ve always assumed it was a TV-ized version of “eat me”.
I used to hear it in high school, back in the 1950s.
Bart Simpson
** Sigh. So many men, so few who can afford me ** Original by Wally
I’ve learned that if someone says something unkind about me, I must live so that no one will believe it.
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It’s 0430 and I haven’t had coffee. Must be time for a WAG.
How about this? “Bite me” (or “Kiss my ass” or whatever) is shorthand for “Perform fellatio on me. This will prove that I am weak and that you can do anything you want to me. I will stop you, proving that I am the stronger, and will cause you great bodily injury.”
“I must leave this planet, if only for an hour.” – Antoine de St. Exupéry
Are you a turtle?
Oh, dear, I hope it wasn’t invented by Letterman or “Married with Children,” or I’ll have to stop using it. Ultress, I thought Bart Simpson’s leitmotif was “eat my shorts,” though I suppose that could involve some residual biting of Bart himself.
Maralinn, thanks for the dictionary reference and Arnie, thanks for the porn. And Crystalguy, you obviously went to the coolest high school in the U.S.!
1992? That can’t be right…
1991 was the golden age of MST3K. Classic episodes like Gamera vs. Barugon, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, The Amazing Colossal Man and Pod People aired in 1991. There must be at least one “bite me” in there somewhere. There’s probably a few in the 1990 episodes, too. I can’t vouch for Letterman or Bart, but I know we can push back the first use of “bite me” past 1992…
I have no idea where this saying comes from,
but my wife of 11 years used it on our third date. From then on, when ever she said “bite me” I gave her a chomp on her A**! Hence, my internet user name! Anyway, I’ve heard this term at least since 1989!
I’m ashamed to admit knowing this but the expression “Bite me, fan-boy!” was a popular taunt among comic book fans back in the '80’s. It originated with the DC character Lobo where I believe it was used to answer reader mail in character.
So, Eve, you were upset thinking you were imitating Letterman or MWC? Do you feel better now that you know you also sound like a comics geek?
Look, the ONLY MST3K that was worth beans were the ones that Joel was in. The new guy is lame, and so are the messed up voices that the bots have now.
Wow, I really miss Joel on the show…
And remember kids, crack doesn’t smoke itself!
what is MST3K? am I just culturally illiterate?
JTI—Yes, you are culturally illiterate, but don’t feel badly. I realize that I never know 50% of what anyone’s talking about, ever.
MST3K is short for the TV show Mystery Science Theater 3000, which went off the air last year after a ten-year run. It bascially made fun of bad movies and at its best was perfectly corking.