# On the term "86'd"...
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-term-86d/213919
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports
**Created:** [November 18, 2003, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-term-86d/213919 "2003-11-18T16:23:48Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@jbock220](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jbock220)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2003, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-term-86d/213919/1 "2003-11-18T16:23:48Z")
Interestingly enough, just last night a neighbor mentioned 86 coming from some WWII era plane. Just thought I’d throw that in there.
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### Author:  [@Nangleator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nangleator)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2003, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-term-86d/213919/2 "2003-11-18T16:27:48Z")
I wonder if that’s how Maxwell Smart and his wife got their agent numbers.
99 did seem like a boss on the prowl when Max was being a little too silly.
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### Author:  [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2003, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-term-86d/213919/3 "2003-11-18T19:18:20Z")
Link to the article:
[Where does the term “86” come from?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_291b.html)
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### Author:  [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2003, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-term-86d/213919/4 "2003-11-19T03:00:47Z")
“Coming from” in what way? A model number?
This topic is sounding more and more like the “whole nine yards” thing.
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### Author:  [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2003, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-term-86d/213919/5 "2003-11-19T03:08:19Z")
OMG. I might be on the cuting edge here.
I remember hearing that the term came from Prohibition-era New York. The bar Chuley’s had (and still has) two doors, one main door, and a side door. I think the main door is number 86 on its street.
So when the proprietors were tipped off to a raid by the police, they would make sure that the police came in through the door numbered 86. Thus, “we’ve been 86’ed,” meaning that the jig is up.
But why does “everything’s jake” mean “it’s all good?”
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### Author:  [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2003, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-term-86d/213919/6 "2003-11-19T03:10:55Z")
That theory is being floated in the other thread on this topic. We even have a post from someone who worked there. But no proof originating from the time this was supposed to have started, ie the 1920s.
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### Author:  [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2003, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-term-86d/213919/7 "2003-11-19T03:53:24Z")
> [@](#):
>
> But no proof originating from the time this was supposed to have started, ie the 1920s.
If proof of a Chumley’s origin ever surfaces, you’ll have some surprised etymologists.
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### Author:  [@rezwar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rezwar)
#### Post date: [November 21, 2003, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-term-86d/213919/8 "2003-11-21T00:59:41Z")
my reply is on the other ‘86’ thread, but get a map of arizona to read it,( i should have suggested there)
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### Author:  [@rezwar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rezwar)
#### Post date: [November 21, 2003, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-term-86d/213919/9 "2003-11-21T00:59:51Z")
my reply is on the other ‘86’ thread, but get a map of arizona to read it,( i should have suggested that there)