# Origins of common slang & tech talk: your everyday language makes you a foul-mouthed weirdo **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 2, 2011, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origins-of-common-slang-tech-talk-your-everyday-language-makes-you-a-foul-mouthed-weirdo/569870 "2011-02-02T06:55:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Karen\_Lingel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karen_lingel/32/18649_2.png) [@Karen\_Lingel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karen_Lingel)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origins-of-common-slang-tech-talk-your-everyday-language-makes-you-a-foul-mouthed-weirdo/569870/21 "2011-02-04T02:43:22Z")
Sort of the opposite direction: “rape” used to mean “abduction”. Steel yourself for this if you ever go to see [The Fantasticks](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fantasticks) – the dad pays a rogue to “rape” his daughter. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origins-of-common-slang-tech-talk-your-everyday-language-makes-you-a-foul-mouthed-weirdo/569870/22 "2011-02-04T03:53:21Z")
> [@ultrafilter](#): > > After all, language never changes; the meaning of words is written in stone for all time. I bet you’re a smash hit at dinner parties. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origins-of-common-slang-tech-talk-your-everyday-language-makes-you-a-foul-mouthed-weirdo/569870/23 "2011-02-04T04:17:42Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > “You’re in like Flynn” is sometimes used innocuously; few remember it came from Errol Flynn’s “wicked wicked ways” with the ladies and the underage girls. EEeeeeeeuuuuw! No, I did NOT know it meant that, I thought it referred to his swashbuckling ways around an adventure (you know, like he sneaks successfully into the bad guy’s haunt to steal the treasure or whatever). Ugh. And thanks a lot you just ruined a fave saying of mine. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Civil\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d78d45/32.png) [@Civil\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Civil_Guy)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origins-of-common-slang-tech-talk-your-everyday-language-makes-you-a-foul-mouthed-weirdo/569870/24 "2011-02-04T05:04:32Z")
Miss Jane and I shall go out for a walk this afternoon, and when I get her somewhere private, I shall endeavor to make love to her. That is, flirt. What, you accuse me of being a a cad? A scoundrel?! Ungentlemanly behavior? Pfah! I say! Pfah! Pistols at dawn! ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origins-of-common-slang-tech-talk-your-everyday-language-makes-you-a-foul-mouthed-weirdo/569870/25 "2011-02-04T05:07:38Z")
It’s not a slang word, but (according to Charles Panati anyway) in the 17th and 18th centuries enemas were all the rage especially among the upper classes and, as they were thought to _restore_ the humors and fluids to their most healthy state, were called restaurants or ristorantes depending upon where you lived. ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origins-of-common-slang-tech-talk-your-everyday-language-makes-you-a-foul-mouthed-weirdo/569870/26 "2011-02-04T05:46:05Z")
I don’t allow the kids to say suck, and when they look shocked or ask me why, I tell them that is something they need to ask their parents when they get home. I think I’m the only teacher in the building who neither allows it nor uses it (in front of the students). ---
**Author:** ![Fugazi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f08c70/32.png) [@Fugazi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fugazi)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origins-of-common-slang-tech-talk-your-everyday-language-makes-you-a-foul-mouthed-weirdo/569870/27 "2011-02-04T07:40:17Z")
> [@Pai325](#): > > I don’t allow the kids to say suck, and when they look shocked or ask me why, I tell them that is something they need to ask their parents when they get home. I think I’m the only teacher in the building who neither allows it nor uses it (in front of the students). Really? That blows ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origins-of-common-slang-tech-talk-your-everyday-language-makes-you-a-foul-mouthed-weirdo/569870/28 "2011-02-04T07:41:19Z")
I’m pretty sure the common use of “sucks” was proven in one thread to have evolved independently of its sexual usage. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origins-of-common-slang-tech-talk-your-everyday-language-makes-you-a-foul-mouthed-weirdo/569870/29 "2011-02-04T07:44:20Z")
Wasn’t there a thread recently where it was debated without definite conclusion whether “sucks” refers to fellatio or comes from the British football cheer “Rah! Boo! Sucks to you!”? ETA: Yeah, what **BigT** said. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origins-of-common-slang-tech-talk-your-everyday-language-makes-you-a-foul-mouthed-weirdo/569870/30 "2011-02-04T13:37:55Z")
> [@Noel\_Prosequi](#): > > Wasn’t rock’n’roll a not so cleverly disguised euphemism for gettin’ jiggy? Hmm - let’s review: > [@](#): > > Good Golly, Miss Molly - sure like to ball, > Good Golly, Miss molly - ya sure like to ball, > When you’re rockin’ and a rollin’ - can’t hear your momma call …perhaps. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origins-of-common-slang-tech-talk-your-everyday-language-makes-you-a-foul-mouthed-weirdo/569870/31 "2011-02-04T14:25:19Z")
“Rock Around The Clock” makes a bit more sense in that context as well. ---
**Author:** ![Shmendrik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shmendrik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shmendrik)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origins-of-common-slang-tech-talk-your-everyday-language-makes-you-a-foul-mouthed-weirdo/569870/32 "2011-02-04T14:34:55Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > She’s full of spunk - spunk was originally semen No it wasn’t. It was originally tinder or “touchwood”, which leads to the first informal meaning of “plucky or courageous”. ETA: I just realized I made this assertion to someone called **WordMan**. Still think I’m right though. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origins-of-common-slang-tech-talk-your-everyday-language-makes-you-a-foul-mouthed-weirdo/569870/33 "2011-02-04T14:36:56Z")
“Intercourse” has yet to be mentioned? It means “talk.” ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origins-of-common-slang-tech-talk-your-everyday-language-makes-you-a-foul-mouthed-weirdo/569870/34 "2011-02-04T15:13:36Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > “Intercourse” has yet to be mentioned? It means “talk.” Are you sure you don’t mean “discourse”? I think “intercourse” is synonymous with any interaction, whether it be verbal, sexual, or other. ---
**Author:** ![PoorYorick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PoorYorick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorYorick)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origins-of-common-slang-tech-talk-your-everyday-language-makes-you-a-foul-mouthed-weirdo/569870/35 "2011-02-04T15:16:17Z")
Again in the opposite direction – My mother-in-law told my wife once that she had a “hickey” on her chin. It took me a minute to realize that she meant “pimple.” ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origins-of-common-slang-tech-talk-your-everyday-language-makes-you-a-foul-mouthed-weirdo/569870/36 "2011-02-04T15:55:04Z")
> [@Shmendrik](#): > > No it wasn’t. It was originally tinder or “touchwood”, which leads to the first informal meaning of “plucky or courageous”. > > ETA: I just realized I made this assertion to someone called **WordMan**. Still think I’m right though. It’s okay - my dad called me \*\*shmendrick \*\*on a regular basis…😉 I think my ignorance is fought - a quick online check showed three references to your word origin. On Urban Dictionary, they unsurprisingly focus on the semen-related definitions… ---
**Author:** ![Dan\_Norder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4af34b/32.png) [@Dan\_Norder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dan_Norder)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2011, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origins-of-common-slang-tech-talk-your-everyday-language-makes-you-a-foul-mouthed-weirdo/569870/37 "2011-02-12T03:14:17Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > “You’re in like Flynn” is sometimes used innocuously; few remember it came from Errol Flynn’s “wicked wicked ways” with the ladies and the underage girls. [Not necessarily.](http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-inl1.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2011, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origins-of-common-slang-tech-talk-your-everyday-language-makes-you-a-foul-mouthed-weirdo/569870/38 "2011-02-12T08:17:29Z")
OP is a berk. Rhyming slang, where as usual the actual rhyme has bee elided. “Berkshire Hunt” = you work it out [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origins-of-common-slang-tech-talk-your-everyday-language-makes-you-a-foul-mouthed-weirdo/569870.md?page=1)