# Phrases used in popular culture that you don't know the definition of(explanations) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 27, 2003, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-used-in-popular-culture-that-you-dont-know-the-definition-of-explanations/184877 "2003-06-27T23:09:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Aslan\_of\_Narnia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@Aslan\_of\_Narnia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aslan_of_Narnia)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-used-in-popular-culture-that-you-dont-know-the-definition-of-explanations/184877/1 "2003-06-27T23:09:43Z")
I was wondering what Otaku meant, I’ve heard it mentioned a lot in reference to anime. I’ve heard it being mentioned as “Otakuing out”. Also, in wrestling, what is meant by Jobber, Worker, Face, etc.? And I’ll add some defintions: Crisis: DC Comics made many heroes during the 1940s, but most of the superhero comics died out in the late 40s/50s. DC started producing more superhero comics around 1956, some of which were heroes that updated the old ones that were created in the 40s. To explain how their was two flashes(among other updates), they made two different earths in which the 1940s heroes resided and another for the modern ones. In 1984 the multiple/alternate earth things was causing major continuity/writing problems, so they created the crisis. The Crisis wiped out all but one of the earths, merging various concepts of the earths into some of the heroes. Currently, I believe their is only two earths, Earth 2 and Earth Prime(which happens to be the one we live in). Zero Hour: A follow-up to the Crisis, to clear up all the problems created by the merging of concepts and continuitys. Hypertime: It changes the events set up in Crisis, making everything that happend in the DC Universe was canon, even if it didn’t really occur to the heroes. 😕 Perhaps somebody could explain better? ---
**Author:** ![Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df788c/32.png) [@Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ben)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-used-in-popular-culture-that-you-dont-know-the-definition-of-explanations/184877/2 "2003-06-27T23:23:06Z")
“Otaku” is basically an anime fan, IIUC. I believe it comes from a Japanese word for “person,” and that particular word choice is, for some reason, popular among Otaku? I’d like a definition of “playa hayta”. ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-used-in-popular-culture-that-you-dont-know-the-definition-of-explanations/184877/3 "2003-06-27T23:27:23Z")
I would like a definition of “chewing the scenery.” I had originally assumed it referred to people who overacted, but I see it used positively rather often. ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-used-in-popular-culture-that-you-dont-know-the-definition-of-explanations/184877/4 "2003-06-27T23:29:33Z")
Here’s one: “Word.” What the heck does that mean? And if someone says “Word to yo mama”, is that an insult? ---
**Author:** ![PigArcher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bcef8e/32.png) [@PigArcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PigArcher)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-used-in-popular-culture-that-you-dont-know-the-definition-of-explanations/184877/5 "2003-06-27T23:33:08Z")
Fo shizle my nizzle? I have no idea what that means, or what the correct spelling is even, but I keep hearing it more and more. > [@](#): > > I’d like a definition of “playa hayta”. In what context have you seen this used? My WAG is that it’s a corrupted spelling of “Player Hater,” i.e. someone who hates players. A player, if I understand correctly, is a womanizer, especially one who is deceptive and manipulative. Whether or not this is a good thing is a little vague. ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-used-in-popular-culture-that-you-dont-know-the-definition-of-explanations/184877/6 "2003-06-27T23:33:20Z")
I think “word to your motha” is an insult. To translate figuratively, it’s along the lines of “that’s not what your mother said last night!” In other words, give a word to your mother for me, as I’ve been sleeping with her. (This has to be the squarest reply to the SDMB ever.) ---
**Author:** ![Tanaqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Tanaqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanaqui)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-used-in-popular-culture-that-you-dont-know-the-definition-of-explanations/184877/7 "2003-06-28T00:06:04Z")
> [@](#): > > “Word.” I think it’s basically just meant to exress agreement, along the lines of “right on!,” “I agree with you in every particular,” or just “yes, exactly.” ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-used-in-popular-culture-that-you-dont-know-the-definition-of-explanations/184877/8 "2003-06-28T00:13:31Z")
Thanks for the current definition of “Word.” Hey, I’m a middle-aged white guy. I’m out of the demographic of people who go around saying stuff like that. Actually, I’m more in the demographic of people who would not feel uncomfortable still saying “right on!” ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-used-in-popular-culture-that-you-dont-know-the-definition-of-explanations/184877/9 "2003-06-28T01:50:47Z")
In rasslin’, a “jobber” is one of the no-name bums who shows up just to get beaten. I don’t know what a “worker” or a “face” is. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-used-in-popular-culture-that-you-dont-know-the-definition-of-explanations/184877/10 "2003-06-28T02:01:37Z")
**tjblack** You’ve provided about 75% of the “player-hater” definition. Let’s talk about the “player” and “hater” more. What people call dating, womanizing, picking up tricks, balling at the club – it’s all just a game. A true **player** excels at the game, usually by morphing himself at whatever time he chooses as whatever he _thinks_ the woman wants to see, hear, believe. Yes, a player is a manipulative liar: he has to be. A true player is largely inaccessible, unknowable, highly desirable and everywhere. My own personal definition of “players” is that they are males or lesbians with doggish male tendencies. Now, a **hater** is someone in the game-- typically male but not always-- who’s no damn GOOD at the game, who knows a player and TRIES to fuck a player’s game: i.e., calling him out on lies, telling the girl about his past dealings with women, getting in his business, or outright lying on the man and trading on his dubious reputation. These actions, in the game, are a huge no-no. You cannot call yourself somebody’s friend and player hate. **Player hating** is not to be confused with **cockblocking** , in which two or more males vie for a woman’s attentions and affections using every trick in the book they can think of, legit and dirty. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Rhosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sir\_Rhosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Rhosis)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-used-in-popular-culture-that-you-dont-know-the-definition-of-explanations/184877/11 "2003-06-28T02:06:59Z")
Hayley Mills was in a film (a darn good one, pre-Disney), based on a novel by her mother Mary Hayley Bell, called **Whistle Down The Wind**. The movie is about three farm kids who find an escaped convict in their hayloft whom they believe to be Jesus. But what does the title refer to? I’ve always sorta thought it might mean an exercise in futility, as in “You’d have better luck trying to whistle down the wind than…” Sir Rhosis ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Rhosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sir\_Rhosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Rhosis)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-used-in-popular-culture-that-you-dont-know-the-definition-of-explanations/184877/12 "2003-06-28T02:15:18Z")
**Lisa-Go-Blind** , you’re correct in your definition of chewing the scenery. Sometimes it is just bad acting and irritating, and sometimes it is enjoyable in its own way. Think of how much fun it is seeing Ricardo Montalban chew up everything in sight in **The Wrath of Khan**. So it can be used insultingly, or one can use it in good fun. Sir Rhosis ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-used-in-popular-culture-that-you-dont-know-the-definition-of-explanations/184877/13 "2003-06-28T02:39:51Z")
I believe “cockblocking” can also be when a woman deliberately arouses her date, only to abruptly refuse sex at the last moment. ---
**Author:** ![Stephi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Stephi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephi)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-used-in-popular-culture-that-you-dont-know-the-definition-of-explanations/184877/14 "2003-06-28T02:45:44Z")
Miller, I always thought that was called “cockteasing.” Oh well, I learn something new everyday. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-used-in-popular-culture-that-you-dont-know-the-definition-of-explanations/184877/15 "2003-06-28T03:16:59Z")
Ok, this is a great chance for me to find out what the following mean: 1. Bling-bling. I’ve heard this but have no idea what it means! ESPN ran a promo for the College World Series that said “More ping. Less bling.” So I’m guessing a “bling” is a bad thing. 2. “Bool” (??) My officemate always calls his wife “Bool” (I’m not sure if I’m spelling this right, but this is how he says it) when talking to her on the phone. Maybe it is a pet phrase for them with no outside meaning? I’d just ask, but don’t want to be seen like a ignoramus if this is a common/hip term of endearment. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-used-in-popular-culture-that-you-dont-know-the-definition-of-explanations/184877/16 "2003-06-28T03:17:09Z")
[This page](http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-che2.htm) gives some origin to chewing the scenery; > [@](#): > > It’s from the acting profession, all right, and means to over-act, over-emote, or ham it up in a synthetic frenzy so great that you might even start biting chunks out of the set. > > Sometimes it is used almost as praise, suggesting an actor who is energetic and active. I can’t find it on any of my favorite word pages online, but I’ve also read it used in the sense of “the actor did everything but chew the scenery” to emphasize just how extreme the acting was. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-used-in-popular-culture-that-you-dont-know-the-definition-of-explanations/184877/17 "2003-06-28T03:17:25Z")
**Lisa-Go-Blind:** nice succinct explanation of ‘Word to Your Mother.’ **Miller:** While cockblocking and cockteasing may both result in blue balls-- no. The terms are not interchangeable because the actions are dissimilar. One is a false lead-on, the other is an active interference with another’s ability to woo. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-used-in-popular-culture-that-you-dont-know-the-definition-of-explanations/184877/18 "2003-06-28T03:31:38Z")
I’m not exactly sure of what you are saying, Askia. The most consistent use of _cockteaser_ that I have heard of is a female who leads a man on to the point of extreme arousal, knowing full well that there will be no nookie. It doesn’t embarrass me to talk about that, but I am _so_ ashamed to ask the meaning of a word I’m seeing everywhere these days: _blog_. Is that sort of like a written sound bite? No? Then what?:o ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-used-in-popular-culture-that-you-dont-know-the-definition-of-explanations/184877/19 "2003-06-28T03:41:29Z")
**divemaster:** “Boo” is general term of affection. Like “Dear”, “Sweetheart”, etc. My ex used to call me that. “Bling Bling” is a hip hop term referring to all things shiny and expensive, but esp. jewelry. Popularized by Cash Money Millionaires’ song of the same name. **Zoe** That’s the PERFECT definition of cock_teasing_, which a woman does: refuses sex. Cock_blocking_ is a guy thing, (and based on all the confusion I’m seeing, possibly a young black guy thing) The object is to PREVENT a guy from getting sex. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-used-in-popular-culture-that-you-dont-know-the-definition-of-explanations/184877/20 "2003-06-28T03:48:43Z")
[Bling Bling.](http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1471629/20030430/bg.jhtml?headlines=true) I just learned Cash Money Millionaires _invented_ “Bling Bling.” Well, well. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-used-in-popular-culture-that-you-dont-know-the-definition-of-explanations/184877.md?page=2)