# Progressive Flo: "White Man Putting Cash In Your Pocket"??? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 1, 2011, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/progressive-flo-white-man-putting-cash-in-your-pocket/584022 "2011-06-01T23:55:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/progressive-flo-white-man-putting-cash-in-your-pocket/584022/41 "2011-09-20T23:39:09Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > Just heard it again. I am mildly skeptical, but you might be on to something, especially given the slight affectation she does with her voice that I’d never noticed before. Seems like maybe that was a rough attempt at doing some sort of gruff seafarer voice. Yes she is. I haven’t been able to mis-hear it yet as “white man.” The closest I can think of is “white way of putting cash in your pocket.” But still…it is white whale. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/progressive-flo-white-man-putting-cash-in-your-pocket/584022/42 "2011-09-21T13:03:47Z")
Why would a white whale be putting money in any pockets? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/progressive-flo-white-man-putting-cash-in-your-pocket/584022/43 "2011-09-21T13:41:14Z")
Because it doesn’t have pockets of its own? ---
**Author:** ![3\_20\_59\_or\_bust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/47e85d/32.png) [@3\_20\_59\_or\_bust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3_20_59_or_bust)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/progressive-flo-white-man-putting-cash-in-your-pocket/584022/44 "2011-09-21T15:39:09Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > It’s “It’s the white whale of putting cash in your pocket.” > > I’ve listened to about 140 baseball games on the radio this summer, for a team who’s stadium is owned by Progressive, so I’ve heard this commercial about 140\*9 times. > > It’s definitely “white whale.” > > I’ve ignored this commercial about 130\*9 times so I can’t tell you the plot but it has something to do with huge things, and the huge thing in this phrase is “white whale.” OK, I’ll buy it… But that doesn’t even make sense! So, it’s the “Moby Dick of putting cash in your pocket”??? What the hell does that even mean? ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/progressive-flo-white-man-putting-cash-in-your-pocket/584022/45 "2011-09-21T17:43:52Z")
I heard this commercial exactly once and I also thought it was “white man putting cash in your pocket.” Since I saw this thread way back in June I have not heard the commercial. I’m glad it’s been revived and possibly even solved. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/progressive-flo-white-man-putting-cash-in-your-pocket/584022/46 "2011-09-21T17:50:15Z")
> [@3\_20\_59\_or\_bust](#): > > OK, I’ll buy it… > > But that doesn’t even make sense! So, it’s the “Moby Dick of putting cash in your pocket”??? > > What the hell does that even mean? “For people whose bitch goddess is saving money, this is the holy grail.” Just my way of making sense of it, if that is what she says. I haven’t heard the commercial. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/progressive-flo-white-man-putting-cash-in-your-pocket/584022/47 "2011-09-21T18:47:32Z")
> [@3\_20\_59\_or\_bust](#): > > OK, I’ll buy it… > > But that doesn’t even make sense! So, it’s the “Moby Dick of putting cash in your pocket”??? > > What the hell does that even mean? Again, everything she says in that commercial is about Progressive’s savings being huge in size. First, she just says it’s huge, then she makes Analogy #1, which I’ve forgotten, then Analogy #2, which is apparently that it’s as big as a white whale, then Analogy #3, which is that it’s so big, it can be seen from orbit. “White whale” really does fit here, both in the general context of large things, and also in the order in which she scales up the size of things. ---
**Author:** ![3\_20\_59\_or\_bust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/47e85d/32.png) [@3\_20\_59\_or\_bust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3_20_59_or_bust)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/progressive-flo-white-man-putting-cash-in-your-pocket/584022/48 "2011-09-21T23:19:37Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > Again, everything she says in that commercial is about Progressive’s savings being huge in size. First, she just says it’s huge, then she makes Analogy #1, which I’ve forgotten, then Analogy #2, which is apparently that it’s as big as a white whale, then Analogy #3, which is that it’s so big, it can be seen from orbit. “White whale” really does fit here, both in the general context of large things, and also in the order in which she scales up the size of things. OK, it’s all clear to me now. I’ll just go ahead and move on to solving the US economy crisis. Don’t wait up… ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/progressive-flo-white-man-putting-cash-in-your-pocket/584022/49 "2011-09-23T01:56:32Z")
Just heard this commercial for the first time right now on an Internet radio station I’m listening to. It’s, without a doubt, “white whale,” as **Zipper JJ** says. ---
**Author:** ![Cincoflex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c2a13f/32.png) [@Cincoflex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cincoflex)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2011, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/progressive-flo-white-man-putting-cash-in-your-pocket/584022/50 "2011-09-24T00:21:23Z")
You know, I thought ‘The Messenger’ and Flo were an item too, given how he affectionately he tweaks the Bobble-head of her he has on his dashboard. Boy that sounded filthy . . . . ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2011, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/progressive-flo-white-man-putting-cash-in-your-pocket/584022/51 "2011-09-24T03:38:49Z")
[Paul Whiteman](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oadzppD9Rv8#t=1m51s) putting cash in your pocket? ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2011, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/progressive-flo-white-man-putting-cash-in-your-pocket/584022/52 "2011-09-24T22:48:27Z")
So it’s not a reference to [Wiley’s “Cash in my Pocket”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6bNKS8QAjM)? ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Baroness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aeb1de/32.png) [@Red\_Baroness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Baroness)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2011, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/progressive-flo-white-man-putting-cash-in-your-pocket/584022/53 "2011-09-24T23:10:10Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I think it’s a little suspicious how she never offers any discounts to Asian drivers. hahahahahahahaha 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/progressive-flo-white-man-putting-cash-in-your-pocket/584022/54 "2011-09-26T00:41:11Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > Why would a white whale be putting money in any pockets? To mo’ bedeck them? ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/progressive-flo-white-man-putting-cash-in-your-pocket/584022/55 "2011-09-27T02:58:02Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > “It’s like da man putting cash in your pocket.” > > “Da man” refers to the government, Uncle Sam. You pay taxes to the da man. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2011, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/progressive-flo-white-man-putting-cash-in-your-pocket/584022/56 "2011-09-29T03:05:56Z")
Just heard this today. If she’s not saying white man I’m a Soxfan. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2011, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/progressive-flo-white-man-putting-cash-in-your-pocket/584022/57 "2011-09-29T17:06:43Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > Just heard this today. If she’s not saying white man I’m a Soxfan. I’m going have to grab the audio somehow next time I hear it. I didn’t hear “white man” at all, unless there’s some other commercial. It was clearly “white whale” to me. I’m not even sure how so many people can hear “white man” in it. ---
**Author:** ![Drew\_Barfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@Drew\_Barfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drew_Barfield)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/progressive-flo-white-man-putting-cash-in-your-pocket/584022/58 "2012-01-18T01:08:13Z")
God, I’m glad someone else heard her say “white man” besides me. That commercial has been driving me crazy for months now. ---
**Author:** ![raythrill22](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@raythrill22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raythrill22)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2012, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/progressive-flo-white-man-putting-cash-in-your-pocket/584022/59 "2012-02-28T23:04:22Z")
What is a white whale? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2012, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/progressive-flo-white-man-putting-cash-in-your-pocket/584022/60 "2012-02-28T23:26:22Z")
> [@raythrill22](#): > > What is a white whale? Read post #47. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/progressive-flo-white-man-putting-cash-in-your-pocket/584022.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/progressive-flo-white-man-putting-cash-in-your-pocket/584022.md?page=4)