# Tooth docs: Flouride gel for $45 a gyp? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 22, 2010, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tooth-docs-flouride-gel-for-45-a-gyp/530006 "2010-02-22T18:41:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2010, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tooth-docs-flouride-gel-for-45-a-gyp/530006/21 "2010-02-23T21:52:23Z")
> [@IAmNotSpartacus](#): > > In any event, this is not GD, I am not sure what there is to debate here, factually speaking the term “to gyp” is not universally offensive and it’s not because of ignorance, it’s because the language changes. > > I am sorry you feel the way you do about it, but you are not fighting ignorance, you are furthering it. Can you think of any term that _is_ universally offensive? If not, why even make a point that this term isn’t? ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2010, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tooth-docs-flouride-gel-for-45-a-gyp/530006/22 "2010-02-23T22:27:13Z")
I thought it was the reference to the blood of Abraham that was going to set people off. I got these fluoride treatments all the time as a kid. My current dentist has me brushing with a leave-in fluoride gel after I brush my teeth. My teeth are an ongoing disaster, and I’ve basically funded her kids’ college education, so she gives me the gel at no charge. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2010, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tooth-docs-flouride-gel-for-45-a-gyp/530006/23 "2010-02-23T22:31:37Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > Yes, I find that folks who read racial slurs into innocent terms are usually not niggardly with their criticism. I see what you did there! You thought nobody’d catch your flipping “criticism” out there as a slur against the good people of Crete who stereotypically have nothing nice to say about foreigners. Pig. ---
**Author:** ![IAmNotSpartacus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@IAmNotSpartacus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IAmNotSpartacus)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tooth-docs-flouride-gel-for-45-a-gyp/530006/24 "2010-02-24T02:25:09Z")
> [@tacoloco](#): > > In your opinion, it’s factual that it’s not a slur. I have to assume you overlooked the cites to the dictionary that do not refer to it being a slur. That is not subjective evidence, it’s objective. > [@](#): > > Um, no. You’re the one furthering ignorance by your alleged _factual_ position. Care to offer any facts to support your position? ---
**Author:** ![IAmNotSpartacus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@IAmNotSpartacus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IAmNotSpartacus)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tooth-docs-flouride-gel-for-45-a-gyp/530006/25 "2010-02-24T02:27:21Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Can you think of any term that _is_ universally offensive? If not, why even make a point that this term isn’t? You answered your first question with your second question there, partner. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tooth-docs-flouride-gel-for-45-a-gyp/530006/26 "2010-02-24T04:33:11Z")
You seriously need a cite that gyp is offensive? Ok, here you go. Encarta® World English Dictionary [North American Edition] © 2009: > [@](#): > > gyp [jip] or gip [jip] > transitive verb (past and past participle gypped, present participle gyp·ping, 3rd person present singular gyps) (past and past participle gipped, present participle gip·ping, 3rd person present singular gips) > Definition: > > cheat somebody: to cheat somebody, especially by overcharging ( informal ) > > noun (plural gyps) (plural gips) > Definition: > > 1. scam: a scheme to trick or swindle people ( informal ) > > 2. cheater: a cheater or swindler ( insult ) > > [Late 19th century. Origin ? Sometimes taken to be a shortening of Gypsy and so offensive] > > gyp·per noun (that seems to contradict your assertion that no dictionary lists it as offensive) More cites: > **[Penguin Random House](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/?date=19981008)** > > Committed to publishing great books, connecting readers and authors globally, and spreading the love of reading. > [@](#): > > In relatively recent times–since the mid-1980s or so–some people have objected to the word gyp on the grounds that it is offensive to the Roma… List of Offensive Words That Should be Avoided [http://zoklet.net/totse//en/ego/literary\_genius/terms.html](http://zoklet.net/totse//en/ego/literary_genius/terms.html) > [@](#): > > Gyp: > An offensive term meaning to cheat, derived from gypsy. Banished words: the deeper meaning of slurs [http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=99531&print=1](http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=99531&print=1) > [@](#): > > “Gyp,” “welsh” and “hocus-pocus” are only a few examples of lesser known slurs, which are commonly used to offend a target group. What’s fine for some hurts for others [http://blogs.chron.com/aboutchron/archives/2005/07/\_even\_when\_its.html](http://blogs.chron.com/aboutchron/archives/2005/07/_even_when_its.html) > [@](#): > > The term ‘gyp’ or ‘gypped’ is offensive (perhaps not to everyone), but is just as derogatory as the term ‘jew’ or ‘jewed’, just as much as ‘welsh’ or ‘welshed’. Al Sharpton on ‘Jewing the Numbers’ [http://www.hopeofisrael.net/component/content/article/45-israel-news/465-al-sharpton-on-jewing-the-numbers.html](http://www.hopeofisrael.net/component/content/article/45-israel-news/465-al-sharpton-on-jewing-the-numbers.html) > [@](#): > > “To Jew someone down” is a highly offensive anti-Semitic slur, which Jews like as much as Romany appreciate the phrase “gyp someone,” or as much as people from Wales like the term “welsh on a bet.” I can easily find a lot more cites. Your assertion that gyp is not offensive is, based on this rather huge number of easily obtained cites, downright silly. Can we stop this pointless train wreck of a hijack now? This was supposed to be a thread about teeth. I honestly do not understand why you keep going on about this. ---
**Author:** ![IAmNotSpartacus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@IAmNotSpartacus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IAmNotSpartacus)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tooth-docs-flouride-gel-for-45-a-gyp/530006/27 "2010-02-24T04:39:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\*[Late 19th century. Origin ? Sometimes taken to be a shortening of Gypsy and so offensive] > > \*\* Sometimes? I’m supposed to rely upon that as definitive? And then you use blogs for a cite? You’re correct, we’re done here. I’ll stick with my dictionary, you stick with your blogs. I find it ironic you admit jerry-rig is no longer a pejorative towards Germans but insist that gyp is a pejorative towards Gypsies. ---
**Author:** ![smoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@smoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smoke)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tooth-docs-flouride-gel-for-45-a-gyp/530006/28 "2010-02-24T13:31:39Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > Can we stop this pointless train wreck of a hijack now? This was supposed to be a thread about teeth. I honestly do not understand why you keep going on about this. You helped steered this thread off the cliff, and now you want someone else to stop? ---
**Author:** ![smoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@smoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smoke)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tooth-docs-flouride-gel-for-45-a-gyp/530006/29 "2010-02-24T13:35:12Z")
On the other hand, it was interesting to find out the meaning of hocus-pocus. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tooth-docs-flouride-gel-for-45-a-gyp/530006/30 "2010-02-24T14:48:30Z")
> [@smoke](#): > > On the other hand, it was interesting to find out the meaning of hocus-pocus. To this day i can’t hear “Hocus Pocus” without hearing Bugs Bunny’s volley of incantations: “Abra Cadabra! Hocus Pocus! Abra Capocus! Pocus Cadabra!” ---
**Author:** ![BlinkingDuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@BlinkingDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlinkingDuck)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tooth-docs-flouride-gel-for-45-a-gyp/530006/31 "2010-02-24T15:30:09Z")
> [@Spiff](#): > > Can you ask your question again without the ethic slur? So he should rephrase is as was he jewed? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tooth-docs-flouride-gel-for-45-a-gyp/530006/32 "2010-02-24T15:40:56Z")
From the OED: > [@](#): > > gyp2 > /jip/ informal > > • verb (gypped, gypping) cheat or swindle. > > • noun a swindle. > > — ORIGIN of unknown origin. So it’s certainly not clear that it’s a reference to the Roma(ni). However, I distinctly remember the phrase “thieving gypsy” being common among my peers as a boy, and I don’t think they’re being oversensitive given the probability that it _is_ a reference to them. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tooth-docs-flouride-gel-for-45-a-gyp/530006/33 "2010-02-24T21:45:12Z")
> [@IAmNotSpartacus](#): > > You answered your first question with your second question there, partner. Not at all. My point is that the argument “this is not universally offensive” is no justification for anything, because _nothing_ is universally offensive, including the things that all the people in this thread might happen to agree as being deeply offensive (and some other people elsewhere might not). ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tooth-docs-flouride-gel-for-45-a-gyp/530006/34 "2010-02-25T04:26:54Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > I thought it was the reference to the blood of Abraham that was going to set people off. Isn’t that a term that limeys use? Thank you, thank you. best wishes, hh [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tooth-docs-flouride-gel-for-45-a-gyp/530006.md?page=1)