# Use of the word "jones"

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-jones/80117
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [September 6, 2001, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-jones/80117 "2001-09-06T21:00:46Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![frankhoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a698b9/32.png) [@frankhoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/frankhoma)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2001, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-jones/80117/1 "2001-09-06T21:00:46Z")

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Lately, I have seen an increase of the use of the word “jones” in the context of having an obsession with something. As in “I’m jonesin’ for the next Straight Dope book” or in the Taco Bell commercial for grilled steak tacos sung to the tune of the Bonanza theme song.

The first instance of this use of the word I can remember is the “Basketball Jones” recording by Cheech Marin. Is this where it all started or is there more history to it.

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### 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: [September 6, 2001, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-jones/80117/2 "2001-09-06T21:05:15Z")

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Earlier threads on this subject:  
[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=42487](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=42487)  
[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=77878](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=77878)

(And welcome to the Boards!)