Subject means: among Jews of a certain age or upbringing in NY (cite: Jews I’ve met here), “wear it in good health” is a common, pleasant, non-sarcastic thing to say when someone shows you new clothes or shoes that he is happy that he has just bought.
Is anyone non-Jewish, non-NY aware of it? I say perhaps NYC only because some Yiddishisms become general currency. (See future thread: “‘Enjoy’ as intransitive?”)
I’m guessing it first appears in Yiddish, if my theory is correct. (Reason for post uncomprehending black Gap salesman who heard me jokingly self-wish it.)
Eta: asked mods to fix typo in hed.
I’m just a data point, but I’ve been aware of it for at least 25 years and I’m neither Jewish nor from (nor have ever lived) in NYC or even NYS/NJ. I couldn’t tell you how I’m familiar with it because I don’t know…probably TV or from reading it somewhere.
I had a Misty Harbor *trenchcoat that had that on the label. That would have been mid 1980s. It was later stolen out of my car. No big loss, and really a waste of money. It’s not something you get to wear a lot where I live.
I’ve know the phrase as long as I can remember, about 60 years. No relation to the one above which is about going somewhere. My mother had a Sam Levinson 78 from about 1950 with
Kid: I’m running away from home!
Jewish Mother: gay gezunt un kum gezunt. I’ll pack you sandwiches.
I was 11 and was getting gear for my first Boy Scout outing. I showed my brother my new first aid kit and he told me “Use it in good health.” Then we both realized what he said and we laughed.
I recall reading an article about fact-checking dialogue for historical movies, and this precise example came up. Someone was wondering if it was a phrase that a typical 19th century New Yorker would have used.
The verdict was that it was derived from a Yiddish phrase (probably Flywheel’s, or something similar), and that it wouldn’t be current among non-Jewish New Yorkers back then.
It sounds probable. For the life of me, though, I can’t recall where or when I read that piece.
As a data point, I think I’ve heard it my entire life, and don’t regard it as anything but normal slang.
A quick look at Google N Gram Viewer shows the phrase appearing just before the end of the 19th century, but the earliest uses seem to be from Jewish backgrounds or from New York.
Extremely Jewish-Yiddish thing to say (usually in reply for thanking someone for a gift in my family, but not always) and, like all yiddishisms save a couple, almost completely unknown once you’re 50 miles out of the city.
Went to uni in New York. Worked there for a number of years too. I’ve heard both “wear it…” and “use it…” for as far back as I can remember, usually by older folks and, come to think of it, many of whom were Jewish. It is a common phrase.
Native Californian here. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard anyone say it in real life, but I’d consider it “well known”…presumably from movies and/or TV, though I can’t recall where I’ve actually heard it there either.
I grew up in Chicago, and I’ve heard it all my life. I think it’s just a common saying. I’m not Jewish and didn’t know anyone who was Jewish while I was growing up.
In Ireland, when someone buys a new garment, you wish them “Health to wear”. Maybe that’s a bit old-fashioned now but it was common when I was growing up.
