# What does "bogart", as a verb, mean? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 8, 2001, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-bogart-as-a-verb-mean/64765 "2001-05-08T14:20:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2001, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-bogart-as-a-verb-mean/64765/1 "2001-05-08T14:20:55Z")
One day, the term doesn’t exist (to me), the next day, it’s in _The Wall Street Journal_ as good & proper nonstandard English (well, not the WSJ, but in the _Sporting News_). So what does “to bogart (something)” mean? Where did the word originate? How was its use popularized (movie, song, video, etc)? From the contexts I’ve seen it in, “bogart” seems to mean to “hog up” something. WAG - “bogart” seems to have started in drug parlance in reference to someone not passing a joint around in a timely manner – or not sharing their Mary Jane stash. Or something. Anything to do with Humphrey Bogart or the late music mogul Neil Bogart? ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2001, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-bogart-as-a-verb-mean/64765/2 "2001-05-08T14:35:18Z")
I always understood that it meant “to steal.” SCENE: Beavis & Butthead are sitting on the couch, Butthead is eating a frozen cookie dough log. BUTTHEAD: Don’t bogart my log, dude! No idea where it comes from. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2001, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-bogart-as-a-verb-mean/64765/3 "2001-05-08T14:40:29Z")
It derives from the cinematic image of Humphrey Bogart with the cigarette constantly dangling from his lips. The origin of the verb is all about hanging onto a joint (i.e. marihuana cigarette) without sharing it. It was popularized through the underground hippie-drug culture slang of the 1960s. Especially in the 1969 countercultural film _Easy Rider_. The soundtrack included a lazy, drawling country-music song that went: “Don’t bogart that joint, my friend, pass it over to me…” “Rooooooooooooolllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll . . . anotherone . . . just liiiike the otherone . . . .” ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2001, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-bogart-as-a-verb-mean/64765/4 "2001-05-08T14:42:19Z")
“You’ve been hangin’ on to it . . . and I sure would like a hit . . . .” ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2001, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-bogart-as-a-verb-mean/64765/5 "2001-05-08T14:45:10Z")
Kids these days. I blame it all on “Just say no.” “To bogart” was to keep a joint (do I have to explain that?)of marijuana in your mouth instead of passing it along to the next guy (marijuana was usually smoked in groups). It was drug slang of the early 60s, and was immortalized on the soundtrack of “Easy Rider” with the song “Don’t Bogart That Joint” (also called “Don’t Bogart Me”). It comes from the image of Humphrey Bogart with a cigarette. ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2001, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-bogart-as-a-verb-mean/64765/6 "2001-05-08T14:47:55Z")
Here’s The Mavens’ take on [bogart](http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=19970916). And here is The Word Detective’s take on [bogart](http://www.word-detective.com/122099.html#bogart). They pretty much agree with each other and with what **Jomo Mojo** said. In addition to the “to hog” usage, there is an earlier sense of “to intimidate.” ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2001, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-bogart-as-a-verb-mean/64765/7 "2001-05-08T15:10:59Z")
Ha ha! **Reality Chuck** , I am truly amazed to learn that the word “bogart” is that old. I am 30 years old, and have only heard the word this year. From my point of view, the verb “bogart” was “invented” in February. \ Just wasn’t around drugs very much growing up. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2001, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-bogart-as-a-verb-mean/64765/8 "2001-05-08T15:47:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jomo Mojo \* > \*\*“You’ve been hangin’ on to it . . . and I sure would like a hit . . . .” \*\* And your NEXT trivia question is … who performed it? . . . . . The Fraternity of Man. Often misattributed to The Holy Modal Rounders, who did “The Bird Song” on that soundtrack: [http://www.uoregon.edu/~splat/Fraternity.html](http://www.uoregon.edu/~splat/Fraternity.html) ---
**Author:** ![demanton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@demanton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/demanton)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2001, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-bogart-as-a-verb-mean/64765/9 "2001-05-08T17:56:15Z")
Little Feat, no? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2001, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-bogart-as-a-verb-mean/64765/10 "2001-05-08T18:40:24Z")
It’s on Little Feat “Waiting for Columbus”, at least that’s the version I’m familiar with. \ Kids these days, never probably don’t know what it means to wind yer watch… \ ---
**Author:** ![celestina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/258eb7/32.png) [@celestina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/celestina)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2001, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-bogart-as-a-verb-mean/64765/11 "2001-05-08T21:08:12Z")
Hmmm. I always thought “bogart” or “bogard” as I’ve heard it pronounced means “to show off or to strut” as in “Bogard down the boulevard.” I don’t have a cite for this, but it’s how I’ve seen some black people use it. I never really thought about the reference to Humphrey Bogart, but I suppose in retrospect it does make sense. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2001, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-bogart-as-a-verb-mean/64765/12 "2001-05-08T22:12:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Telemark \* > \*\*It’s on Little Feat “Waiting for Columbus”, at least that’s the version I’m familiar with. > > \ > Kids these days, never probably don’t know what it means to wind yer watch… > \ \*\* The movie soundtrack is The Fraternity of Man version, which they recorded in 1968 - “Easy Rider” was released in 1969. Little Feat formed in 1969 and released their first album in 1971. “Waiting For Columbus” was released in 1978. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2001, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-bogart-as-a-verb-mean/64765/13 "2001-05-08T23:52:26Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by yabob \* \*\* > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jomo Mojo \* > The Fraternity of Man. Often misattributed to The Holy Modal Rounders, who did “The Bird Song” on that soundtrack: > \*\* Well, okay, but I have it by the Modals who also do a rompin’ version of “Boobsalot”. Quasi ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-bogart-as-a-verb-mean/64765/14 "2001-05-09T02:05:29Z")
Here’s two previous threads discussing this issue: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=29092](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=29092) [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=3271](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=3271) Some interesting speculations in each. ---
**Author:** ![hazel-rah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/73ab20/32.png) [@hazel-rah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hazel-rah)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-bogart-as-a-verb-mean/64765/15 "2001-05-09T05:38:39Z")
The term also pops up in the Gen X movie “Reality Bites” from about 1995. Somebody tells somebody else not to “bogart that can” where the can in question is a soda can which has been fashioned into a bong. It was a stupid movie. But that’s how I know what the phrase means. -fh ---
**Author:** ![Redboss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8baadc/32.png) [@Redboss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Redboss)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-bogart-as-a-verb-mean/64765/16 "2001-05-09T08:17:12Z")
I think you boogie down the avenue, rather than bogart there. That is, if you’re not truckin’ Swing ya later, gate! Redbebop ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-bogart-as-a-verb-mean/64765/17 "2001-05-09T14:01:34Z")
**Wow!** I am astonsihed that this has been asked TWICE before! Hunh! ---
**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:** [May 9, 2001, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-bogart-as-a-verb-mean/64765/18 "2001-05-09T14:55:31Z")
I first heard it in the classic Chris Elliott (sp?) series **Get a Life** of a decade or so ago. Brian Doyle Murray chided Elliott for trying to “bogart” something.