# What does "Gag me with a spoon" mean? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 4, 2005, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-gag-me-with-a-spoon-mean/292894 "2005-03-04T14:16:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![emekthian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecae2f/32.png) [@emekthian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emekthian)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-gag-me-with-a-spoon-mean/292894/1 "2005-03-04T14:16:29Z")
I’ve heard this phrase many times, and I have no idea what it means. ---
**Author:** ![MRirian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3be4f8/32.png) [@MRirian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MRirian)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-gag-me-with-a-spoon-mean/292894/2 "2005-03-04T14:22:32Z")
You say it when revolted. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-gag-me-with-a-spoon-mean/292894/3 "2005-03-04T14:23:02Z")
It means (or meant, back in the Dawn of Time known as the 1980’s when it was used unironically) “I find that course of action/thought repugnant and would not willingly choose it.” As in: “Like, did you hear bellbottons are predicted to make a comback in the 90’s?” “OH! That’s, like, totally gross! Like, gag me with a spoon! I have no idea what they’re thinking. Now, like, hand me that Aquanet and a hairpick.” ---
**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:** [March 4, 2005, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-gag-me-with-a-spoon-mean/292894/4 "2005-03-04T15:06:02Z")
The phrase was also used as part of an error message in the fictional esoteric computer language [VALGOL](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VALGOL_programming_language) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-gag-me-with-a-spoon-mean/292894/5 "2005-03-04T15:45:22Z")
I first heard it in Moon Unit Zappa’s _Valley Girl_ c.1980/81. As others have said, the phrase was used when you find something revolting. You know how much better you feel after you vomit and get rid of whatever it was that was making you nauseated? I think it’s like that. It’s like when you open your mouth wide and pantomime jabbing your finger down your throat to indicate revulsion. Why a spoon? Well, it fits the song’s rhythm better than ‘Gag my by putting your finger down the throat!’ ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-gag-me-with-a-spoon-mean/292894/6 "2005-03-04T17:01:37Z")
Fac me vomere per cochlea! ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-gag-me-with-a-spoon-mean/292894/7 "2005-03-04T17:05:57Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > Fac me vomere per cochlea! Which sounds like it has the potential for being a bilingual pun… 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-gag-me-with-a-spoon-mean/292894/8 "2005-03-05T03:07:54Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > IWhy a spoon? Well, it fits the song’s rhythm better than ‘Gag my by putting your finger down the throat!’ Well, a spoon was (is?) also a recommended method to induce vomiting in case you ingested poison. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-gag-me-with-a-spoon-mean/292894/9 "2005-03-05T03:44:06Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > Why a spoon? Because it’s dull, it’ll hurt more! or… there is no spoon make your choice 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Girl)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-gag-me-with-a-spoon-mean/292894/10 "2005-03-05T03:51:59Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > I first heard it in Moon Unit Zappa’s _Valley Girl_ c.1980/81. > > As others have said, the phrase was used when you find something revolting. You know how much better you feel after you vomit and get rid of whatever it was that was making you nauseated? I think it’s like that. It’s like when you open your mouth wide and pantomime jabbing your finger down your throat to indicate revulsion. Why a spoon? Well, it fits the song’s rhythm better than ‘Gag my by putting your finger down the throat!’ Well, you are talking about San Fernando Valley Girls. Since the silver spoon is already present, may as well gag 'em with it. 😉 _Okay, fine. Fer sure, fer sure. She’s a Valley Girl and there is no cure._ Incidently, _Valley Girl_ is only a Moon Unit Zappa song in the sense that she sung the VG parts. It was written and composed by her daddy, Frank, of course. IIRC, Steve Vai played guitar on it too.\ ---
**Author:** ![RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/53a042/32.png) [@RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RancidYakButterTeaParty)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-gag-me-with-a-spoon-mean/292894/11 "2005-03-05T04:04:11Z")
I have also heard this version: “Gag me with a briefcase” Which I think is even more effective than some ordinary spoon. ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Girl)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-gag-me-with-a-spoon-mean/292894/12 "2005-03-05T04:04:56Z")
> [@Cinnamon Girl](#): > > Well, you are talking about San Fernando Valley Girls. Since the silver spoon is already present, may as well gag 'em with it. 😉 > > _Okay, fine. > Fer sure, fer sure. > She’s a Valley Girl > and there is no cure._ > > Incidently, _Valley Girl_ is only a Moon Unit Zappa song in the sense that she sung the VG parts. It was written and composed by her daddy, Frank, of course. IIRC, Steve Vai played guitar on it too.\ Actually, the word ‘sung’ is used very loosely here. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![MRirian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3be4f8/32.png) [@MRirian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MRirian)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-gag-me-with-a-spoon-mean/292894/13 "2005-03-05T04:31:15Z")
> [@RancidYakButterTeaParty](#): > > I have also heard this version: > > “Gag me with a briefcase” > > Which I think is even more effective than some ordinary spoon. That’s too funny. 😃 The one I always heard and used growing up is “Gag me with a shovel.” ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Girl)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-gag-me-with-a-spoon-mean/292894/14 "2005-03-05T05:41:44Z")
> [@MRirian](#): > > That’s too funny. 😃 > > The one I always heard and used growing up is “Gag me with a shovel.” Heheh. Alternatively, I’ve heard “Gag me with a pitchfork.” Yum. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-gag-me-with-a-spoon-mean/292894/15 "2005-03-05T05:53:28Z")
Once, my friends and I put together a ‘punk band’. (Lasted one afternoon.) One of the lyrics I contributed was ‘An impromptu vivisection with a dull spoon’. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-gag-me-with-a-spoon-mean/292894/16 "2005-03-05T05:58:03Z")
A parody of that expression I heard during the Valley Girl days was: “Gash me with a Ginsu!” ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-gag-me-with-a-spoon-mean/292894/17 "2005-03-05T21:23:15Z")
It means you’re too freakin young. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-gag-me-with-a-spoon-mean/292894/18 "2005-03-06T12:06:43Z")
We bastardized it to be “gag me with a king salmon”. And they were Matsu Valley girls, rather than SanFern 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-gag-me-with-a-spoon-mean/292894/19 "2005-03-07T01:26:54Z")
> [@Hunter Hawk](#): > > Well, a spoon was (is?) also a recommended method to induce vomiting in case you ingested poison. True, although I would suspect that the origins of this phrase have more to do with bulimia than concern about injesting poison. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-gag-me-with-a-spoon-mean/292894/20 "2005-03-07T02:07:59Z")
Questions like these make me feel old. (Because I SO totally knew the answer.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-gag-me-with-a-spoon-mean/292894.md?page=2)