# What does "Sit on it!" mean? (Fonzie) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 21, 2016, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-sit-on-it-mean-fonzie/763537 "2016-08-21T19:16:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2016, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-sit-on-it-mean-fonzie/763537/1 "2016-08-21T19:16:06Z")
When Fonzie would get pissed at someone he would tell them to “Sit on it!” What does that even mean? ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2016, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-sit-on-it-mean-fonzie/763537/2 "2016-08-21T19:19:03Z")
I think it’s a way of saying “stick it up your ass” that wouldn’t get shut down by the censors. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2016, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-sit-on-it-mean-fonzie/763537/3 "2016-08-21T19:42:44Z")
Also can mean “sit down and shut up” It was right up there with “Kiss my grits” (from Alice). ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2016, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-sit-on-it-mean-fonzie/763537/4 "2016-08-21T19:46:38Z")
For the full effect you would extend a middle finger and say “Sit on this,” “Sit on it and swivel” or “Sit and spin.” ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2016, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-sit-on-it-mean-fonzie/763537/5 "2016-08-21T19:47:20Z")
Step 1: Lick your index finger. Step 2: Hold the finger up in the air. Step 3: Say “Sit on this, and spin.” ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2016, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-sit-on-it-mean-fonzie/763537/6 "2016-08-21T20:17:47Z")
“Sit on a rocket and do twirls.” ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2016, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-sit-on-it-mean-fonzie/763537/7 "2016-08-21T23:25:23Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > For the full effect you would extend a middle finger and say “Sit on this,” “Sit on it and swivel” or “Sit and spin.” Or “Sit on this and rotate.” ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2016, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-sit-on-it-mean-fonzie/763537/8 "2016-08-21T23:48:46Z")
Best time they used that line was when Ralph accidentally backed over Fonzie’s motorcycle but at the end somehow eventually gets it fixed (or gets him another one, I forget). When he gives it to him Fonzie is slowly looking it over and then Ralph says, _“Sit on it Fonzie”_ and the Fonz nearly punches him. Ralph quickly clarifies, _“No no, I mean try it out! Try it out!”_. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-sit-on-it-mean-fonzie/763537/9 "2016-08-22T00:35:24Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > For the full effect you would extend a middle finger and say “Sit on this,” “Sit on it and swivel” or “Sit and spin.” It actually means “shove it”. Your version is equivalent to saying “I’m going to shove my finger up your asshole”, which isn’t exactly a put-down. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Barking\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Barking\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barking_Dog)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-sit-on-it-mean-fonzie/763537/10 "2016-08-22T02:14:59Z")
It means 'Up your nose with a rubber hose" ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-sit-on-it-mean-fonzie/763537/11 "2016-08-22T02:19:41Z")
Does anyone know if that phrase existed in the 50s? Or anywhere ever before _Happy Days_? On a related note, watching the show in the 70s it was the first place I ever heard the word ‘nerd’ before (they called Potsie one). ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-sit-on-it-mean-fonzie/763537/12 "2016-08-22T06:39:32Z")
It means the same thing as [“Swivel.”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7FXlRxq1iQ) ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-sit-on-it-mean-fonzie/763537/13 "2016-08-22T07:20:31Z")
Yeah, “sit on it” = “shove it” = “shove it up your ass”. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-sit-on-it-mean-fonzie/763537/14 "2016-08-22T09:28:44Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > Does anyone know if that phrase existed in the 50s? Or anywhere ever before _Happy Days_? On a related note, watching the show in the 70s it was the first place I ever heard the word ‘nerd’ before (they called Potsie one). Pretty sure it was a family friendly insult invented by the writers. No one knows for sure what it meant. Could be sit down and shut up. Maybe, shove it. Basically it’s just a insult Fonzie could use without getting the Network censor upset. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-sit-on-it-mean-fonzie/763537/15 "2016-08-22T09:31:14Z")
They made up a lot of silly stuff trying to make Fonzie cool. Hitting the jukebox to make it play a song. Snapping his fingers and girls rush too him. Silly stuff that only exists in a sitcom ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-sit-on-it-mean-fonzie/763537/16 "2016-08-22T12:04:28Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > It actually means “shove it”. > > Your version is equivalent to saying “I’m going to shove my finger up your asshole”, which isn’t exactly a put-down. > mmm In junior high school, in the late 70s/early 80s, it was considered highly insulting. It was usually said by a male to a female, the implication being vaginal rather than anal. When said by a male to another male, you were casting aspersions on his masculinity. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-sit-on-it-mean-fonzie/763537/17 "2016-08-22T12:42:36Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > Best time they used that line was when Ralph accidentally backed over Fonzie’s motorcycle but at the end somehow eventually gets it fixed (or gets him another one, I forget). That’s probably the best for making a joke out of it, but I have a different favorite. I don’t remember any of the story leading up to it or the specific exchange during the scene but Mrs. Cunningham is getting increasingly frustrated about something and Fonzie says something to agitate her and _Mrs. Cunninham tells The Fonz_, “Oh, SIT ON IT, Fonzie!” She even called him Fonzie instead of Arthur, which she usually called him. It was great because she was absolutely the _only_ person on the show who could have ever gotten away with telling Fonzie to sit on it. And it worked- totally shut the Fonz up and put him in his place. I have some vague (possibly mistaken) memory of Richie telling Fonzie to sit on it once but without nearly the same impact. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-sit-on-it-mean-fonzie/763537/18 "2016-08-22T15:37:22Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > For the full effect you would extend a middle finger and say “Sit on this,” “Sit on it and swivel” or “Sit and spin.” No, for the full effect, you need a studio audience to exclaim, “OOOOOoooohhhh!” after you tell someone to sit on it. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-sit-on-it-mean-fonzie/763537/19 "2016-08-22T15:41:57Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > I think it’s a way of saying “stick it up your ass” that wouldn’t get shut down by the censors. This. Most of the other famous “rude insults” that are actually kind of meaningless have already been quoted above. Now, of course, most shows can get a lot cruder and don’t need goofy-ass euphemisms for anything short of “fuck off” - and the evening cable shows don’t need those, either. There is a long, long history of such euphemisms, enough to fill large dictionaries, found in newspapers and literature back into the 18th century. You could look it up, by cracky. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-sit-on-it-mean-fonzie/763537/20 "2016-08-22T15:42:06Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > Does anyone know if that phrase existed in the 50s? It did according to Cassell’s Dictionary of Slang. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-sit-on-it-mean-fonzie/763537.md?page=2)