# What does the phrase "P U" stand for? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 30, 2001, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-phrase-p-u-stand-for/96152 "2001-11-30T17:13:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![J.A.G.S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/54ee81/32.png) [@J.A.G.S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/J.A.G.S)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2001, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-phrase-p-u-stand-for/96152/1 "2001-11-30T17:13:40Z")
When something stinks, and you say “P U”, what are you really saying? Is it an acronym? ---
**Author:** ![curiously\_enough](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@curiously\_enough](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curiously_enough)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2001, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-phrase-p-u-stand-for/96152/2 "2001-11-30T17:32:18Z")
that’s a good question. i am a technical writer, and if forced to write it, i would spell it ‘pee-yew’ i guess. but it’s so universal in north america it must mean something. the only things that [http://www.m-w.com](http://www.m-w.com) has as PU abbreviations are PickUp (as in truck) or plutonium. i’m all curious now. ---
**Author:** ![Niobium\_Knight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc8723/32.png) [@Niobium\_Knight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Niobium_Knight)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2001, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-phrase-p-u-stand-for/96152/3 "2001-11-30T17:36:02Z")
in UK we dont say P U.or do you mean pew? like for a nasty smell? in which case P U isnt really correct. ---
**Author:** ![RM\_Mentock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@RM\_Mentock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RM_Mentock)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2001, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-phrase-p-u-stand-for/96152/4 "2001-11-30T17:36:09Z")
It stands for “phew!”, with emphasis. I was there when it changed to “P U”. ---
**Author:** ![Niobium\_Knight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc8723/32.png) [@Niobium\_Knight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Niobium_Knight)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2001, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-phrase-p-u-stand-for/96152/5 "2001-11-30T17:45:59Z")
maybe it means piss you. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2001, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-phrase-p-u-stand-for/96152/6 "2001-11-30T17:59:04Z")
It’s just an exxagerated pronunciation of the exclamation “pew!” It’s not PU. ---
**Author:** ![Niobium\_Knight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc8723/32.png) [@Niobium\_Knight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Niobium_Knight)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2001, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-phrase-p-u-stand-for/96152/7 "2001-11-30T18:11:20Z")
yep that’s what i reckon. ---
**Author:** ![RM\_Mentock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@RM\_Mentock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RM_Mentock)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2001, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-phrase-p-u-stand-for/96152/8 "2001-11-30T18:29:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by friedo \* > **It’s just an exxagerated pronunciation of the exclamation "pew!"** That’s what I meant, with one x and two g, and phew is in the dictionary but pew ain’t. ---
**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:** [November 30, 2001, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-phrase-p-u-stand-for/96152/9 "2001-11-30T18:40:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RM Mentock \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by friedo \* > > **It’s just an exxagerated pronunciation of the exclamation "pew!"** > > That’s what I meant, with one x and two g, and phew is in the dictionary but pew ain’t. \*\* Actually, Webster’s Unabridged has: > [@](#): > > **pew** – used to express contempt or disgust (as at an odor) ---
**Author:** ![Palve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a698b9/32.png) [@Palve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palve)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2001, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-phrase-p-u-stand-for/96152/10 "2001-11-30T18:42:54Z")
I think it comes from the French expression “Pu!” which comes from the verb ‘puer’ (= ‘to stink’) ---
**Author:** ![RM\_Mentock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@RM\_Mentock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RM_Mentock)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2001, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-phrase-p-u-stand-for/96152/11 "2001-11-30T18:55:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JeffB \* > **Actually, Webster’s Unabridged has: pew** All right then. That’s it. I was using [http://www.dictionary.com](http://www.dictionary.com), since it is online.