# What does "Your butt is itching mean?" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 30, 2005, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-butt-is-itching-mean/324276 "2005-09-30T23:37:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-butt-is-itching-mean/324276/1 "2005-09-30T23:37:00Z")
One of the guys at work constantly uses this phrase. I’m not sure what he means. He’s a brit, so maybe it is british slang. But maybe not. Can anyone enlighten me? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-butt-is-itching-mean/324276/2 "2005-09-30T23:43:13Z")
Well, in my line of work, if someone tells me that their butt is itching, it usually means that their butt is itching. Is it possible that this person is a frustrated diagnostician? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-butt-is-itching-mean/324276/3 "2005-09-30T23:44:26Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > One of the guys at work constantly uses this phrase. I’m not sure what he means. He’s a brit, so maybe it is british slang. But maybe not. > > Can anyone enlighten me? Clarification please. Does he say “your butt is itching mean” or “your butt is itching”? ---
**Author:** ![deevee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@deevee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deevee)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-butt-is-itching-mean/324276/4 "2005-09-30T23:52:50Z")
You’re really wanting something. Yer butt is itching to go. ---
**Author:** ![Kitchen\_Wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f08c70/32.png) [@Kitchen\_Wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kitchen_Wench)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2005, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-butt-is-itching-mean/324276/5 "2005-10-01T01:20:55Z")
Perhaps he has a hemorrhoid detector? If he bitches about workload, overtime or countless other issues, tell him his string is showing. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2005, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-butt-is-itching-mean/324276/6 "2005-10-01T02:51:19Z")
Perhaps he’d just like to scratch your ass? ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2005, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-butt-is-itching-mean/324276/7 "2005-10-01T03:05:11Z")
If you ask him, please let us know. Now I’m curious. ---
**Author:** ![TJdude825](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@TJdude825](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJdude825)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2005, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-butt-is-itching-mean/324276/8 "2005-10-01T03:44:47Z")
If the “mean” is part of the phrase, maybe it’s just an unnecessary extra word meaning something like “verily” or “a lot.” ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2005, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-butt-is-itching-mean/324276/9 "2005-10-01T03:59:00Z")
Well, in Chinese, the rhetorical question “does your butt itch?” is asked by parents to misbehaving children – the spanking equivalent of saying they’re “cruisin’ for a bruisin’”. ---
**Author:** ![FordPrefect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@FordPrefect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordPrefect)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2005, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-butt-is-itching-mean/324276/10 "2005-10-01T04:28:25Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > One of the guys at work constantly uses this phrase. I’m not sure what he means. He’s a brit, so maybe it is british slang. But maybe not. > > Can anyone enlighten me? If he is like one of my co-workers, it is simply explained. He lives in a bubble of his own wonderfulness and that is all the reason he needs to say nonsensical crap. All. Day. Long. ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2005, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-butt-is-itching-mean/324276/11 "2005-10-01T04:47:04Z")
Maybe that he’s become too American? 'Cause I’ve not known the Brits to use “butt” all that much. Maybe it’s the opposite of not being arsed? or the sensation you get when you pull your finger out? ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2005, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-butt-is-itching-mean/324276/12 "2005-10-01T05:36:15Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > One of the guys at work constantly uses this phrase. I’m not sure what he means. He’s a brit, so maybe it is british slang. But maybe not. > > Can anyone enlighten me? You’re mishearing him. He’s saying “Your butt in bitchin’, man!” It’s a pass, silly! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2005, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-butt-is-itching-mean/324276/13 "2005-10-01T12:02:52Z")
My apologies. It is “Your ass is itching.” I didn’t mean to include the word “mean” in the quotes. Also, this being GQ I did not wish to use Ass in the tittle and I did not think that substituting butt would change it much. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2005, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-butt-is-itching-mean/324276/14 "2005-10-01T12:48:23Z")
Itching: “To have a persistent, restless craving” (_American Heritage_) Your ass is itching to tell the boss. -\> You are eager to tell the boss. ---
**Author:** ![fighting\_ignorant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ac8455/32.png) [@fighting\_ignorant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fighting_ignorant)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2005, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-butt-is-itching-mean/324276/15 "2005-10-01T13:20:37Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > My apologies. It is “Your ass is itching.” I didn’t mean to include the word “mean” in the quotes. Also, this being GQ I did not wish to use Ass in the tittle and I did not think that substituting butt would change it much. Not sure which is a funnier phrase, “Your ass is itching mean” or “Ass in the tittle”. 😃 I think I’ll just have to start using both of them around the office. ---
**Author:** ![BlackNGold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BlackNGold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackNGold)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-butt-is-itching-mean/324276/16 "2005-10-02T12:51:23Z")
In my family, the following two phrases: “Ah, your ass is itchy” “Your ass is suckin’ blueberries” (Thup, Thup, Thup sound effect optional) are both used to indicate that the person is attempting to BS you. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-butt-is-itching-mean/324276/17 "2005-10-02T13:04:46Z")
> [@BlackNGold](#): > > In my family, the following two phrases: > > “Ah, your ass is itchy” > “Your ass is suckin’ blueberries” (Thup, Thup, Thup sound effect optional) > > are both used to indicate that the person is attempting to BS you. From the context he uses it, I believe he means it as your family does. Any idea of the origin? Are you a brit by the way, or is this also common in the US? ---
**Author:** ![BlackNGold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BlackNGold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackNGold)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-butt-is-itching-mean/324276/18 "2005-10-02T21:07:18Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > Any idea of the origin? Are you a brit by the way, or is this also common in the US? No idea of the origin, I think it’s just giving back irrelevent nonsense to someone you believe to be feeding you the same. I’m in the US, no British influence on my family that I’m aware of. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-butt-is-itching-mean/324276/19 "2005-10-03T02:39:50Z")
> [@BlackNGold](#): > > In my family, the following two phrases: > > “Ah, your ass is itchy” > “Your ass is suckin’ blueberries” (Thup, Thup, Thup sound effect optional) > > are both used to indicate that the person is attempting to BS you. You, sir (or ma’am), have a strange family.