# What is the origin of 'Hump Day'? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 19, 2013, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-hump-day/661397 "2013-06-19T22:05:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [June 19, 2013, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-hump-day/661397/1 "2013-06-19T22:05:51Z")
[I posted a thread in 2001](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=100543) [added link in quote]: > [@Humpday](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humpday/94904/1): > > … I first heard “Humpday” back in the early-'80s on the [now-long-defunct KMET](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KMET_(defunct)). They had names for each weekday: Humday Monday, Titillating Tuesday, Humpday, Champaign Thursday (that’s when they were paid) and Finally Friday. One person who replied said he’d heard ‘Hump Day’ around 1983 in Southern Ontario. Another poster said she’d heard it in 1984 in Texas. By the time of KMET’s demise in 1987, I was within range of KROQ, and switched to music that fitted my tastes better. When and where was ‘Hump Day’/‘Humpday’ first used, and by whom? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-hump-day/661397/2 "2013-06-19T22:51:03Z")
Definitely earlier than the 1980s. Google Books is an awkward place to search, since it often dates periodicals by the first issue in their records, but a few hits seem to be solid. The hard hat girl, power engineer: a novel - Page 84 > **[The Hard Hat Girl, Power Engineer](https://books.google.com/books?id=eHZbAAAAMAAJ)** McCulloch Byers - 1976 - Snippet view Well, with less than a half hour left now, it looked as though she might pull through her third day in fairly good shape. The third time’s a charm, they say; and today must be the normal, “routine”, office day, — Wednesday, — “hump day” — over … California: The New Society - Page 2 > **[California](https://books.google.com/books?id=JwsVAAAAYAAJ)** Remi A. Nadeau - 1974 - Snippet view - More editions In the average California office, Wednesday is “hump day”— you’re over the hump. By Friday, you’re mentally already on the weekend. Friday night the going-home traffic is clogged not only with commuters, but with house trailers, campers, … Texas Monthly - Jun 1974 - Page 117 > **[Texas Monthly](https://books.google.com/books?id=ACoEAAAAMBAJ)** > > Since 1973, TEXAS MONTHLY has chronicled life in contemporary Texas, reporting on vital issues such as politics, the environment, industry, and education. As a leisure guide, TEXAS MONTHLY continues to be the indispensable authority on the Texas... Vol. 2, No. 6 - Magazine - Full view Weekdays: 11:30-2, 5:30-11. :30. Weekends: 5:30-midnight. Moderate. Jaxon’s, 508 N. Stanton (532-0950). Homemade soups, salads and sandwiches. An afterwork “in” spot, the court is packed for Over the Hump Day (Wed) and T.G.I.F. Bar. Current Slang - Volumes 2-5 > **[Current Slang](https://books.google.com/books?id=SWVXAAAAYAAJ)** 1967 - Snippet view - More editions The middle of the week, “hump day.” 1, 3. , v. To act (command to get busy) . Humus , adj. Admirable or beautiful, “tough” or “cool.” Hurt , adj. Of limited sophistication (applied by those of limited sophistication. —I, 1. . . The remainder of the … Proceedings, Annual Great Lakes Park Institute - Issue 21 - Page 85 > **[Proceedings for ... Annual Great Lakes Park Training Institute](https://books.google.com/books?id=lPbiAAAAMAAJ)** 1967 - Snippet view - More editions This is Thursday; over- the -hump day in your Institute. You have had three busy days and evenings. You are now reaching the time when you do not wish to listen to a long dissertation on the history of the preservation movement - - it goes … An introduction to school administration: selected readings - Page 30 > **[An Introduction to School Administration](https://books.google.com/books?id=0n47AAAAIAAJ)** Mervin Chester Nolte - 1966 - Snippet view - More editions THE SON OF A MEMBER OF THE SCHOOL BOARD Terrel Howard Bell One morning, after the third week of school had passed the mark that the teachers called “hump day,” or Wednesday, a very small boy came to school. He registered in … California: the new society - Page 2 > **[California](https://books.google.com/books?id=uJEGAQAAIAAJ)** Remi A. Nadeau - 1963 - Snippet view - More editions In the average California office, Wednesday is “hump day”— you’re over the hump. By Friday, you’re mentally already on the weekend. Friday night the going-home traffic is clogged not only with commuters, but with house trailers, campers, … As you can see, _California: the new society_ went through multiple editions, so somebody would need to check the actual book to see whether it had the usage from the beginning. ---
**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:** [June 19, 2013, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-hump-day/661397/3 "2013-06-19T23:02:47Z")
I’ve heard (and used) the expression as early as the late 70s. Not as early as **Exapno Mapcase’s** cites, though. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-hump-day/661397/4 "2013-06-19T23:04:34Z")
In the early 1970s it was a common meme. Ask my old girlfriend what happened almost every Wednesday. ---
**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-hump-day/661397/5 "2013-06-19T23:11:18Z")
It’s certainly been around for a while in Australia in common usage. When I joined the workforce in the mid 80’s Hump day for Wednesday and POETS day for Friday were common vernacular. ---
**Author:** ![Lubricious\_Integument](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/82dd89/32.png) [@Lubricious\_Integument](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lubricious_Integument)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-hump-day/661397/6 "2013-06-19T23:16:05Z")
> [@Long Beach Press Telegram](#): > > The high light of any patrol..is Hump Day… ‘That’s the day the patrol is half over, when the rest of the way is downhill.’ This is the earliest I could find. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-hump-day/661397/7 "2013-06-19T23:27:46Z")
> [@stui\_magpie](#): > > It’s certainly been around for a while in Australia in common usage. > > When I joined the workforce in the mid 80’s Hump day for Wednesday and POETS day for Friday were common vernacular. I had to look it up, but for anyone else confused, “POETS” means “piss off early, tomorrow’s Saturday.” ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-hump-day/661397/8 "2013-06-20T00:20:50Z")
_Hump NIght_–1955. In _American Speech_. > [@](#): > > Wednesday night, which is over the hump of the week. ---
**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:** [June 20, 2013, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-hump-day/661397/9 "2013-06-20T00:25:09Z")
I personally first heard it in the late 1970s. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-hump-day/661397/10 "2013-06-20T01:02:33Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I had to look it up, but for anyone else confused, “POETS” means “piss off early, tomorrow’s Saturday.” Alternatively, “Piss on everything, tomorrow’s Saturday.” ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-hump-day/661397/11 "2013-06-20T02:08:05Z")
Interesting that most of early examples use “over the hump” with the phrase being shortened as it passed into common usage. [Hump is a very old word](http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=hump&searchmode=none), but it apparently started taking on this sort of metaphorical usage early in the 20th century. > [@](#): > > A meaning attested from 1901 is “mound in a railway yard over which cars must be pushed,” which may be behind the figurative sense of “critical point of an undertaking” (1914). ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-hump-day/661397/12 "2013-06-20T05:04:25Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > Alternatively, “Piss on everything, tomorrow’s Saturday.” And, “Piss off everyone, tomorrow’s Saturday.” And everyday can be FISH Day .. “Fuck it. Shit Happens.” ---
**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-hump-day/661397/13 "2013-06-20T09:08:52Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I had to look it up, but for anyone else confused, “POETS” means “piss off early, tomorrow’s Saturday.” That’s the one I know it as.😉 ---
**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:** [June 20, 2013, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-hump-day/661397/14 "2013-06-20T13:55:38Z")
I haven’t heard POETS in ages. I remember it from when TGIF was popular. For some reason, it reminds me of when I worked at an Air Force base and saw FIGMO. ‘F— it. Got my orders.’ ---
**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:** [June 20, 2013, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-hump-day/661397/15 "2013-06-20T14:10:06Z")
The eagle flies on Friday Saturday, I go out and play! ---
**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:** [June 20, 2013, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-hump-day/661397/16 "2013-06-20T14:14:31Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > Alternatively, “Piss on everything, tomorrow’s Saturday.” That’s what I’m familiar with as well. For Thursday there’s SHIT - “Sorry Honey, it’s Thursday” ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-hump-day/661397/17 "2013-06-20T17:45:46Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > The eagle flies on Friday > Saturday, I go out and play! I thought the expresion was “The eagle shits on Friday”. ---
**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:** [June 20, 2013, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-hump-day/661397/18 "2013-06-20T21:14:44Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > I thought the expresion was “The eagle shits on Friday”. The Allman Brothers, Long John Baldry, Eric Clapton, Cream, Etta James, Ian Anderson, Albert King, BB King, John Mayall, Mountain, and T-Bone Walker among others all disagree with you.