# Why do they call it "tossing salad"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 16, 2003, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-call-it-tossing-salad/202016 "2003-09-16T21:30:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mellonhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e19adc/32.png) [@mellonhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mellonhead)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-call-it-tossing-salad/202016/1 "2003-09-16T21:30:02Z")
How the hell did they come up with “tossing one’s salad”? Where did the term come from and what relationship does it have with licking one’s asshole? ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-call-it-tossing-salad/202016/2 "2003-09-16T21:47:21Z")
When tossing the salad, remember to stay away from the croutons. They don’t taste so good. And the feta cheese too! ---
**Author:** ![DarrenS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DarrenS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarrenS)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-call-it-tossing-salad/202016/3 "2003-09-16T23:35:38Z")
[Apparently,](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=37128) because of the use of foodstuffs such as peanut butter, syrup and/or jelly during the act. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-call-it-tossing-salad/202016/4 "2003-09-16T23:37:45Z")
People put peanut butter, syrup and/or jelly in their salads? ---
**Author:** ![Turbo\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@Turbo\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turbo_Dog)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-call-it-tossing-salad/202016/5 "2003-09-17T01:23:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Revtim \* > \*\*People put peanut butter, syrup and/or jelly in their salads? \*\* I would if my salad tasted like ass. ---
**Author:** ![mellonhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e19adc/32.png) [@mellonhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mellonhead)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-call-it-tossing-salad/202016/6 "2003-09-17T01:31:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Turbo Dog \* > \*\*I would if my salad tasted like ass. \*\* Uh - thanks folks. I don’t think I’ll be using jelly, syrup or peanut butter on anything anytime soon for fear of it reminding me of ass… ---
**Author:** ![Ottoerotic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6de8d8/32.png) [@Ottoerotic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ottoerotic)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-call-it-tossing-salad/202016/7 "2003-09-17T01:45:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Turbo Dog \* > \*\*I would if my salad tasted like ass. \*\* Thats the funniest thing I’ve read all day. Thank you Turbo Dog. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-call-it-tossing-salad/202016/8 "2003-09-17T03:18:46Z")
Oil and “Gaaaaaaaaaaahr, lick!” ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-call-it-tossing-salad/202016/9 "2003-09-17T04:14:42Z")
I have always heard this term in reference to throwing up. The recent posts regarding it are the very first I have seen giving a different meaning. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-call-it-tossing-salad/202016/10 "2003-09-17T05:35:59Z")
I first heard of it, and I imagine many others did as well, when Chris Rock mentioned it during one of his stand-up comedy specials. At one point he talks about a TV special he’d seen about prison, and one prisoner mentions making a new inmate “toss his salad” as a way to humiliate him. And then we get the explanation that “tossing salad” means making the person eat Jell-O out of his ass. So, if the question is “where did the ‘salad’ part come from”, I’d reckon it’s a play on “Jell-O salad.” And the “tossing” part should be obvious. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-call-it-tossing-salad/202016/11 "2003-09-17T05:42:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ftg \* > \*\*I have always heard this term in reference to throwing up. The recent posts regarding it are the very first I have seen giving a different meaning. \*\* Are you sure that’s not “tossing your cookies”? ---
**Author:** ![quothz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/da6949/32.png) [@quothz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quothz)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-call-it-tossing-salad/202016/12 "2003-09-17T05:59:27Z")
\Well, it’s not exactly an answer to the question, but my old 1964 \Joy of Cooking\ defines it:\ \“Toss repeatedly by lifting theleaves gently with a large fork and spoon until each leaf is completely coated [with oil].”\ \My gosh, these ladies can go on about salads. Very little etymology, alas, but they do note that what we often call ‘croutons’ (dry bread rubbed with garlic and tossed with the salad) are actually ‘chapons’. Fascinating. Alternatively, rub a split clove of garlic on the inside of the salad bowl. (Croutons, which are typically sauteed or baked, are used in soups, dumplings, and Caesar salads, not tossed salads.)\ \I think I’ll pass on their “Anchovy and Beet Dressing”, though, and pour on a few globs of ranch. If you prefer oil and vinegar, the ladies told me to remind you, "be a spendthrift with oil, a miser with vinegar.\ ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-call-it-tossing-salad/202016/13 "2003-09-17T06:49:01Z")
Very nice deadpan, **quothz**. 🙂 The SDMB won’t parse HTML – ya gotta get used to using vB code. [All you need to know about vB code](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/misc.php?s=&action=bbcode). Since you’re obviously familiar with html markup, you’ll find it a snap. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-call-it-tossing-salad/202016/14 "2003-09-17T17:34:53Z")
Just had a thought. Could it be a reference to “greek salad”? Oh, and in case you didn’t know, “Greek sex” is that of the anal variety. ---
**Author:** ![Isabelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5a626/32.png) [@Isabelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isabelle)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-call-it-tossing-salad/202016/15 "2003-09-17T17:51:45Z")
I have also heard it said “trading sandwhichs” I heard “tossing his salad” and “trading sandwhichs” from prisoners. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-call-it-tossing-salad/202016/16 "2003-09-18T03:03:56Z")
> [@](#): > > I heard “tossing his salad” and “trading sandwhichs” from prisoners. Interesting life you must lead. And I don’t mean anything negative in my comment. > [@](#): > > I first heard of it, and I imagine many others did as well, when Chris Rock mentioned it during one of his stand-up comedy specials. At one point he talks about a TV special he’d seen about prison, and one prisoner mentions making a new inmate “toss his salad” as a way to humiliate him. And then we get the explanation that “tossing salad” means making the person eat Jell-O out of his ass. Let’s see if I understand(not that I want to). The dominant prisoner has submissive prisoner to eat jello out of his(dominant) ass? How did the jello get up the ass of the dominant prisoner? Or am I just reading too much into it? ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-call-it-tossing-salad/202016/17 "2003-09-18T03:05:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jackknifed Juggernaut \* > \*\*When tossing the salad, remember to stay away from the croutons. They don’t taste so good. And the feta cheese too! \*\* You meant Fromunda Cheese, right? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![SwimmingwithChickens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@SwimmingwithChickens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwimmingwithChickens)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-call-it-tossing-salad/202016/18 "2003-09-18T03:25:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by samclem \* > \*\*Interesting life you must lead. And I don’t mean anything negative in my comment. > > Let’s see if I understand(not that I want to). > > The dominant prisoner has submissive prisoner to eat jello out of his(dominant) ass? How did the jello get up the ass of the dominant prisoner? Or am I just reading too much into it? \*\* That just really cracked me up. How did the jello get up the ass of the dominant prisoner… Now that’s good cafeteria service! (Service with a smile??) DAMN fine question samclem. ---
**Author:** ![LorieSmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a587f6/32.png) [@LorieSmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LorieSmurf)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-call-it-tossing-salad/202016/19 "2003-09-18T05:31:57Z")
I remember that Chris Rock episode, precisely because I actually SAW the prisoner special he was talking about. Ick.