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[-] uservoid1@lemmy.world 152 points 7 months ago

Never heard of it so I had to look

https://www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/eighty-six-meaning-origin

Eighty-six is slang meaning "to throw out," "to get rid of," or "to refuse service to." It comes from 1930s soda-counter slang meaning that an item was sold out. There is varying anecdotal evidence about why the term eighty-six was used, but the most common theory is that it is rhyming slang for nix.

[-] xXSirDanglesXx@lemmy.world 4 points 7 months ago

I heard/read years ago "86ing" came from the old west referring to killing somebody. You'd take them "80 miles out" and bury them "6 feet deep."

[-] RinseDrizzle@midwest.social 2 points 7 months ago

This right here is my truth. If 80 miles out & 6 feet deep is wrong, than I don't wanna be right. Always loved this expression and origin story.

this post was submitted on 30 Oct 2024
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