Edited by Azizi Powell
Latest Revision: May 23, 2023 including title change July 3, 2022
The content of this post is presented for linguistic and cultural purposes.
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Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
DEFINITIONS FOR THE WORD "ATE"/ "ATE THAT"
Definition #1
From https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/ate-that-thought-you-ate / quoting https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=ate%20that
"Ate That / Thought You Ate Meme
Ate That
The exact origin of the term "ate that" is unknown, but on July 11th, 2008, Urban Dictionary[1] user Cazza759 posted the earliest known definition for "ate that," writing, "did a great job; pulled it off well; had a lot of success with something. Used by teens in the projects of Queens, NY, and probably elsewhere in NYC." This then became the top definition on the site with nearly 1,400 likes in 13 years."...
-snip-
"The projects" in that quote means is from the term "housing projects" which is another referent for low income, government subsidized housing developments in urban areas of the United States.
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Definition #2
from https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=ate%20that
"ate
another word for killed, in terms of accomplishing something
person 1: you ate that!!
person 2: fr you killed it
-by itsjustlexee August 30, 2020
-snip-
There's also another urban dictionary entry from 2019 that defines "ate" as "did that".
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Definition #3 -Pancocojams Editor:
Here's my definition for this vernacular meaning of "ate":
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Pancocojams Editor:
"Ate" and left no crumbs (verb) - to do something so exceptionally well that there's no onecould do anything better (i.e. There's nothing left to do.)
**
It's likely that "ate that up" was the earliest use of this meaning and "ate the plate clean" (and similar extended phrases) followed along with the shortened words "ate" and "eating".
This definition of "ate" also has a very similar meaning as the vernacular term "mic drop" that is used to indicate that something that had been said or done is so very impressive that it cannot be topped (no one can say or do anything better).
The opposite meaning of "ate" (did something exceptionally well) is "really sucked".
Definition for "Ate that" = did a superlative job (at something)
Added June 21, 2022- Here's an example of this meaning of the word "ate": from the 2014 discussion thread of Big Freedia's song "Explode" that Beyonce sampled in her June 20, 2022 single "Break My Soul":
saint, June 20,2022
"Here from “BREAK YOUR SOUL” Beyoncé ate this!!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pa5IV_3fVfk
ONE PROBABLE SOURCE FOR THIS VERNACULAR MEANING OF "ATE" ("EATING" etc.)
An early source for this meaning of "ate" and "eating" may be the African American Vernacular English slang phrase "to eat somebody's lunch", although that phrase doesn't mean the exact same thing as this "new" meaning of "ate" or "eat". Here's information about "ate someone's lunch" from https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/eat+their+lunch
" "eat someone's lunch"
[Slang] to best someone; to defeat, outwit, or win against someone. (Like a school bully taking away children's lunches and eating them.) The upstart ABC Computer Company is eating IBM's lunch."
EXAMPLES OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN VERNACULAR ENGLISH TERM "ATE" (EAT; ATE AND LEFT NO CRUMBS") FROM STOMP & SHAKE CHEERLEADING
These comments are from various YouTube discussion threads for stomp & shake cheerleading videos.
However, the terms "ate"/"eat" etc. are also used as references for superlative performances by historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU) dance teams (auxiliaries to HBCU university's marching bands), and superlative performances in other settings.
The comments that are found below are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.
For the record, I haven't found any online examples for this meaning of "ate" (other than the 2008 and the 2019 examples that are given on urbandictionary.com that are dated before 2020. If you know of any other online examples before 2020, please share those links.
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep-UAvCcJWo
1. Eternidy, 2020*
"Whole time from the beginning I was cheering on Dudley cause I knew they was gone eat that 🅿️💅🏽"
-snip-
The time stamp for this comment was given as "2 years ago" on May 28, 2022.
"Dudley" refers to the stomp & shake cheerleading squad from Dudley High School, Greensboro North Carolina.
**
2. Janay Arielle, 2020*
"Dudley did not have to eat them tf up
like that"
-snip-
The time stamp for this comment was given as "2 years ago" on May 31, 2022.
**
3. Kam More, 2022
"Dudley ate them UP hunny"
Discussion Thread #2
1. Serenity Myles, 2021
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2. 𝓚 𝓲 ༄, 2021
"Somebody wanted to leave their team for JCE that day, cuz the way they just devoured and left no crumbs?? Chillleee....💯💯"
-snip-
"JCE" is the stomp & shake cheerleading squad that is showcased in this video.
3. Samantha Leigh, 2021
"Hold on nie!! I know that wasn’t Cadence eating like that in the last part of the performance?! I mean she ate the plate up! Let’s go “
**
4. Mia Moneyy, 2021
"They ate 😍😍👏🏾"
**
5. Therealmissylengths, 2021
"Killed!!! No food left😂😂😂🧡💙"
**
6. 4. LaShay Nichols,2021
"YALLL KILLLED THIS AND DIDNT LEAVE ANY EVIDENCE YALL ATE AND DIDNT LEAVE NO CRUMBS YALL SET THE BAR SOOOO HIGH FOR NEXT SEASON 💙"LETS GO JC 👏🏽👏🏽"
**
7. Life as Kayy, 2021
"PHOEBEEEEEEEEE YOU DID THE DAMN THANG GIRLLLLLL SO PROUD OF YOU!!!! Season 4 ATE AND LEFT NO CRUMBS BEEN WATCHING YALL SINCE SEASON 1 the progression is definitely there!!!"
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8. Allison Bennett, 2021
"Hold on nie! Y’all murder that and Journey baby you killed that walk coming off the floor, ladies y’all ate that plate upon y’all performance I’m so proud of y’all keep that energy going all the blood sweat and tears paid off. Let’s go JCE"
**
9. becca🤞🏾, 2021
"Whewwwwwwwwwwwww bayyyyyybeeeeeeeee!!!! Y’all did that; left none on that plate purrrrr. From the strutting/walking to yall seats to dancing in the stands, y’all set the tone to the other teams that y’all are not there to play around! And the performance ATEEEEE like I’m so proud!! And when y’all went back to yall seats and the other teams were clapping for y’all, I was so happy cause y’all really did that!!!! Flowers to all the coaches cause they definitely know what they’re doing!!!!! This season is definitely looking up!!!"
10.
"JCE one of the best performances I have
seen from yall! Miss Cadence I wasn’t expecting you to eat like that with a
smile!!!"
**
11. MrsReynolds2008, 2022
"Babeee them young ladies served a
soulful buffet w/ all the fixings!! I loved every minute of it! Great job to
all parties involved in the growth, molding and maturing of these beautiful
young ladies."
1. OneVoice412, 2022
"There is something special about Powerhouse this year. I don't know what it is, but y'all are eating at another level! WHEW! LISTEN HERE, WILL! YOU BETTER!"
-snip-
“Powerhouse” = The name of Winston Salem State University's (WSSU's) cheerleaders
Discussion thread #4
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2Zqdr0JQv0 Henry Ford vs Cody Cheerleaders, published by Sherron Jackson, Jan 25, 2020
1.Alessandria K., 2021
"Proud ain't even the word to describe how I felt for them THEY ATE and left no crumbs. And cadence girlllllll I sure you blew everyone here away cause we knew you had it in you but girl you blew my mind. Miss phoebe girl 😳 look at where you was to where you are now!! speechless proud of you. Journeee babyyyyyyy listen that walk is deadly imagine when lil thang gets older. 😭😭. Hard work really paid off all the way and I hope yall continue to blow everyone away. Coachesssss 💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽 yall training them well ❤❤"
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2. audrey crager, 2022
"henry ford girls ate, left no crumbs, and licked the damn table clean"
-snip-
“Henry Ford” refers to Henry Ford High School stomp & shake cheerleaders.
Discussion thread #5
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UohggLv5v8o "TxSU vs PV Cheerleader Battle 2022" published by Smash Time Productions, March 7, 2022
1. D B, 2022
"Ohhhh he ate them with the death drop tho 😂😂😂🥶🥴"
-snip-
This YouTube video showcases new stomp & shake cheerleading teams from SWAC universities. These cheerleading teams appear to be adding new elements to stomp & cheer performances. For instance, the death drop isn't a movement that is done during stomp & shake cheerleading routines, but it is always done during Hip Hop majorette battles (as popularized in the television series Bring It!".
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2. YoFav 2 Cee, 2022
"PV Cheer ATE Those Tigers UP!!! 💛"
-snip-
"PV"= Prairie View A&M University's stomp & shake cheerleading squad. "The Tigers" refers to Texas State University's (Txsu's) stomp & shake cheerleading squad.
3.
"Txsu proud 🐯 !!! OUR CHEERLEADER
ATE THEM UP"
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AN EXAMPLE OF THE AAVE MEANING OF "ATE" BEING USED IN MAINSTREAM AMERICAN ENGLISH
From https://news.yahoo.com/american-woman-tone-deaf-video-223919156.html "American woman’s ‘tone deaf’ video about
returning her Filipino nanny back home after 30 years raises questions about
treatment of overseas Filipino workers" by Neia Balao, May 22, 2023
"A woman is getting backlash from creators of color after
posting what’s been described as a “tone deaf” video about her childhood nanny.
On May 11, Lexie Jayy (@lexie_jayy), a 29-year-old model and content creator based in Los Angeles, California, posted a controversial video on TikTok, in which she reveals that she’s “moving” her childhood nanny back to the Philippines.
[…]
On May 21, in light of the criticism she’s received, Lexie posted a follow up video on TikTok with the caption, “talking about Elena,” during which she acknowledges her “inappropriate” tone and claims to have filmed “a lengthy video going into the details of her immigration process” and “employment.” Elena, however, allegedly requested Lexie keep this information to herself.
TikTok users are accusing Lexie of having an impressive
public relations representative.
“As someone who works in pr… who did you hire?! That apology ateeeee” @rangersrompsandstomps wrote.
“let’s go PR-approved pre-written script,” @readwithcindy
commented."...
-snip-
*I added italics added to highlight that sentence. "PR-approved" means "public relations-approved".
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