Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post presents information about what the saying "out of your cotton picking mind" means and where this saying came from.
This post also presents information and comments about the use of the "out of your cotton picking mind" in a June 24, 2018 Fox News television show.
Information about the political meaning of the term "dog whistles" is also included in this post as that term was used in several selected comments.
The content of this post is presented for linguistics, historical, and socio-cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.
-snip-
It's important to emphasize that the Fox News discussion in which the term "out of your cotton pickin mind" was used revolved around Trump's inhumane immigration policies such as the policy of separating migrant babies and children and jailing them in tent cities and other locations.
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Update: June 25, 2018 "Report: Fox News Suspends David Bossie For Two Weeks Over ‘Cotton Pickin’ Line
By Matt Shuham | June 25, 2018 6:34 pmhttps://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/report-fox-news-suspends-david-bossie-for-two-weeks-over-cotton-pickin-line.
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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
I categorize sayings such as "You're out of your cotton pickin mind" and "Wait a cotton pickin minute" as sayings that came from the American South. And, as an African American born and raised in New Jersey and, for most of my life, living in Pennsylvania, I don't recall hearing anyone- regardless of their race or ethnicity using these sayings other than in books or television or the movies.
I think that the words "cotton pickin" are euphemisms for curse words or societal taboo words, similarly or the same as "gol darn" which is a euphemism for "goddamn". The reason why these words are curse words or societal taboo words is that people feel as though there is something intrinsically negative not about the actual chore of picking cotton, but about the people who pick cotton.
In the United States anyway, enslaved Black people are the population that most people automatically think of when "picking cotton" is mentioned. As a result, all of the negative connotations that are associated with slavery and with Black people are attached to the terms "cotton picking".
Also, it seems to me that post-slavery, the negative associations that were (and still are) ascribed to poor people- regardless of their race or ethnicity, were also given to anyone who picked cotton by hand. But in spite of the fact that Black people weren't the only population who ever picked cotton by hand, it seems to me that "cotton picking" mostly refers to Black people and is loaded a way of stigmatizing Black people as a group- those of us who were from the South and who were enslaved, and those of us who weren't.
That said, I suppose it's possible to use "cotton pickin" or hear it used and think it's just a substitute for a curse word or taboo reference and not a racial put down or slur directed toward Black people. However, given the background of the words "cotton pickin" and given the growing acceptance of racism in the United States, it seems to me that people who are anti-racist and people who just want to be politically correct should recognize that saying "cotton pickin" could be considered racially offensive and therefore shouldn't use those sayings-ever.
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FULL ARTICLE REPRINT: "COTTON PICKING"
From https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/cotton-picking.html
"What's the meaning of the phrase 'Cotton-picking'?
A general term of disapproval, of something that is troublesome or a nuisance.
What's the origin of the phrase 'Cotton-picking'?
It can come as as little surprise that the term 'cotton-picking' originated in the southern states of the USA, where it is usually pronounced cotton-pickin'. It began life in the late 1700s and differs from the 19th century Dixie term, 'cottonpicker', in that the latter was derogatory and racist, whereas 'cotton-picking' referred directly to the difficulty and harshness of gathering the crop. This didn't extend to the specific expression 'keep your cotton-picking hands off of me'. This no doubt alludes to the horny, calloused (and usually black) hands that picked cotton.
Of course, 'cotton-picking' must have been in use as an English adjectival phrase for as long as English-speaking people have picked cotton. There are numerous citations of 'cotton-picking' seasons/jobs/machines etc. since the late 1700s. J & E Pettigrew's Letters has an early example, from 1795:
'One of the students was banished... for going to a cotton picking after eight at Knight.'
Manual cotton picking was tough work. The southern expression 'cutting in high cotton', which means 'have it easy', refers to the relatively easy task of cutting cotton without having to bend down.
Our folk memory of grizzled cowboys in Hollywood B-features 'fixin to run that cotton-picking greenhorn outta town' etc., might give us cause to think that the use of 'cotton-picking' as a figurative term originated in the 19th century wild west. In fact, it didn't, and it doesn't even seem to have been spoken in any of Hollywood's numerous early cowboy movies. It isn't until the 1940s that the term began to be used in any other context than that of the actual picking of cotton. The earliest such reference that I have found is in the Pennsylvania newspaper, The Daily Courier, November 1942:
It's just about time some of our Northern meddlers started keeping their cotton-picking fingers out of the South's business.
Where memory doesn't play tricks is when recalling the works of the sainted Bugs Bunny. While not originating the term, Bugs can claim to have done more to fix it into the language than the rest of rabbitkind, especially in its most often used form 'Wait just a cotton-picking minute'. There's an example in Bully for Bugs, 1953:
"Just a cotton-pickin' minute, this don't look like the Coachella Valley to me!"
The expression 'out of your cotton-picking mind' is no longer deemed an acceptable description of a black person in the USA. In April 2018 a white commentator (Brian Davis) said in a broadcast commentary of a basketball game that a black player (Russell Westbrook) was 'out of his cotton-picking mind'. The perceived racist connotations caused an uproar of protest. Davis, while claiming that the remark was unintentional, apologised, describing the comment as insensitive and a lapse of judgement. Davis was suspended from his position with the broadcaster."
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ARTICLE EXCERPT:
From https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/david-bossie-joel-payne-cotton-picking-mind_us_5b2fa4dfe4b0321a01d22bb2
MEDIA 06/24/2018 11:20 am ET Updated 7 hours [later]
David Bossie, a former deputy campaign manager for President Donald Trump, used a racist phrase to attack a black panelist on “Fox & Friends” on Sunday.
Bossie, president of the conservative advocacy group Citizens United, ripped into Democratic strategist Joel Payne during a heated discussion about liberals’ reactions to the Trump administration’s contentious immigration policies.
“You don’t have to be a golden retriever to hear all the dog whistles coming out of the White House these days,” Payne said, accusing Trump of using racist rhetoric to rally his base around immigration.
“You’re out of your cotton-picking mind,” Bossie told Payne.
“Cotton-picking mind?” Payne responded. “Brother, let me tell you something: I got some relatives who picked cotton and I’m not going to sit here and allow you to attack me like that on TV. I’m not out of my cotton-picking mind.”…
-snip-
Selected comments from this article's discussion thread are given below.
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VIDEO CLIP: Trump ally says black panelist is "out of your cotton picking mind."
Taegan Goddard, Published on Jun 24, 2018
Former Trump deputy campaign manager David Bossie to Democratic strategist Joel Payne, who is black, on Fox News.
-snip-
Selected comments from this video's discussion thread are given below.
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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS FEATURED ARTICLE
I added numbers to these comments for referencing purposes only. All of these comments are from June 24, 2018
1. Karin Peterson
"Using Evocative rethoric and then telling everyone not to be so outraged!"
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2. Tony Cossio
"Karin Peterson Why should we be outraged over a term that has been historically used without regards to color?"
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3. Geoffrey Ponstein
"Tony Cossio
Wrong it's been used to reference slave labor as an insult to black people. It's not an innocent term. If it's normal where you come from that just says something about where you come from."
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4. Roger Kerr
"Tony Cossio Sorry, you don't get to decide what is or is not offensive to a black person. It's that simple"
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5. Dallas Aranjo
"Tony Cossio because historically it came FROM using it against people of color. Duh"
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6. Darlene Hantzis
"Tony Cossio because it has been used that way-very particularly and pointedly. Derogatory. Dehumanizing."
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7. Jim Ct
"Isn't that like, a common expression used innocently by a lot of people unaware of the racial origin? In all my life I never gave it a second thought, until now."
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8. Precious Kapri
"Unaware of the racial origin!?! I think not. My great grandmother used the phrase pretty often and even at 10, I was aware of the racial origin. What do you think of when you think of “picking cotton”? Slaves. Please don’t be daft."
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9. Patti Stamper
"No, and I'm from "cotton picking" country. We don't sing "Dixie" at high school football games anymore either."
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10. Adam Olp
"Jim Ct When you're making an argument that "dog whistle" racism doesn't exist on national TV, you should probably ensure you are not going to use said "dog whistle" racism in your argument."
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11. George Stevens
"We all have something to learn from this exchange. I have in the past and might have in the future used the phrase "out of your cotton-picking mind". I never would have thought about its origins. It is like my father and my first wife in an argument about the male generic "he" for any unknown person. Of all people, my father was not discriminatory in any way- but he could not see the hidden sexism in language. sometimes we need to be brought up short."
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12. Debra Moore
"Agreed, I have also used it in the past."
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13. Rachel Harrison
"My mother, who was born in 1924 in rural North Carolina, used it all the time. All of her relatives did as well. I grew up hearing the phrase often."
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14. William Pennat
"I can recall using it though not recently. But I think I stopped more because it went out of style than anything else. However, consider my consciousness raised...."
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15. Bitzy Vanhouten
"For those who didn’t know this phrase may be offensive, now you do. When you know better, do better."
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16. Jasmine Williams
"He dog-whistled, whilst saying there was no dog whistling coming from the White House. And then the host came back, and said he did not recognize it as a dog-whistle. My ears are on fire!"
-snip-
Here's an excerpt from an article about the political meaning of "dog whistles"
From https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/dog-whistle-political-meaning
"This Is the Definition of 'Dog Whistle Politics'
A message only some can hear
Update: This word was added in April 2017.
The earliest, and still most common, meaning of dog whistle is the obvious one: it is a whistle for dogs. Dog ears can detect much higher frequencies than our puny human ears can, so a dog whistle is nothing more than an exceedingly high-pitched whistle that canines can hear, but that we cannot.
[..]
Yet there's another dog whistle we've been hearing about lately: a coded message communicated through words or phrases commonly understood by a particular group of people, but not by others.
Given that the term dog whistle has been around for over 200 years, it seems odd that it only developed a figurative sense recently. After all, it’s the perfect word to use to describe something that some people can hear, but others cannot. Yet it is only within the past 20 years or so that it has seen this figurative sense take hold. And it is primarily used to describe political speech."...
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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS FEATURED VIDEO
I added numbers to these comments for referencing purposes only. All of these comments are from June 24, 2018, except when otherwise noted.
1. Fozzgate
"Straight up racist slur."
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2. sECUREij
"Fozzgate When did Cotton Picking Mind become a racist slur."
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3. Alfonse Bun
"Bossie grew up in Boston in the late 60's/early 70's, was a deputy campaign manager for Trump, and co authored a memoir with Corey Lewandowski. Hardly a surprise he resorted to using such a phrase."
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4. Nerthus
"You Leftists are out of your "cotton picken minds". You see racism everywhere because YOU ARE RACISTS.
I guess Bugs Bunny (who popularized the phrase) is a racist KKK Nazi demons?"
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5. Tony 'tonycuev' Cuevas
"Cotton picking mind
Originated as a descriptor for the labor of harvesting cotton crops. Later used to described the farm-workers, primarily african-american slaves, who harvested the crops. May be offensive, and perceived as derogatory or insulting, to any intelligent or enlightened audience if spoken aloud."
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6. Led Zepplin
"Tony 'tonycuev' Cuevas Thats a damn lie.White ppl picked those damn crops , they had large families to care for so please take a seat."
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7. T8fgzz
"+Led Zepplin The difference is that black people at the time were often enslaved and forced to pick cotton for other people's benefit. So the saying may not be offensive to white people repeating it among themselves who's ancestors weren't enslaved to do so. But for someone to say that to an African American and completely ignore the historical connection is insane. You don't need to be a scientist to pick up on that."
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8. Led Zepplin
"T8fgzz I dont believe that.infact, black ppl today have taken this mole hill of slavery and turned it into a mountain.Slavery was not as bad as you folks make it out to be.most slaves were treated very well.And they had alot of freedoms.They lived in homes, they were fed, and they had large families.Many were paid, not a hole lot but they had money.They did not work for free .It cost the masters of the house to feed them and cloth them , and to keep a roof over their head so no free labor."...
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9. Led Zepplin
"T8fgzz Oh and yes black ppl enslaved whites during the barbary slave trade from 1600- 1840s it was horrible to say the least."
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10. Led Zepplin
"I refuse to walk on egg shells around black ppls sensitive emotions why you folks crap all over mine .I refuse to apologize for slavery and i will not allow black ppl to control what i say or think."
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11. T8fgzz
"+Led Zepplin Hmm. I don't see anyone controlling what you say or think. You're obviously free to post whatever you want as anyone can clearly see. It seems you are merely angry that people criticize what you're saying. Sorry but you're not immune to criticism simply because you're free to say whatever you like. No form of slavery is "good", to keep someone against their will. That's your first problem. And the slaves were not indentured servants. First, You said slaves lived in homes. Well, if you count slave pens as homes I guess. Based on records, these were crowded cabins called “the quarters.” Usually bare and simple, these shelters were cold in winter, hot in summer, and leaky when it rained. Sometimes, slaves had to build their own living facilities with the little supplies they were given.
Second, you said they were fed. They were. Their food was consisting mainly of corn bread, salt pork (or bacon) often cold, and molasses. Third, you said they had large families. Well, sickness was common and the infant death rate doubled that of white babies. Marriage among slaves had no legal standing and always required the approval of the master. You said it cost the master of the house to feed and house them. Yet, slaves were very profitable for their masters. The invention of the cotton gin greatly increased the productivity of cotton harvesting by slaves. This resulted in dramatically higher profits for planters (not the slaves), which in turn led to a seemingly insatiable increase in the demand for more slaves, in a savage, brutal and vicious cycle.
Third, you said they had a "lot of freedoms and were treated very well". FALSE. Slaves had no constitutional rights; they could not testify in court against a white person; they could not leave the plantation without permission. Slaves often found themselves rented out, used as prizes in lotteries, or as wagers in card games and horse races. The sexual use of black slaves by white men, either slave owners or those who could purchase the temporary services of a slave, took various forms. It was not unusual for a "house" female slave — a housekeeper, maid, cook, laundress, or nanny — to be used by one or more white males of the household for their sexual enjoyment. Separation from family and friends was probably the greatest fear a black person in slavery faced. When a master died, his slaves were often sold for the benefit of his heirs. By law, slaves were the personal property of their owners in all Southern states. In Louisiana the slave master held absolute authority over his human property as the Louisiana law of the time made clear: “The master may sell him, dispose of his person, his industry, and his labor; [the slave] can do nothing, possess nothing, nor acquire anything but what must belong to his master.” It seems as if you want to do a great deal of willful ignorance and ignore what you don't want to hear. Using other historical instances of slavery or someones comments as a reason to excuse slavery make your point irrelevant. The Barbary slave trade doesn't make slavery in the united states any less significant. What you're doing is essentially equivalent to someone saying, "if the slaves converted to Islam then they were generally freed, so see it wasn't that bad". That doesn't excuse the practice of slavery. You are essentially saying when "black people enslave whites, then slavery is bad. When white people enslave blacks, slavery is good or at least "not that bad". Moronic babble at its best."
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12. Jenjen 100000
"Oh please, it wasn't just blacks who picked cotton so did poor white American, and I bet Bossie had ancestors who picked cotton in the past."
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13. Darth Scipio
"Jenjen 100; That was a direct reference to slavery my friend and an insult to any Black person."
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14. Ed Wuncler
"Exactly, Irish people were picking cotton in America long before the first black slaves got here."
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15. Darth Scipio
"Ed Wuncler: The first black slave was brought to America in 1619 so I don't what the hell you're talking about. Black slaves were the main labor force in Tobacco and Cotton commodities while they weren't getting Paid. While whites may have worked in Tobacco and Cotton, it was small percentage of the work force and probably got paid for their services."
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16. T8fgzz
"And yet.....a very HUGE difference between 'poor white American who picked cotton': "Throughout the 17th century onward, European settlers in North America turned to African slaves as a cheaper, more plentiful labor source than indentured servants (who were mostly poor Europeans that signed contracts to pay with work for their passage). The indentured laborers were not slaves and were often young people who intended to become permanent residents. Slave owners sought to make their slaves completely dependent on them, and a system of restrictive codes governed life among slaves. They were usually prohibited from learning to read and write, and their behavior and movement was restricted. Many masters took sexual liberties with slave women, and rewarded obedient slave behavior with favors, while rebellious slaves were brutally punished. The invention of the cotton gin greatly increased the productivity of cotton harvesting by slaves. This resulted in dramatically higher profits for planters, which in turn led to a seemingly insatiable increase in the demand for more slaves, in a savage, brutal and vicious cycle."
"Slaves had no constitutional rights; they could not testify in court against a white person; they could not leave the plantation without permission. Slaves often found themselves rented out, used as prizes in lotteries, or as wagers in card games and horse races. Separation from family and friends was probably the greatest fear a black person in slavery faced. When a master died, his slaves were often sold for the benefit of his heirs."
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17. Darth Scipio
"T8fgzz: I couldn't have said it better my friend, as they were property like cattle. I can't believe our fellow citizens think is OK to insult people like this."
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18.healthdios
"He didn't repeat that cotton picking phrase afterwards , he knew he crossed the line...
Unconsciously he's putting himself on the European heritage group while looking a little dark himself.....talking about being out of his mind..."
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19. bretert
"Lol only white people can call blacks cotton pickers?
Every race can be racist you dimwit."
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20. healthdios
"bretert you have no idea what race I am.
I don't care what race you are either but, by defending a bigot who just got himself exposed on TV you're giving yourself up. Btw, calling me a dimwit doesn't help your cause either..."
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21. bretert
"healthdios No, your race is irrelevant your the one equating racial slurs to European heritage...
A black man can use racial insults against hispanics and vice versa."
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22. healthdios
"I'm not putting racial slurs under racial exclusivity...this guys was completely wrong by bringing that expression in the middle of a heated debate and like I pointed it out, he realized of his mistake and didn't do it again through the rest of his rant. Please don't make up excuses for a person you share the same point of view if you and everybody knows he was wrong for insulting another human being."
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23. Nerthus
" "crossed the line" there is no line you f&&king* word bully. "cotton picken mind" (a Bugs Bunny term) has never been a racist term before today."
-snip-
* This word was fully spelled out in this comment.
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24. healthdios
"Nerthus is that why he didn't repeat those words while ranting like lunatic...?
or he felt like apologizing on Twitter for no reason afterwards..? Even the host came back and made clear that wasn't how his show and Fox news don't agree with hot head guests insulting remarks"
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25. Cody Dale
"As a conservative Republican I can totally see the outrage in this. He stooped to a very low level here... I'm against a lot of PC culture but my God you don't say that on TV, Jesus Christ what a mess..."
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26. Smokey Mo
"Exactly, throwing insults while at work in a professional environment, especially where I work, will get you fired on the spot. There's a time and place for everything"
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27. Amanda Bigogna, June 25, 2018
"You don't say it ANYTIME. not on tv, not with your friends, never. And if anyone thinks there's an appropriate time to say this, they should take a good hard look at their conscience and open a history book or look at what's happening on our watch in 2018, 2017, 2016."
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28. Affinity. June 25, 2018
"Its not a racist phrase. White people picked cotton too. I don't see the outrage. Stop consuming the soy."
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29. jon laymon
"I'm a conservative and that was a vile and outrageous comment."
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30. FiddlerBear
"I guess Bugs Bunny is a racist."
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31. AmericanNohbuddy ™
"FiddlerBear Yes it was but it was normal at the time. Like when they'd have him dress up in black face"
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32. Yvonne Moultrie
"yeah bugs bunny did a lot of racist stuff in those cartoons, actually. there's a whole history about it on youtube. do a search."
-snip-
Here's a link to a YouTube video entitled "A Look At Bugs Bunny's Racist Past" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSSkeb6qdCI.
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REPLY
33. You know what, you’re absolutely right.
"He blends right into this administration."
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34. bdxhsc
"Womp Womp"
-snip-
Click Corey Lewandowski: "Womp Womp" About Child With Down Syndrome Being Taken From Family "Corey Lewandowski: "Womp Womp" About Child With Down Syndrome Being Taken From Family" for information about the words "Womp Womp" in the context of this discussion.
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Showing posts with label American vernacular sayings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label American vernacular sayings. Show all posts
Monday, June 25, 2018
Friday, May 12, 2017
What "Don't Let Your Mouth Write Checks Your Ass Can’t Cash” Means (online excerpts & examples)
Edited by Azizi Powell
This is Part I of a two part pancocojams series on the saying "Don’t let your mouth write checks your ass can’t cash” and similarly worded "Don't let your mouth" sayings.
Part I provides definitions and examples of this saying.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/05/stetsasonic-1991-hip-hop-dont-let-your.html for Part II of this series. Part II showcases the 1991 track "Don't Let Your Mouth Write A Check That Your Ass Can't Cash" by the Hip Hop group Stetsasonic.
The content of this post is presented for linguistic and socio-cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
I read the saying that Trump's "let his mouth write checks that his ass can't cash" in a political twitter thread today. I've read that saying before, although I've never used it myself nor have I ever heard anyone say this. But reading that saying today got me wondering where it came from and how old it is.
Here's what I found out:
The saying "Don’t let your mouth write checks your ass can’t cash” and similarly worded "Don't let your mouth" sayings appears to be considered a Southern American saying (i.e. Southern region of the United States) or an old time African American saying.
Both of these attributions may be true.
"Talking out the side of your neck" is a similar, but not completely equivalent contemporary saying. Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/03/what-talkin-out-side-of-your-neck-means.html
What "Talkin' Out The Side Of Your Neck" Means & Cameo's 1984 Funk Record With That Title" for a pancocojams series about that saying.
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VARIOUS DEFINITIONS AND EXAMPLES OF 'DON'T LET YOUR MOUTH WRITE CHECKS... AND SIMILAR SAYINGS
These quotes are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.
Excerpt #1:
From http://slangterms.tumblr.com/post/16823662934/alligator-mouth
"Bring it back! Older, Odder Slang Terms
... Old, odd, vintage things people said - and should say now!
Alligator mouth - [1920s+] an inclination to boast, bluster, or threaten; a person so inclined. Often contrasted with hummingbird ass or similar phrases
1922 in S. Smith Gumps22: “You publish that, you pen pusher with the mouth of an alligator and the brain of a minnow.”
1961 Peacock Valhalla 21: “Don’t let your alligator mouth overload your canary ass.”
A fellow who talks big but appears to lack courage is said to have an alligator mouth and a canary ass.
Source:
Lighter, J.E..Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang: Volume I, A-G. Random House, NY 1994"
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Excerpt #2:
From http://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/new_york_city/entry/dont_let_your_mouth_write_checks_your_body_cant_cash
Barry Popik, Entry from February 10, 2010
“Don’t let your mouth write checks your body can’t cash”
"Don’t let your mouth write a check (or “checks") your body (or “ass") can’t cash” has been used in black English since at least the 1960s. Comedian Flip Wilson (1933-1998) used the line on television while performing in drag as the character “Geraldine.” However, a 1978 interview with Lou Rawls stating that he heard the phrase from his mother (see below) probably indicates that Flip Wilson wasn’t the first to use it.
The saying (recorded in print since at least 1966) means that one shouldn’t run one’s mouth, or one’s body/ass/behind might not be able to back it up.
[...]
Google Books
Norwood By Charles Portis
New York, NY: Simon & Schuster
1966
Pg. 184:
“Don’t let your mouth write a check that your ass can’t cash, son.”*
19 January 1972, Eugene (OR) Register-Guard, “Should City Officials Redly Jump Into Things This Way?” by Don Floyd, pg. B1, col. 3:
Quoting comedian Flip Wilson, Kelly said the venture materialized as a result of “letting your mouth write a check your body can’t cash.”
[...]
Google Books
2 March 1978, Jet magazine, “Lou Rawls Won’t Let Fame Spoil Him Again” by Bob Lucas, pg. 61, col. 1:
“There were those old ‘mother wit’ sayings she used to tell me, like, ‘Don’t let your mouth write a check your behind can’t cash.’ And when she would punish me: ‘I paid the cost to be the boss.’”
Google Books
Runnin’ Down Some Lines: The language and culture of Black teenagers
By Edith A. Folb
Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press
1980
Pg. 44:
Don‘t let your mouth overload your ass or Don ‘t let your mouth write a check your ass can’t cash refers to provocative talk, talk that can often lead to a fight."...
-snip-
*I'm not familiar with this book, but in this quote the referent "son" may be a somewhat veiled form of criticism that belittles and otherwise shows disrespect for a man who the commenter believes is saying or doing something foolish or wrong, or who was a part of some challenge (such as a game or an argument) that the commenter believes he has won. A man or woman who calls a man "son" (who isn't actually their son) may be asserting his or her authority & superiority over that man by showing fake paternalism or maternalism, i.e. it's part of a parent's role to redirect or "school" their son when he does or says something wrong or foolish. Given this definition, people can call someone "son" who is their same age or even younger.
A person might use the word "boy" in these sentences instead of the word "son". However, when used to refer to Black men, "boy" has a long negative history. Also, commenters might prefer to use "son" instead of "boy" because "son" can falsely imply that the person using it has the man's well-being at heart when he or she makes a point of correcting him.
I don't think that there is an equivalent usage for "daughter".
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Exerpt #3:
From http://www.onecountry.com/17-southern-mom-isms-that-everyone-should-know-1648068121.html 17 Southern Mom-isms That Everyone Should Know
by Christina Stumbau, 27 May 2015
"You know we love us some Southern mamas and their Southern true-isms. If you were lucky enough to grow up Southern, you've probably heard all of these bits of wisdom! And if you are anything like us, sometimes when mama used one of these, we were confused. It wasn't until adulthood that we fully understood the meaning of these gems.
[...]
15. "Don't let your alligator mouth overload your hummingbird butt."
Don't talk the big talk if you can't back it up."...
****
Excerpt #4
From https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100630103158AAZOlm6
What exactly does "Don't Let Your Mouth Write A Check That Your A** Can't Cash" mean?
"Best Answer:
don't say things that you can't back up or things that might get your @ss kicked
by ?, 2010
**
"Dont talk the talk if you can't walk the walk.
Don't make promises (or threats) that you can't deliver."
by Bilbo, 2010
****
Excerpt #5
From https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Your%20mouth%20is%20writing%20checks%20your%20ass%20can%27t%20cash
"TOP DEFINITION
Your mouth is writing checks your ass can't cash
"Your mouth is writing checks your ass can't cash," is something TV Dr. Phil McGraw's father said to him as a boy when he would voice wild plans or notions. It means that talk is cheap relative to performance, or that promising something and delivering on it are two different things. A phrase similar in meaning is "Money talks, bullshit walks."
"I'm going to get a job selling fuzzy dice door-to-door. I'll be rich!"
"Boy, your mouth is writing checks your ass can't cash."
#plans#schemes#notions#ideas#dreams#grandiosity#realistic#unrealistic#idealistic#promise#performance#outcome#obligation#talk's cheap#competence#experience#empty promise#mouthing
by al-in-chgo March 13, 2010
-snip-
The bold and italic fonts were used by this commenter in these examples.
****
Excerpt #6:
https://www.quora.com/What-does-the-phrase-Your-mouth-is-writing-a-check-that-the-rest-of-your-body-cant-cash-mean
What does the phrase "Your mouth is writing a check that the rest of your body can't cash" mean?
[...]
Answer
Marc Bodnick, seen 2000+ movies
Answered Jun 7, 2010
I don't think this is exactly how this line is usually worded.
The most famous version of this line was in the film Top Gun, when Stinger (the aircraft carrier commander) tells Maverick, "Son*, your ego is writing checks your body can't cash." Meaning: that Maverick is overconfident about his flying skills and taking risks that will likely result in him getting hurt / killed in a plane crash.
What the line means generally: someone is warning you that you are making verbal commitments / promises / threats that you can't physically deliver on.
[...]
Phillip Remaker,
Nov 7, 2014
In financial terms, a check is a written draft which promises to pay money to the holder from some account. The check itself is worthless unless there are funds in the account which allow the holder of the check to collect the promised money.
A threat, boast, or promise made verbally is the metaphorical equivalent of writing a check.
The resulting challenge of "Don't let your mouth write a check that your ass can't cash" is an expression of doubt that the speaker possesses the resources/skill/bravery/chutzpah etc to make good on that verbal promise (what your "body" or "ass" can deliver), in much the same way that one doubts the negotiability of a check from a deadbeat."
-snip-
*The use of the referent "son" in this example is probably also meant to belittle the man who is being addressed. Read the comment I wrote after Example #2.
****
This concludes Part I of this two part series.
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This is Part I of a two part pancocojams series on the saying "Don’t let your mouth write checks your ass can’t cash” and similarly worded "Don't let your mouth" sayings.
Part I provides definitions and examples of this saying.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/05/stetsasonic-1991-hip-hop-dont-let-your.html for Part II of this series. Part II showcases the 1991 track "Don't Let Your Mouth Write A Check That Your Ass Can't Cash" by the Hip Hop group Stetsasonic.
The content of this post is presented for linguistic and socio-cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
****
PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
I read the saying that Trump's "let his mouth write checks that his ass can't cash" in a political twitter thread today. I've read that saying before, although I've never used it myself nor have I ever heard anyone say this. But reading that saying today got me wondering where it came from and how old it is.
Here's what I found out:
The saying "Don’t let your mouth write checks your ass can’t cash” and similarly worded "Don't let your mouth" sayings appears to be considered a Southern American saying (i.e. Southern region of the United States) or an old time African American saying.
Both of these attributions may be true.
"Talking out the side of your neck" is a similar, but not completely equivalent contemporary saying. Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/03/what-talkin-out-side-of-your-neck-means.html
What "Talkin' Out The Side Of Your Neck" Means & Cameo's 1984 Funk Record With That Title" for a pancocojams series about that saying.
****
VARIOUS DEFINITIONS AND EXAMPLES OF 'DON'T LET YOUR MOUTH WRITE CHECKS... AND SIMILAR SAYINGS
These quotes are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.
Excerpt #1:
From http://slangterms.tumblr.com/post/16823662934/alligator-mouth
"Bring it back! Older, Odder Slang Terms
... Old, odd, vintage things people said - and should say now!
Alligator mouth - [1920s+] an inclination to boast, bluster, or threaten; a person so inclined. Often contrasted with hummingbird ass or similar phrases
1922 in S. Smith Gumps22: “You publish that, you pen pusher with the mouth of an alligator and the brain of a minnow.”
1961 Peacock Valhalla 21: “Don’t let your alligator mouth overload your canary ass.”
A fellow who talks big but appears to lack courage is said to have an alligator mouth and a canary ass.
Source:
Lighter, J.E..Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang: Volume I, A-G. Random House, NY 1994"
****
Excerpt #2:
From http://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/new_york_city/entry/dont_let_your_mouth_write_checks_your_body_cant_cash
Barry Popik, Entry from February 10, 2010
“Don’t let your mouth write checks your body can’t cash”
"Don’t let your mouth write a check (or “checks") your body (or “ass") can’t cash” has been used in black English since at least the 1960s. Comedian Flip Wilson (1933-1998) used the line on television while performing in drag as the character “Geraldine.” However, a 1978 interview with Lou Rawls stating that he heard the phrase from his mother (see below) probably indicates that Flip Wilson wasn’t the first to use it.
The saying (recorded in print since at least 1966) means that one shouldn’t run one’s mouth, or one’s body/ass/behind might not be able to back it up.
[...]
Google Books
Norwood By Charles Portis
New York, NY: Simon & Schuster
1966
Pg. 184:
“Don’t let your mouth write a check that your ass can’t cash, son.”*
19 January 1972, Eugene (OR) Register-Guard, “Should City Officials Redly Jump Into Things This Way?” by Don Floyd, pg. B1, col. 3:
Quoting comedian Flip Wilson, Kelly said the venture materialized as a result of “letting your mouth write a check your body can’t cash.”
[...]
Google Books
2 March 1978, Jet magazine, “Lou Rawls Won’t Let Fame Spoil Him Again” by Bob Lucas, pg. 61, col. 1:
“There were those old ‘mother wit’ sayings she used to tell me, like, ‘Don’t let your mouth write a check your behind can’t cash.’ And when she would punish me: ‘I paid the cost to be the boss.’”
Google Books
Runnin’ Down Some Lines: The language and culture of Black teenagers
By Edith A. Folb
Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press
1980
Pg. 44:
Don‘t let your mouth overload your ass or Don ‘t let your mouth write a check your ass can’t cash refers to provocative talk, talk that can often lead to a fight."...
-snip-
*I'm not familiar with this book, but in this quote the referent "son" may be a somewhat veiled form of criticism that belittles and otherwise shows disrespect for a man who the commenter believes is saying or doing something foolish or wrong, or who was a part of some challenge (such as a game or an argument) that the commenter believes he has won. A man or woman who calls a man "son" (who isn't actually their son) may be asserting his or her authority & superiority over that man by showing fake paternalism or maternalism, i.e. it's part of a parent's role to redirect or "school" their son when he does or says something wrong or foolish. Given this definition, people can call someone "son" who is their same age or even younger.
A person might use the word "boy" in these sentences instead of the word "son". However, when used to refer to Black men, "boy" has a long negative history. Also, commenters might prefer to use "son" instead of "boy" because "son" can falsely imply that the person using it has the man's well-being at heart when he or she makes a point of correcting him.
I don't think that there is an equivalent usage for "daughter".
****
Exerpt #3:
From http://www.onecountry.com/17-southern-mom-isms-that-everyone-should-know-1648068121.html 17 Southern Mom-isms That Everyone Should Know
by Christina Stumbau, 27 May 2015
"You know we love us some Southern mamas and their Southern true-isms. If you were lucky enough to grow up Southern, you've probably heard all of these bits of wisdom! And if you are anything like us, sometimes when mama used one of these, we were confused. It wasn't until adulthood that we fully understood the meaning of these gems.
[...]
15. "Don't let your alligator mouth overload your hummingbird butt."
Don't talk the big talk if you can't back it up."...
****
Excerpt #4
From https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100630103158AAZOlm6
What exactly does "Don't Let Your Mouth Write A Check That Your A** Can't Cash" mean?
"Best Answer:
don't say things that you can't back up or things that might get your @ss kicked
by ?, 2010
**
"Dont talk the talk if you can't walk the walk.
Don't make promises (or threats) that you can't deliver."
by Bilbo, 2010
****
Excerpt #5
From https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Your%20mouth%20is%20writing%20checks%20your%20ass%20can%27t%20cash
"TOP DEFINITION
Your mouth is writing checks your ass can't cash
"Your mouth is writing checks your ass can't cash," is something TV Dr. Phil McGraw's father said to him as a boy when he would voice wild plans or notions. It means that talk is cheap relative to performance, or that promising something and delivering on it are two different things. A phrase similar in meaning is "Money talks, bullshit walks."
"I'm going to get a job selling fuzzy dice door-to-door. I'll be rich!"
"Boy, your mouth is writing checks your ass can't cash."
#plans#schemes#notions#ideas#dreams#grandiosity#realistic#unrealistic#idealistic#promise#performance#outcome#obligation#talk's cheap#competence#experience#empty promise#mouthing
by al-in-chgo March 13, 2010
-snip-
The bold and italic fonts were used by this commenter in these examples.
****
Excerpt #6:
https://www.quora.com/What-does-the-phrase-Your-mouth-is-writing-a-check-that-the-rest-of-your-body-cant-cash-mean
What does the phrase "Your mouth is writing a check that the rest of your body can't cash" mean?
[...]
Answer
Marc Bodnick, seen 2000+ movies
Answered Jun 7, 2010
I don't think this is exactly how this line is usually worded.
The most famous version of this line was in the film Top Gun, when Stinger (the aircraft carrier commander) tells Maverick, "Son*, your ego is writing checks your body can't cash." Meaning: that Maverick is overconfident about his flying skills and taking risks that will likely result in him getting hurt / killed in a plane crash.
What the line means generally: someone is warning you that you are making verbal commitments / promises / threats that you can't physically deliver on.
[...]
Phillip Remaker,
Nov 7, 2014
In financial terms, a check is a written draft which promises to pay money to the holder from some account. The check itself is worthless unless there are funds in the account which allow the holder of the check to collect the promised money.
A threat, boast, or promise made verbally is the metaphorical equivalent of writing a check.
The resulting challenge of "Don't let your mouth write a check that your ass can't cash" is an expression of doubt that the speaker possesses the resources/skill/bravery/chutzpah etc to make good on that verbal promise (what your "body" or "ass" can deliver), in much the same way that one doubts the negotiability of a check from a deadbeat."
-snip-
*The use of the referent "son" in this example is probably also meant to belittle the man who is being addressed. Read the comment I wrote after Example #2.
****
This concludes Part I of this two part series.
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Monday, March 30, 2015
What "___ Gives Me Life" Means (Slang Meanings)
Edited by Azizi Powell
This post provides information about the expanded use of the phrase "[someone or something] gives me life".
The content of this post is presented for cultural, folkloric, and sociological purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
This post is a companion to the pancocojams post on the vernacular use of the word "Mom" and other mother referents by fans (stans; i.e. "serious fans") of drag queens and by fans of other celebrities. Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/03/black-sources-for-custom-of-fans.html for that post.
****
DEFINITION OF "___ GIVES ME LIFE"
FROM http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Giving%20us%20life
"To give something or someone life means to give it or them energy, validity or significance.
"Girl, she is giving us LIFE with that outfit" or "What you just said was so shady, I will NOT give it life"
by MaiyLove November 23, 2013"
-snip-
Previous uses of "give life" were mostly limited to "mother" and "God". However, the vernacular saying can refer to fashions, music, sports, television shows, celebrities, specific performers, quotes, - literally anything that gives an individual or group of people energy (vitality), validity, or significance.
Saying "___ gives me life" is a great compliment to that person, group, or thing/s.
Someone who or something that gives you life is the opposite of someone who or something that deplete your energy (sucks vitality from you, drains you) or something that is untrue or insignificant.
****
BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF "GIVE ME LIFE"
From http://biblehub.com/job/10-12.htm
Job 10:12 New American Standard Bible
"You have granted me life and lovingkindness; And Your care has preserved my spirit."
****
Job 33:4
"The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
Revitalizes me, gives me energy, pumps me up"
****
VERNACULAR EXAMPLES OF "GIVE ME LIFE"
The earliest example of this expanded meaning of "__ gives me life" that I've found is a July 2012 tweet that asks is this a new slang (phrase):
From https://twitter.com/slimk4/status/225359275101388801
Slim K
@SlimK4 "What does "giving me life" mean?? is that a new slang??"
3:40 PM - 17 Jul 2012
**
Here's another early example of "___ gives me life":
http://thoughtcatalog.com/madison-moore/2012/11/black-gay-slang-explained-to-suburban-white-people/ "Black Gay Slang, Explained To Suburban White People"
By Madison Moore by November 29, 2012,
"Phrase #5: _______ gives me LIFE! E.g., Honey, Beyoncé’s performance on the VMAs last night gave me my life!
Explanation: I had a particularly riveting time/the experience was rather sensational and/or transformative."
**
Here are some other examples of "___ gives me (us) life"
From http://www.glamour.com/entertainment/blogs/obsessed/2013/12/rupauls-drag-race-season-six-I "Meet the Contestants on RuPaul's Drag Race Season Six! Also, Why We Absolutely Love This Show" by Phoebe Robinson, December 11, 2013
"Initial Thoughts: If oxygen went by another name it would be "Joslyn Fox" because she is serving fierce realness that's giving me life."
**
https://twitter.com/tennisstar202/status/557451081429839872
Deonte Randle
@tennisstar202
"@serenawilliams that dress is giving me life. #Nike #AusOpen #2015Champ"
12:14 AM - 20 Jan 2015
**
From https://instagram.com/p/y8G98tBhTC/
bougiegirlzfashion
February 2015, Bougie Girlz Fashion
"This dress is giving me LIFE and it has boning in the "V" to keep the shape. "A-Mazing Midi" dress is her name only $50.00 and only sizes S-M left"
**
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoA72T7Z-6A "RuPaul's Drag Race - Alaska's perfume commercial"
singingstar56, March 2015
"Ru's laugh gives me LIFE everytime"
-snip-
"Ru" = RuPaul Charles is an African American actor, drag queen, model, author, recording artist, entrepreneur, producer & host of several television series, particularly RuPaul's Drag Race.
**
From http://fancylibrarian.tumblr.com/post/61968059157/unsuccessfulmetalbenders-katy-perrys-new-song
"katy perrys new song is giving me life in this library"
Source: wingbeifong, via officialandymcnally)
2014
-snip-
Katy Perry is an American singer.
****
From http://www.reddit.com/r/rupaulsdragrace/comments/30vd5x/season_7_episode_5_the_despy_awards_official/
MissSteakcandy, March 30, 2015
"Can we talk about Kandy's lipsync??? It gave me so much life. I really hope she steps it up the next episode, cause she's a really great performer.
-snip-
Kandy is a contestant on season 7 of RuPaul's Drag Race. "Lipsync" is the final competitive segment that is performed by the two lowest rating contestants in that episode.
****
RELATED PHRASES- "I LIVE"/"I'M GETTING LIFE"
From https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100221120014AA2Cf8t
"Gay slang/terms: What do they mean?" Rudapu, 2013
"I live/I'm getting life- To live is to be at the peak of your happiness or excitement. You live when your favorite song comes on unexpectedly. You can live when you see someone's outfit and just really appreciate the effort they put into it. I live when Beyonce performs live and slays the stage with her presence."
**
Rika, 2013
" "i live" - Said as if that if one's sole purpose in life. You live for this or that. Over dramatic and said exaggeratingly. It is just something you really enjoy. "
****
FEATURED SONG
A number of religious songs refer to God giving people life. A number of romantic songs also refer to a person giving the singer life.
The single "Give Me Life" by the Black British group JLS was released in the United Kingdom on 14 December 2012. I don't think that its a coincidence that the lyrics to that song fit the slang meaning of "giving me life". However, given its release date, that record wasn't the original source of that phrase. Here's an sound file and an excerpt of the lyrics to that JLS song:
JLS - Give Me Life (with lyrics and pictures)
LightyGurl Published on Nov 26, 2012 [record released in 2012]
Lyric video for JLS - Give Me Life (with pictures)
-snip-
LYRICS GIVE ME LIFE (excerpt)
...I feel your blood pumping through my veins
My veins, right through my veins
So when you go I feel so drained
So drained, I feel so drained
The flow of your energy is raging
Cause girls when it's gone, it leaves me craving oh
Intravenous love, feel it dripping into my veins
Intravenous love, feel it pump pump pump
You give me life
Woah woah
You give me life
Woah woah
You give me la la la la la la life.
Keep me alive, check my vital signs
My pulse feels weak, so weak
I need a supply of your mouth to mouth
Don't speak, load me, don't speak
The flow of your energy got me racing
And let's go cause it's live or die we're chasing, oh...
Source: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/jls/givemelife.html
****
Added May 16, 2015 - "Ooo, You Just Got Your Life" statement by WSSU Cheerleaders at the end of their Victory Circle dance.
2013 WSSU School song and Victory Circle
Artistry Photography Published on Nov 4, 2013
Victory circle dance after winning the WSSU vs Shaw football game. OOOOO You Just got your life!
-snip-
Winston Salem State University's [stomp and shake] cheerleaders perform a victory circle when their football team wins a competition.
"You just got your life" is a variant form of the saying "___ gives me life". "Giving life" means that it's full of energy/it is invigorating. The cheerleaders don't need outside confirmation They KNOW they killed it (put on a superlative performance). Here's a comment from this video's discussion thread that refers to the cheerleaders "giving the fans life":
April Johnson, 2013
"Yes omg this did really just give me life, always and forever the greatest, so much energy and inspiration in that circle!!!"
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/05/four-stomp-shake-videos-winston-salem.html for a pancocojams post abour WSSU's Victory Circle.
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This post provides information about the expanded use of the phrase "[someone or something] gives me life".
The content of this post is presented for cultural, folkloric, and sociological purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
This post is a companion to the pancocojams post on the vernacular use of the word "Mom" and other mother referents by fans (stans; i.e. "serious fans") of drag queens and by fans of other celebrities. Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/03/black-sources-for-custom-of-fans.html for that post.
****
DEFINITION OF "___ GIVES ME LIFE"
FROM http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Giving%20us%20life
"To give something or someone life means to give it or them energy, validity or significance.
"Girl, she is giving us LIFE with that outfit" or "What you just said was so shady, I will NOT give it life"
by MaiyLove November 23, 2013"
-snip-
Previous uses of "give life" were mostly limited to "mother" and "God". However, the vernacular saying can refer to fashions, music, sports, television shows, celebrities, specific performers, quotes, - literally anything that gives an individual or group of people energy (vitality), validity, or significance.
Saying "___ gives me life" is a great compliment to that person, group, or thing/s.
Someone who or something that gives you life is the opposite of someone who or something that deplete your energy (sucks vitality from you, drains you) or something that is untrue or insignificant.
****
BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF "GIVE ME LIFE"
From http://biblehub.com/job/10-12.htm
Job 10:12 New American Standard Bible
"You have granted me life and lovingkindness; And Your care has preserved my spirit."
****
Job 33:4
"The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
Revitalizes me, gives me energy, pumps me up"
****
VERNACULAR EXAMPLES OF "GIVE ME LIFE"
The earliest example of this expanded meaning of "__ gives me life" that I've found is a July 2012 tweet that asks is this a new slang (phrase):
From https://twitter.com/slimk4/status/225359275101388801
Slim K
@SlimK4 "What does "giving me life" mean?? is that a new slang??"
3:40 PM - 17 Jul 2012
**
Here's another early example of "___ gives me life":
http://thoughtcatalog.com/madison-moore/2012/11/black-gay-slang-explained-to-suburban-white-people/ "Black Gay Slang, Explained To Suburban White People"
By Madison Moore by November 29, 2012,
"Phrase #5: _______ gives me LIFE! E.g., Honey, Beyoncé’s performance on the VMAs last night gave me my life!
Explanation: I had a particularly riveting time/the experience was rather sensational and/or transformative."
**
Here are some other examples of "___ gives me (us) life"
From http://www.glamour.com/entertainment/blogs/obsessed/2013/12/rupauls-drag-race-season-six-I "Meet the Contestants on RuPaul's Drag Race Season Six! Also, Why We Absolutely Love This Show" by Phoebe Robinson, December 11, 2013
"Initial Thoughts: If oxygen went by another name it would be "Joslyn Fox" because she is serving fierce realness that's giving me life."
**
https://twitter.com/tennisstar202/status/557451081429839872
Deonte Randle
@tennisstar202
"@serenawilliams that dress is giving me life. #Nike #AusOpen #2015Champ"
12:14 AM - 20 Jan 2015
**
From https://instagram.com/p/y8G98tBhTC/
bougiegirlzfashion
February 2015, Bougie Girlz Fashion
"This dress is giving me LIFE and it has boning in the "V" to keep the shape. "A-Mazing Midi" dress is her name only $50.00 and only sizes S-M left"
**
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoA72T7Z-6A "RuPaul's Drag Race - Alaska's perfume commercial"
singingstar56, March 2015
"Ru's laugh gives me LIFE everytime"
-snip-
"Ru" = RuPaul Charles is an African American actor, drag queen, model, author, recording artist, entrepreneur, producer & host of several television series, particularly RuPaul's Drag Race.
**
From http://fancylibrarian.tumblr.com/post/61968059157/unsuccessfulmetalbenders-katy-perrys-new-song
"katy perrys new song is giving me life in this library"
Source: wingbeifong, via officialandymcnally)
2014
-snip-
Katy Perry is an American singer.
****
From http://www.reddit.com/r/rupaulsdragrace/comments/30vd5x/season_7_episode_5_the_despy_awards_official/
MissSteakcandy, March 30, 2015
"Can we talk about Kandy's lipsync??? It gave me so much life. I really hope she steps it up the next episode, cause she's a really great performer.
-snip-
Kandy is a contestant on season 7 of RuPaul's Drag Race. "Lipsync" is the final competitive segment that is performed by the two lowest rating contestants in that episode.
****
RELATED PHRASES- "I LIVE"/"I'M GETTING LIFE"
From https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100221120014AA2Cf8t
"Gay slang/terms: What do they mean?" Rudapu, 2013
"I live/I'm getting life- To live is to be at the peak of your happiness or excitement. You live when your favorite song comes on unexpectedly. You can live when you see someone's outfit and just really appreciate the effort they put into it. I live when Beyonce performs live and slays the stage with her presence."
**
Rika, 2013
" "i live" - Said as if that if one's sole purpose in life. You live for this or that. Over dramatic and said exaggeratingly. It is just something you really enjoy. "
****
FEATURED SONG
A number of religious songs refer to God giving people life. A number of romantic songs also refer to a person giving the singer life.
The single "Give Me Life" by the Black British group JLS was released in the United Kingdom on 14 December 2012. I don't think that its a coincidence that the lyrics to that song fit the slang meaning of "giving me life". However, given its release date, that record wasn't the original source of that phrase. Here's an sound file and an excerpt of the lyrics to that JLS song:
JLS - Give Me Life (with lyrics and pictures)
LightyGurl Published on Nov 26, 2012 [record released in 2012]
Lyric video for JLS - Give Me Life (with pictures)
-snip-
LYRICS GIVE ME LIFE (excerpt)
...I feel your blood pumping through my veins
My veins, right through my veins
So when you go I feel so drained
So drained, I feel so drained
The flow of your energy is raging
Cause girls when it's gone, it leaves me craving oh
Intravenous love, feel it dripping into my veins
Intravenous love, feel it pump pump pump
You give me life
Woah woah
You give me life
Woah woah
You give me la la la la la la life.
Keep me alive, check my vital signs
My pulse feels weak, so weak
I need a supply of your mouth to mouth
Don't speak, load me, don't speak
The flow of your energy got me racing
And let's go cause it's live or die we're chasing, oh...
Source: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/jls/givemelife.html
****
Added May 16, 2015 - "Ooo, You Just Got Your Life" statement by WSSU Cheerleaders at the end of their Victory Circle dance.
2013 WSSU School song and Victory Circle
Artistry Photography Published on Nov 4, 2013
Victory circle dance after winning the WSSU vs Shaw football game. OOOOO You Just got your life!
-snip-
Winston Salem State University's [stomp and shake] cheerleaders perform a victory circle when their football team wins a competition.
"You just got your life" is a variant form of the saying "___ gives me life". "Giving life" means that it's full of energy/it is invigorating. The cheerleaders don't need outside confirmation They KNOW they killed it (put on a superlative performance). Here's a comment from this video's discussion thread that refers to the cheerleaders "giving the fans life":
April Johnson, 2013
"Yes omg this did really just give me life, always and forever the greatest, so much energy and inspiration in that circle!!!"
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Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/05/four-stomp-shake-videos-winston-salem.html for a pancocojams post abour WSSU's Victory Circle.
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