What "Ten Toes Down" & "Standing On Business" REALLY Mean (Information & Comments)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post presents information about the origin and meaning of the vernacular English phrases "ten toes down" and "standing on business"..

This post also presents some online examples of these phrases which some African Americans often use together.

The content of this post is presented for historical, linguistic, and socio-cultural purposes.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
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Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/03/the-february-28-2025-blackout-consumer.html for the closely related pancocojams post entitled "The February 28, 2025 Blackout (Consumer Economic Boycott) Of Target Department Stores & Some Other Big Businesses."

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THE ORIGIN AND MEANING OF "TEN TOES DOWN"
These quotes are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.

Online Source #1
From https://www.wikihow.com/Ten-Toes-Down-Meaning
“Ten Toes Down” Definition & Origins
“Ten toes down” is a slang phrase that means you’re completely loyal to someone or something. People use it to express loyalty, authenticity, and/or staying true to oneself. The phrase stems from African American Vernacular English (AAVE) in the 2010s, due to its use in rap and hip-hop songs.

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Online Source #2
Google Search AI Result (in response to my question on March 10, 2025: How did the saying "ten toes down" become viral?
"AI Overview

The phrase "ten toes down" became viral primarily through the influence of hip-hop culture, particularly within the drill rap scene, where it signifies complete commitment, loyalty, and unwavering support for something, often used to express a strong stance or determination, with "ten toes" representing the full force of oneself; its widespread use on social media further propelled its popularity.

Key points about the phrase's spread:

Origin in Drill Rap:

The term is believed to have originated in the drill rap community, where rappers frequently used it to convey their dedication to their crew, their neighborhood, or their cause.

Symbolic Meaning:

"Ten toes" represents the entirety of one's being, so "ten toes down" implies fully committing to something without hesitation.

Social Media Impact:

With rappers prominently using the phrase in their music and social media posts, it quickly spread among their fanbases, leading to widespread adoption across various online platforms.

Cultural Appropriation:

While the phrase originated within a specific cultural context, its usage has expanded beyond the hip-hop community, becoming a more general expression of strong commitment.

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Online Source #3
From https://www.quora.com/What-does-ten-toes-down-mean "What does ten toes down mean?"
1. Jatinder Bansal, 2020
"When you claim to be ten toes down, you're claiming that you're reliable and that you swear/affirm for your actions.

To be committed to something to devote your full support.

Standing up on your feet firmly.

Well grounded looking up, on vigil or guard."

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2. John (GrabCash.xyz), 2024
" "Ten toes down" is a slang expression that means being fully committed, grounded, or steadfast in a particular situation. It often conveys the idea of standing firm, being true to oneself, and facing challenges with determination and resilience.

The phrase is often used in various contexts, such as expressing loyalty, resilience, or a strong commitment to one's principles. It can be found in discussions about staying true to one's beliefs, facing difficulties with courage, or being unwavering in the face of adversity.

The use of "ten toes down" is often associated with a sense of authenticity and determination, encouraging individuals to stay grounded and committed in their actions and decisions. It's commonly used in informal language and can be found in discussions related to personal strength, loyalty, and perseverance."

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THE ORIGIN AND MEANING OF "STANDING ON BUSINESS"
These quotes are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.

From
https://www.reddit.com/r/NoStupidQuestions/comments/177wzad/what_does_standing_on_business_mean_and_where/ What Does Standing On Business Mean And Where Did It Come From 

All of these comments are from 2023
 
1.Few-Class-4598, 2023
"...as the resident black person of this chat standing on business is a AAVE term (African-American vernacular English) it means standing on what you say and your actions. I don’t know where it originally came from, but I know it’s popular now because of that Drake song and mainly Druski ( a TikTok, instagram comedian)

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2. Casper7to4
"I'm 90% sure Druski just made it up for his video and then Drake being the troll that he is expanded on it lol"

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3. clicheteenager
"It’s been aave for a while, druski didn’t make it"

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4. blacklite911
"Druski definitely didn’t create it but he definitely did repopularize it recently. Especially with his “Could’ve been records” skits"

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5. Kind_Worldliness_296
"My Great-Uncle used to say that when I was a kid. We talking ‘70s."

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Online Source #2
Google results (AI) for my question- "What does standing on business mean? (asked March 10, 2025)

" "Standing on business" is an idiom that means to be committed to your responsibilities and values, especially in a professional setting.It can also mean to follow through on your promises and maintain your boundaries.

Examples

Completing tasks that need to be done

Ending a relationship that was unhealthy

Opening your own business

Following through on a promise to become your own boss

Related concepts

"Standing on business" is similar to the idiom "walking the talk", which means to do what you say you'll do. It's also related to the philosophy of stoicism, which emphasizes self-control and long-term vision.

Origin

The phrase became popular through Drake's song "Daylight". It's become a rallying cry for empowerment and action in the face of systemic barriers.

Applications

The phrase can be used in both professional and personal contexts. It can help you achieve your goals and maintain your credibility. "

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Online #3
From https://www.yahoo.com/news/understanding-meaning-usage-stand-business-202006685.html "What Standing On Business Is All About" by TheGrio Lifestyle, February 28, 2024
..."It feels like every few months, the Black community introduces fresh trending slang that inherently becomes part of people’s daily vernacular. And just as people are getting accustomed to one term, another emerges on the social media streets. Most recently, the expression “standing on business”/ “stand on business” has taken over social media and transcended the virtual streets into the actual streets. Here is everything you need to know about the trending slang.

What does ‘stand on business’ mean?

Once upon a time, elders used to encourage young people to “keep their word.” Now, the new generation of adults is encouraging everyone to “stand on business,” which essentially means the same thing. Widely popularized by Drake’s lyrics in the song “Daylight,” the phrase “standing on business” is the modern-day version of “don’t just talk about it, be about it.” While the context in which it’s used may vary, the phrase ultimately symbolizes a few things:

Taking care of your business/obligations

Practicing what you preach so when you say you’re going to do something, you do it

Maintaining any boundaries or promises you’ve set for yourself"...

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SELECTED COMMENTS THAT INCLUDE THE PHRASE 'TEN TOES DOWN" OR THE PHRASE "STANDING  ON BUSINESS" ("STOOD ON BUSINESS") OR BOTH OF THESE PHRASES 

These online sources are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.

Online Source #1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3f0rn4788A4 "Kamala Harris on Fox News Live Reaction", published by Reese Waters, Oct 16, 2024 #reesewaters #foxnews #kamalaharris
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These comments are from a discussion thread for a Reese Waters podcast about the October 16, 2024 Fox television interview that Vice President and Democratic candidate for United Sates President Kamala Harris had with Bret Bair. Kamala Harris is who is being referred to in such comments as "That woman was a Prosecutor for many years" and "She was standing ten toes down". 

All of these selected comments are from October 16-October 20, 2024 1. @soniapinkney1342
"This woman was a Prosecutor for many years , they can not intimidate Kamala ..  She stood on Business all ten toes down !! 💙💙💙💙🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸..
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2. @sherondadavis8907
"They thought she was going to back up and stutter like trump does. She stood ten toes down 😅."
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3. @gailbiggers8181
"And stood on business ten"
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4. @sherondadavis8907
" @gailbiggers8181  that part"
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5. @Ms.Ra2
"@sherondadavis8907  🎯🎯🎯"
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6. @Londyn406
"That part!!!!"
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7. @williambrown319
"Said it with her WHOLE chest"
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8. @atlantaslim1315
" @sherondadavis8907  yes yes!!! And looked him dead in his flat face...come on now...smh...#FoxNewsAintMyNews"
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Online Source #2
From  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVQmcKt8VKE  "The Boycott Is Working: TARGET is Losing Billions And Begging BLACK People to Forgive Them" by The Joy Report, Feb 26, 2025  
"fafo season continues: In this video, we'll talk about Target's apology to Black People following the boycott brought about by their stance on DEI"

1. @CherylBarr-gm2fx, Feb 26, 2025
"Black people's let our black dollars break the economy, target Walmart and X black people's we must stand our ground for the next four years we stand on business 😊"

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2. @Rayford-m9c, February 28,  2025
"It's called the 365 treatment. We're standing ten toes down on this one."

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3. @NylaScrews-r1n, March 2, 2025
"😊I am ten toes in. "

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4.@YouChillnCharmaine, March 3, 2025
"YES GOOD FOR THEM!!!>> YEA..YEA.. ^WHAT EVA  I WILL NOT GO BACK>>>!!!!!!!!!!!!!! >.... PEOPLE PLEASE STILL STAND #TENTOESDOWN... WITH THOES WHO DONT CARE FOR US😮😮😮😮......I LOVE US🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉"

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5. @SQUEAKS818, March 4, 2025
"We stood on business with Target, if only we could come together on ALL issues against US…."

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6. @queenb3184, March 4, 2025
"Boycott

Protest

For the long haul. 💯

Standing on business!!!"

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