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by **tcward** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 4:31 pm

Spiff, I didn't see a response to your reply to Katy's use of jargon, "86'ed", which might also be encountered written out in long-hand form as "eighty-sixed".

World Wide Words: EIGHTY-SIX

alt.usage.english FAQ: eight-six = nix

I prefer the explanation that it was originally a rhyming slang for nix, myself.

-Tim

by **Spiff** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 3:51 am

Thanks, Tim. Is this a very common expression?

by **M. Henri Day** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 10:06 am

Some people in Sweden - bland dem min tjej - intensify a negation by saying «Nix, pix !». A custom more honoured in the breach....

Henri

by **tcward** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 10:57 am

Interesting you should ask about how common "eighty-sixed" is... I was realizing as I read Katy's message (the first time) that, while I knew what she was saying, it had been a long time since I'd heard the expression. So I don't think it's all that common these days, but still most people here would know the meaning if someone used it in a sentence.

I think there's also a mental connection between "eighty-sixed" and "deep-sixed".

-Tim

by **KatyBr** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 11:19 am

tcward wrote:
I think there's also a mental connection between "eighty-sixed" and "deep-sixed".

-Tim,

I don't see the connection. One is very permanent, and violent, the other is just a. "hey we don't want you here."

Katy

by **Spiff** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 6:16 am

Is that "deep-sixed" as in "six feet under"?

by **M. Henri Day** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 11:35 am

Yes. Or six fathoms deep, perhaps, if at sea....

Henri

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