why do people say 86?

Question

example: We were going to the mall but I 86ed that idea.
I know what it means but why do people say it and where did it originate???

Answer 1

This is originally a bar term. It means to be cut off from the alcohol or kicked out of the establishment. Here is the origin.

"The good saloons served 100-proof whiskey. However, ladies were served 86 proof. If a male customer began to get drunk and rowdy, the bartender would break out the bottle of 86 proof in front of all his friends. Embarrassed at having been served a 'lady's drink,' the macho cowboy would leave -- hence the term 86'd."

Answer 2

No one seems to know for sure. There are several reasons given for the origin of this phrase:

* It is rhyming slang for nix according to P Tamony's 1971 book Americanisms

* there was a New York speakeasy called Chumleys during prohibition located at 86 Bedford Street - a corrupt policeman used to warn them about raids and to warn them to 86 it namely hide the booze and tell their customers to leave while the heat died down;

* in the British Merchant Marine, the size of a crew was 85 so the 86th didn't go;

* 86 was the number of a section of Florida or California law which made it illegal to serve customers who had too much to drink;

* the famous New York restaurant 21 had 85 tables so when the table was full unlucky customers were 86ed.

The Oxford English Dictionary states that it means in restaurants and bars, the item in question was no longer available or that a customer was denied service. Its first recorded usage in that capacity was recorded in 1936 in American Speech. There is also a related meaning of to throw someone out, the first usage ow which was in 1959 in the Observer.

Answer 3

People used to say, "you're 86ed" when you had too much to drink. It means to "cut someone off at the bar." Originaly it came from the bartender serving 100 proof alcohol and then switching to 86 proof when the person was too far gone to know the difference.

Answer 4

86 is the 100th anniversity of the founding of Vancouver and 1986 is the year of Expo 86 also held in Vancouver

Answer 5

86 is also part of the "10 code" as used in CB radio. "10-86" means "what is your address?"

It also is shorthand meaning to dump or get rid of.

Answer 6

86 not going there
you are out of here
you cannot come in

Answer 7

Because it's like 69, but 86. Get me? Like, "Imma 86 yo ***, foo!"

Answer 8

becasue 86 is cool

Answer 9

It means to elminate something. Mostly used in resturants.

Answer 10

It is mostly used in restaurants. Why people use it outside of there is ridiculous.