why beef?
2006-12-21 23:02:35 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Beef: To beef about something, means to complain or moan. I have found only one explanation for this expression and it is another that I find less than convincing; never-the-less, here goes. It allegedly comes from the London criminal underworld, well known to be full of cockney rhyming slang. The traditional shout of "stop thief!" was mocked by being replaced by "hot beef, hot beef" in criminal circles who thought that the shouters of "stop thief" were making an unnecessary fuss. The 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue defines Beef as: "to cry beef; to give the alarm", thereby supporting the above suggested origin.
2006-12-21 23:09:03 · answer #1 · answered by gg 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It does mean, what's your problem. It comes from the 80's commercial for Wendy's where the old lady goes up to the counter and orders a hamburger from somewhere other than Wendy's and takes off the bun. She then yells, "Where's the beef?".
It created such a popular colloquialism at the time, people used it in their regular vocabulary, and still do today.
2006-12-21 23:14:13 · answer #2 · answered by ♦♦pixiechix♦♦ 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A "beef" in this sense is a complaint or an argument. The term is usually applied to men, and rarely to women.
Put into more "current" slang might be worded...
"what's your malfunction?"
or more simply
"whats your problem?"
2006-12-21 23:15:07 · answer #3 · answered by chocolahoma 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A beef is another word for gripe or grievence.
The 'It's all gravy' association is incorrect, since 'what's your beef' is much older.
So if someone is being rather agressive toward you for an unknown reason, you want to know what the 'beef' (grievence, issue, gripe) is.
2006-12-21 23:07:53 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I would assume for the sound a cow makes, because when you have a beef, you are kicking up a fuss
2006-12-22 01:55:23 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its urban slang meaning "what is your problem"?
Beef is used as a metaphor in the sense that beef is clearcut, unmixed, concise and nothin more to it so explain your problem, to the point.
2006-12-21 23:09:57 · answer #6 · answered by laydeeheartless 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's all gravy ! i.e., there is no beef, and it's all good.
I think the beef thing is something to do with .... no, I don't know.
2006-12-21 23:04:38 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
its like saying "whats your pork?", just beef instead of pork. silly man
2006-12-22 00:22:32 · answer #8 · answered by john9999999 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
...and what's with that saying "Where's the beef"?
It's there.. on the cow.
2006-12-21 23:05:34 · answer #9 · answered by k² 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think its rhyming slang for problem - you know - beef - cleef - smeef - smoblem - problem
2006-12-21 23:06:30 · answer #10 · answered by Lord Onion 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋