US EditionThe Old Slang Term '86' Probably Started as Restaurant-Worker Jargon. Now It's in the News
- James Comey, former FBI director, posted a now-deleted Instagram photo on Thursday showing shells shaped as '86 47' during a beach walk.
- Comey took the shells' arrangement as a political message, unaware that '86' can imply getting rid of something or someone, a slang origin dating back to 1930s restaurant codes.
- Donald Trump and Republicans interpreted the post more ominously, with Trump stating on Friday that Comey 'knew exactly what that meant' and equating '86 47' to assassination.
- Linguist Nicole Holliday explained this controversy arises from a polarized culture where language meanings shift by context, causing disagreements over interpretations like Comey's post.
- The incident highlights how slang references can provoke strong reactions today, reflecting ongoing hyperpartisan tensions and fluidity in language understanding.
45 Articles
45 Articles
The term '86' probably started in restaurants: Why it's causing a stir now
NEW YORK (AP) — The slang term at the center of a political brouhaha swirling around former FBI Director James Comey is an old one, likely originating as food-service-industry jargon before extending to other contexts. Some of that spread has given rise to accusations from Republicans that it was meant as a threat to President Donald Trump. In a since-deleted Instagram post, Comey wrote “cool shell formation on my beach walk” to accompany a phot…
The Curious Case of "86": From Restaurant Slang to Political Buzzword
The term "86" has a long and somewhat murky history, rooted in the hustle and bustle of restaurant kitchens and bars. But in the ever-evolving landscape of political discourse, even the most innocuous of slang can take on a life of its own. Recently,...
What does slang term ’86′ mean? Its source may surprise you
By DEEPTI HAJELA, The Associated PressNEW YORK (AP) — The slang term at the center of a political brouhaha swirling around former FBI Director James Comey is an old one, likely originating as food-service-industry jargon before extending to other contexts. Some of that spread has given rise to accusations from Republicans that it was meant as a threat to President Donald Trump.
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