You might have heard it in a movie, or perhaps overheard it in a bustling diner: someone gets "eighty-sixed." It sounds a bit mysterious, doesn't it? Like a secret code. And in a way, it is. But this isn't some arcane piece of jargon; it's a wonderfully versatile piece of American slang that's been around for decades, evolving and adapting like a seasoned traveler.
So, what does "86" actually mean? At its heart, it's about removal, rejection, or unavailability. Think of it as a polite (or not-so-polite) way of saying something or someone is out, gone, or unwelcome.
Where did this peculiar phrase come from? Well, the exact origins are a bit fuzzy, which, in itself, adds to its charm. One of the most popular theories points back to the Prohibition era in the United States. Apparently, there was a section in the New York Liquor Code, section 86, that dictated when alcohol shouldn't be served. So, "eighty-sixing" someone could have meant refusing them service, particularly if they'd had a bit too much to drink.
Another strong contender for its origin lies in the world of soda fountains and lunch counters from the 1930s. Back then, if an item was sold out – no more tuna salad sandwiches, no more cherry cokes – the soda jerk might say it was "eighty-six." It was a quick, coded way to let colleagues know something was unavailable.
From these beginnings, the meaning broadened. It started as a noun referring to an out-of-stock item, but by the 1950s, it had morphed into a verb. "To eighty-six" someone or something meant to get rid of it, to throw it out, or to refuse service. You might be "eighty-sixed" from a club for misbehavior, or a restaurant might "eighty-six" a particular dish from its menu.
Interestingly, the meaning even expanded to encompass more serious connotations. By the 1970s, "86" could, in certain contexts, refer to murder – a stark reminder of how slang can take on darker shades. But for most everyday uses, it retains its core meaning of dismissal or unavailability.
So, the next time you hear "eighty-sixed," you'll know it's not just a random number. It's a linguistic chameleon, a piece of American vernacular that tells a story of soda jerks, speakeasies, and the ever-evolving nature of language. It’s a reminder that even the most common phrases often have a rich, layered history waiting to be uncovered.
