eight·y-six or 86 (ā'tē-sĭks')
tr.v. Slang., eight·y-sixed or 86·ed, eight·y-six·ing or 86·ing, eight·y-six·es or 86·es. 1. To refuse to serve (an unwelcome customer) at a bar or restaurant.
2.
1. To throw out; eject.
2. To throw away; discard.
[Perhaps after Chumley's bar and restaurant at 86 Bedford Street in Greenwich Village, New York City.]
― Fish fingers all in a line (kenan), Friday, 18 February 2005 20:17 (twenty years ago)
hmm, i always thot it was a ww2 term, like most good slang.
― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 18 February 2005 20:22 (twenty years ago)
in waiter-speak, it also means when the restaurant is out of an item. like "we're 86'ed on grey goose vodka, shiraz by the glass, durian ice cream, and yellowfin tuna"
― phil-two (phil-two), Friday, 18 February 2005 20:25 (twenty years ago)
At least regionally, "86" is a bad omen. For example, in Saskatchewan, there are no buildings with 86th Floors.
― Huk-L, Friday, 18 February 2005 20:26 (twenty years ago)
EIGHTY SIX (86)
For those not familiar with the expression, to ‘eighty-six’ something in a restaurant is to indicate you are out of that item.
There are many stories of the origin of this expression. Here are a few of them. #1 and #2 seem more likely to me, but who knows!
1) Chumley's, a bar in Greenwich Village, which during speakeasy days through unruly customers out the back door, which is number 86 Bedford Street - they were '86'd.'
2) Same bar, Chumley's same time period - the front door address was 86 Worth Street and there was a chalk board inside the front door with the address painted across the top - the chalkboard was were items that had been sold out were posted - it soon became known as the '86' board.
3) Same time period, maybe the same bar, when a new customer (not a regular) came into the speakeasy, the bartender would '86' them - serve them 86 proof booze instead of the 100 or higher proof stuff reserved for the regulars.
4) Similar to #3: drunks were given 86 proof booze instead of higher proof stuff they had been drinking.
5) Same city, different restaurant - Delmonico's at the turn of the century had a menu with more than 100 items. They always seemed to be out of #86, and it became an expression used by the service staff meaning to be out of something - 86'd.
6) Same city (New York) The old Manhattan subway route ended at 86th Street. That's it, all out, can't go further, everybody out. You were 86'd.
7) A grave is 8 feet long, 6 feet deep. 86'd.
8) French soldiers in WW I were issued 85 bullets - 86 and that's it!
― Michael White (Hereward), Friday, 18 February 2005 20:29 (twenty years ago)
I wonder if phil-two's example has a different origin than the getting kicked out of the bar one does, as in no. 5 above?
― Michael White (Hereward), Friday, 18 February 2005 20:38 (twenty years ago)
three years pass...
lets 51 this motherfucker
― The Saving Grace of Gospel House (The Reverend)
― velko, Monday, December 1, 2008 2:59 AM (1 month ago) Bookmark
― THE SUGGEST BANS! THEY DO NOTHING!! (PappaWheelie V), Friday, 16 January 2009 20:37 (sixteen years ago)