have you ever been eighty six'ed? / myLot

Bangladesh

December 5, 2006 8:59am CST

yesterday i was reading from the encarta english dictionary and i found a word 86 which stands for the situation when you go a hotel or restaurant and the waiters don't show any response to serve you.i was amused to learn this new word and i found out that i was 86ed many times.it is really very embarrassing.do you have any experience to be 86ed?

3 people like this

6 responses

fairly4458

@fairly4458 (842)

• United States

5 Dec 06

I always though 86 was to kill & dump someone...'they was 86'ed'... maybe I need to read the dictionary again!

dictionary

words

meghnadbodh

@meghnadbodh (35)

• Bangladesh

7 Dec 06

i think you would do better if you read gkumar's writing.he explained it nicely.it doesn't mean kill&dump.

Idlewild

@Idlewild (6090)

• United States

7 Dec 06

In the U.S. it does mean to throw away something, like "that food is spoiled, better 86 it." I think Gkumar's explanations are only theories, not fact.

nill_07

@nill_07 (1104)

• Bangladesh

2 Jun 07

It is nice information. It is common for Bangladesh to be 68ed. But I am aware about that.. waiter is bound to response me.

68ed

fuzzEbluebathrobe

@fuzzEbluebathrobe (378)

• United States

3 Jun 07

If you get 86'd are you tipping the wait staff?

tipping

vinney_143

@vinney_143 (662)

• India

6 Dec 06

tat s great........ keep posting interesting facts like this....

meghnadbodh

@meghnadbodh (35)

• Bangladesh

7 Dec 06

thanks for your idea.i would post new ideas like this one.give comments in those.

platypus

@platypus (334)

• Italy

5 Dec 06

yes i have, unfortunately. it is really annoying when you see a waiter talking for a long time with a guest he/she knows ignoring you. i understand they may be get poor pay but... at least, it has never happened to me that a waiter had insisted very much in having a tip...i would never give a tip to such a waiter!!

@meghnadbodh (35)

• Bangladesh

7 Dec 06

i also think so.i won't as well give tips to such a waiter who would 86 me.but don't be so annoyed,keep patience.

meghdut2

@meghdut2 (194)

• India

7 Dec 06

I have never heard about that. it seems really interesting. thare must be some story behind it. try to find out that

interesting

story

meghnadbodh

@meghnadbodh (35)

• Bangladesh

7 Dec 06

you should use microsoft encarta dictionary.from it you will be able to know anykind of word which comes in your mind or you see in movies.

gkumar

@gkumar (227)

• India

7 Dec 06

Somebody once told me this expression comes from the custom of saloons of old serving 100 proof whiskey to their "men" customers. If someone got too drunk and obnoxious they were then served only 86 proof whiskey, which was such a disgrace among the other "men" present that their embarrassment forced them to flee the bar. Another theory behind the expression is "Lunch-Counter Terms." Mr. Flexner says, "Since the 1850s waiters and cooks have been communicating by verbal shorthand..." There are several terms listed including numbers such as "86." "86, rhymes with and means 'nix,' usually called out from cook to waiter or waitress, meaning 'we're all out of it, we don't have any.' Also used to mean 'no sale' and as a code meaning a person is not to be served, because he is broke, drunk, etc." yes I too have felt 86ed at times

@meghnadbodh (35)

• Bangladesh

7 Dec 06

thanks gk for giving details.i really don't know this far.you helped me a lot.i just know the meaninig but you gave the history.thanks a lot.