PhrasesHub

Eighty six

    Definitions

      • reject or get rid of something
        To refuse or eliminate something completely and permanently, often due to it being unwanted or unnecessary

      • cancel or end something
        To terminate or discontinue something, often abruptly or without warning

      • to be out of stock or unavailable
        To indicate that a particular item is not available or has run out, typically in a restaurant or bar setting

      • to evict or throw out someone
        To forcibly remove or eject someone from a place, often due to disruptive or unruly behavior

    Examples of Eighty six

    • "I received an eighty-six on my math exam."

      This is an example of using the idiom "eighty-six" to mean eliminating or removing something. In this case, it's using a slang term for failing an exam, as if the exam paper was actually erased or removed from the system with the grade of 86 instead of 86 being the actual grade.

    • "The restaurant eighty-sixed the entire kitchen staff."

      This example is using the idiom "eighty-six" to mean terminating or dismissing someone from their job, much like how an item might be removed from inventory or a dish from a restaurant's menu.

    • "The police eighty-sixed the gang hideout."

      Here, "eighty-six" is being used as a way to describe demolition or removal of a location, in this case, the gang's hideout.

    • "The government is trying to eighty-six the online community's complaints."

      Here, "eighty-six" is used to mean suppressing or eliminating protests, objections, or any form of public outcry. In essence, the idiom acts as a way to shut-down complaints or issues, by making them disappear, as if they never existed to begin with.

    • The store had a clearance sale last weekend, and they eighty-sixed all the unsold merchandise.

      This idiom "eighty-six" comes from the way the number 86 used to appear on the pads used in old-fashioned restaurants to tally bills. The use of the term "eighty-six" to mean "eliminate, discard, or get rid of" originated in such restaurants, where the number signified that a dish was no longer available. In this example, "eighty-sixed" means that the store removed all unsold merchandise from their inventory during the sale.

    • The employees knew that if they made too many mistakes, they'd be eighty-sixed.

      In this case, "eighty-sixed" is used figuratively to mean that the employees would be fired or dismissed if they made too many errors. The expression "eighty-six" may have its roots in the fact that the number 86 on those old restaurant pads drew a thick line through the amount owed, much like crossing out someone's name on a list would "eliminate" that person from consideration.

    • After a series of major blunders, the project was eighty-sixed.

      In this example, "eighty-sixed" is used to mean that the project was canceled or terminated due to a series of significant mistakes or errors.

    • The customer service representative eighty-sixed my complaint, but I'm still going to write a letter to the company.

      In this last example, "eighty-sixed" is used to mean that the customer's complaint was ignored or dismissed by the representative. The expression "eighty-six" can be seen in various other environments besides restaurants and may take on different meanings depending on the context. Here, it infers that the complaint was disregarded or discarded as if it never happened, but the customer still intends to pursue the issue further.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "eighty six" has a variety of meanings, all related to getting rid of or eliminating something. It can be used to reject or refuse something, cancel or end something, indicate that something is out of stock, or even to evict someone. In all of these uses, the intention is to permanently remove or eliminate the thing in question.

    Origin of "Eighty six"

    The origin of the idiom "eighty six" is uncertain, but there are a few theories about its origins. One theory suggests that it comes from the restaurant industry, where items on a menu were numbered and "86" was used to indicate that a particular item was no longer available. Another theory suggests that it originated in the military, where "86" was used as slang for "dispose of" or "get rid of."

    Regardless of its exact origins, the idiom "eighty six" has been in use since the early 20th century and has become a widely recognized phrase in American English. It is often used in casual conversation and in a variety of contexts, making it a versatile and commonly understood idiom.