86 (term)

English slang term

Eighty-six or 86 is U.S. English slang. It means to get rid of by refusing to serve.[1][2] When an establishment does not want to let you in, and wants to get rid of you, it gives an excuse, such as:

  • We're all out of that
  • 30 bucks for entrance

In gang language:

  • He was 86'd (= he was murdered)

In rhyming language:

  • It rhymes with nix, and means the same thing.

References

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  1. Dundes, Alan (2001). "An uplifting origin of 86". American Speech. 76 (4): 437–440. doi:10.1215/00031283-76-4-437. S2CID 143761197.
  2. "Definition of 86 by Merriam-Webster". Merriam-Webster. October 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-10-22. Retrieved 2020-10-21.