Timeline for What is the etymology of "…kick ass and take names"?
Current License: CC BY-SA 2.5
4 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 16, 2011 at 2:58 | comment | added | Michael Lorton | "Taking name" of inefficient sailors is certainly something done by petty officers in the Hornblower books (I assume for future punishment). Whether it was actually done in navies then or now I don't know but I heard Marines saying "kicking ass and taking names" back in the '70s. | |
| Apr 16, 2011 at 1:42 | comment | added | The Raven | Agreed. "Military slang" is often the hallmark of the false etymology. Same with "part of sailing ship." But sometimes it is. Partridge has many terms coming to us from military use. Here, "taking names" is strongly suggestive of some kind of hierarchical authority structure. A citation would be extremely helpful. | |
| Mar 24, 2011 at 15:14 | comment | added | Colin Fine | Reference please. This sort of story is very common in response to requests for origins of words and phrases, and they very commonly turn out to have made up by people who just assume them. Callithumpian's quote from 1965 suggests that it is other than naval. | |
| Mar 24, 2011 at 14:24 | history | answered | user5531 | CC BY-SA 2.5 |