Ever heard someone say “eighty-six that,” and wondered what in the world they meant? It’s a phrase often heard in movies, TV, and even real life, but its meaning isn’t immediately obvious!
Most commonly, “86” comes from the restaurant and bar industry, dating back to the 1930s. If a kitchen was “86’d” on a dish, it meant they had run out of that specific menu item, or it was no longer available. So, if a waiter shouted “86 the tuna salad,” it meant, “Stop taking orders for tuna salad, we’re out!”
But “86” can also refer to people! In a bar or restaurant, if a customer was being troublesome – maybe too drunk, rude, or causing a scene – the staff might “86” them. This means they were asked to leave or refused service. Essentially, they were cut off, or kicked out!
The exact origin is a bit murky, but there are some fascinating theories. One popular one suggests it comes from Chumley’s, a speakeasy in New York City located at 86 Bedford Street, where customers were “86’d” or hustled out the back door during a Prohibition raid. Another idea is that bartenders would “86” a patron by switching them from 100-proof whiskey to 86-proof if they’d had too much. Some even say it’s rhyming slang for “nix,” meaning to cancel or discard.
So, whether it’s running out of mashed potatoes, kicking out a rowdy customer, or simply getting rid of something unwanted, “86” is a versatile piece of slang that means, quite literally, to remove, cancel, or get rid of. It’s a quick, coded way to say, “It’s gone!”