4 hours ago by spockz
> The colloquial phrase put that in your pipe and smoke it and its variants mean accept or put up with what has been said or done, even if it is unwelcome.
Interesting. I always gave it a more sinister meaning along the lines of “eat that”. This is definitely more neutral.
2 hours ago by shard
To me, "put that in your pipe and smoke it" has a sense of rubbing in that the listener was incorrect, so it has the same connotation as "eat crow" or "how do you like them apples?".
2 hours ago by bigyikes
Yes, in my mind it has exactly the same meaning as “how do you like them apples?”
When I was a teenager my cousin hit me with a new one that I kind of like: “put that in your juice box and suck on it”
3 hours ago by pbhjpbhj
Where I grew up in England it was the polite version of "well you can just shove it up your arse". Maybe the meaning has moved on because "smoke" as meaning consider has been lost, or perhaps it was a local variation.
Just checked with my partner, they're from half the country away from where I'm from and they agree.
2 hours ago by IggleSniggle
Over in Midwest USA, it always meant, usually (but not always) adversarially, “so you can ponder THAT all night, and no matter how much you think about it, will change neither the facts nor the conclusion.”
The only local color I have to add is that it was also somewhat normal to hear “put that in your peace pipe and smoke it” and also “so you can shove that in your peace pipe, and smoke it,” both being references to the custom among some Native North American nations to share a “peace pipe” as a kind of diplomatic gesture, but turned on its head.
This had the effect of me always believing and perceiving it as (usually) especially sarcastic, but largely deriving from the exact meaning that it originates from, even if the cultural reasons were obfuscated.
2 hours ago by rorykoehler
I’m from Ireland and always thought it meant “tough luck, deal with it”
an hour ago by emmelaich
'deal' itself seems to have a different meaning depending on the country
In the USA it seems to mean 'cope' or put up with.
In Australia / UK it means do something about it.
3 hours ago by OJFord
(From the South West) I agree it can be like that, but I also think the quoted bit is fair - to me it doesn't have to be adversarial 'ha, take that!' it can be more 'eesh, I'm on your side but ugh, what a blow'.
3 hours ago by GordonS
Scotland checking in!
I've always understood it the same way. Checked with my partner from half this country away, and she agrees too.
3 hours ago by leoc
"ponder (and put up with!) what has been said or done, even if it is unwelcome" would be a more correct definition. It's basically equivalent to the Americanism "chew on that". It can be pretty neutral or quite hostile, depending on how unhappy you think the listener is going to be with the news.
I'm not sure why this caught HN's interest to be honest, but it's no harm. If you want more, you can read P.W. Joyce: https://archive.org/details/englishaswespeak00joycuoft/
2 hours ago by geenew
I've understood it similarly, as a statement made after introducing a piece of evidence or an arguable assertion. The meaning of the phrase itself being a demand that the listener reconsider their position in light of the newly introduced facts.
2 hours ago by wunderbaba
This will never not remind me of Spaceghost Coast to Coast when he interviews Sportscaster Bob Costas. "Put that in your pipe and smoke it! With your burned lips!"
32 minutes ago by kokanator
My mom had a list of these. She used it as, "well ponder that, but it's not going to change.'
She also said:
"go sew buttons on your underwear" - what your doing is just about as useless
"and, if horses were wishes, beggars would ride" - stop wishing and just do it
3 hours ago by Lammy
And these days we describe people as being "based" i.e. "freebased" i.e. "engaging in action or thought without regard to the opinion of others (because you're high on rock cocaine)"
3 hours ago by rastapasta42
In the past decade the term "based" has been reclaimed by Lil B, and has lost the derogatory connotation.
From my experience "based" represents a level-headed, wise individual who can think outside the box.
3 hours ago by jackson1442
More recently, the meaning of "based" seems to have shifted to something closer to "completely unapologetic about one's beliefs, even if it seems unpopular." It's usually brought up when someone poses a strawman but it ends up being completely accurate.
3 hours ago by asdff
It was lil B who turned that word into a positive term.
3 hours ago by Lammy
Lil B for Lil Boss / Big talk, get your head cracked http://www.lyrics.gy
3 hours ago by diogenesjunior
Based
2 hours ago by RangerScience
This will always bring up http://sinatrarb.com/ in my mind, now.
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