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Re: 86

Posted by ESC on May 24, 2000

In Reply to: 86'ed posted by Michael Sheridan on May 24, 2000

: In the restaurant biz the term 86' (we are out of it )is quite common. Where did this come from? Ive heard one story, and I am wondering if this is true.

Stuart Berg Flexner, in "Listening to America," has a section on lunch-counter terms. He says, "86, rhymes with and means 'nix,' usually called out from cook to waiter or waitress, meaning 'we're all out of it, we don't have any.' Also used to mean 'no sale' and as a code meaning a person is not to be served, because he is broke, drunk, etc."