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Why you be hatin' on me?

Posted by Brian from Shawnee on September 09, 2004

In Reply to: On/off posted by platypus on September 09, 2004

: : : Generally means to despise, disparage,etc. Several sources also define it as dissuade, tell on, sabotage, or thwart. Yet I can't find a single instance of its being used this way. Can anyone corroborate the latter def or cite examples? Thanks

: : So where DID you hear/read this? Is there a context you can quote?

: I think "on" is being used to indicate "activation", as in an on/off switch for a machine. Time to get your game on. Without context I can't say for sure.

On a hunch I googled on "you be hatin on" and got a bunch of hits. "Why you be hatin' on [noun]?" means "Why are you criticizing [noun]?"

Of course, "hate on" could be a sarcastic alteration of "rock on". A liberal could end an argument with a conservative by throwing up his hands and saying "hate on, dude".

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