Jew him down

Posted by Smokey Stover on October 08, 2005

In Reply to: Jew him down posted by Brian from Shawnee on October 08, 2005

: : : : : : : I like to know where the phrase came from - "Jew him/them down". Don't sound very nice, but need to know.
: : : : : : It means to haggle, and yes, it does come from the stereotype of Jews being stingy and hard-nosed businessmen.

: : : : : Haven't heard that in the US for decades. Maybe 40 years. It's verrrrrrrrrrrry offensive speech hereabouts.

: : : : Here in the UK too. However, "very offensive" doesn't equal "never used", sadly.

: : : In defense of people (usually older generation) who use this phrase, I believe they don't realize that it is offensive. They speak without thinking. Others: Dutch treat, Welch on a deal, that's white of you.

: : A Jewish friend of mine has used this phrase, with a sly grin.

: Let me clarify: My friend used the phrase only among his friends, and everyone was aware that he was being a "bad boy" by saying it. I don't think he uses it anymore, having matured.

I grew up in a less politically correct age, so remember that when throwing something at my head. As regards "jewing him down": I've seen it rephrased, "jawing him down," probably a deliberate effort to save the expression by misspelling it. As regards "welching on a deal," preferred is "welshing on a deal," far more politically incorrect. Just to be sure, I looked up one of the nursery rhymes I surprisingly remember. Unsurprisingly, I seem to have remembered it incorrectly as:

Taffy was a Welshman,
Taffy was a thief;
Taffy came to my house
And stole a leg of beef.

I went to Taffy's house;
Taffy wasn't home;
Taffy came to my house,
And stole a marrowbone.

I went to Taffy's house,
Taffy was in bed.
I took the marrowbone
And hit him on the head.

If you Google the nursery rhyme you'll find a different version. My memory is all right, just the words are wrong. SS

• Jew him down Victoria S Dennis 09/October/05
  • The Taffy Effect Smokey Stover 09/October/05
    • The Taffy Effect Victoria S Dennis 09/October/05
      • The Taffy Effect Smokey Stover 09/October/05