To "gee" someone up

Posted by R. Berg on January 31, 2002

In Reply to: To "gee" someone up posted by Word Camel on January 30, 2002

: As in John looks like he could use a little geeing up. or Why don't we go gee him up? Meaning to encourage and lift someone's spirits.

: I have seen and heard this used in the UK but not in the US. It's not in my American dictionary. I'd like to know the origin of the phrase and particuarly the word itself.

Eric Partridge's A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English gives three definitions for "gee," and the third one seems to fit, partly. "To encourage, incite; delude . . . Anon., 'Dartmoor from Within,' 1932. Perhaps [from] 'gee up!'"
"Gee up" is a command to a horse: move forward, or move faster.
: Curiously,

: Camel

• To "gee" someone up masakim 01/31/02
• Soft "g"? Word Camel 01/31/02
  • Soft The Fallen 01/31/02
    • Soft Bob 01/31/02
      • Utterly Deadpan The Fallen 01/31/02
        • Utterly Deadpan Jim 01/31/02
        • Utterly Speechless Mute Camel 01/31/02