“Put that in your pipe and smoke it” • Hacker News Board

Re: “Put that in your pipe and smoke it”

#21

Post by bigyikes » Fri, May 21, 2021, 10:46 PM UTC

shard wrote: post #16

spockz wrote: post #2

> 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.

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?".

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”

Re: “Put that in your pipe and smoke it”

#22

Post by geenew » Fri, May 21, 2021, 11:02 PM UTC

spockz wrote: post #2

> 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.

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.

Re: “Put that in your pipe and smoke it”

#23

Post by wunderbaba » Fri, May 21, 2021, 11:03 PM UTC

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!"

Re: “Put that in your pipe and smoke it”

#24

Post by emmelaich » Fri, May 21, 2021, 11:28 PM UTC

rorykoehler wrote: post #17

pbhjpbhj wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I’m from Ireland and always thought it meant “tough luck, deal with it”

'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.

Re: “Put that in your pipe and smoke it”

#25

Post by kokanator » Sat, May 22, 2021, 12:07 AM UTC

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

Re: “Put that in your pipe and smoke it”

#26

Post by doyouevensunbro » Sat, May 22, 2021, 12:43 AM UTC

Its good to see that letters to the editor haven’t changed much in over 200 years.

Re: “Put that in your pipe and smoke it”

#27

Post by stordoff » Sat, May 22, 2021, 12:53 AM UTC

emmelaich wrote: post #24

rorykoehler wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m from Ireland and always thought it meant “tough luck, deal with it”

'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.

I'm not sure that's the regional split. I'm in the UK, and hear it being using in both senses:

"You should deal with it / I'll deal with it" - do something to solve the problem

"Yeah, deal with it!" - dismissively, put up with it

I don't know if the latter came from the American usage, but I certainly hear it used.

Re: “Put that in your pipe and smoke it”

#28

Post by mattkrause » Sat, May 22, 2021, 12:57 AM UTC

emmelaich wrote: post #24

rorykoehler wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m from Ireland and always thought it meant “tough luck, deal with it”

'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.

It's even weirder than that.

With an unspecified subject "deal with it", it does mean "put up with" or abide. However, if your boss told you that "We haven't been paid yet; deal with it!", odds are good that you're expected to be on the phone or otherwise chasing down the tardy clients.

Re: “Put that in your pipe and smoke it”

#29

Post by mc32 » Sat, May 22, 2021, 1:02 AM UTC

leoc wrote: post #11

spockz wrote: post #2

> 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.

"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: http…

Pretty much. Where I grew up it was more or less equivalent to "ain't that a bitch!"

The boss cut our hours and gave them to his cousin! (Now put that in your pipe and smoke it)

Re: “Put that in your pipe and smoke it”

#30

Post by TimTheTinker » Sat, May 22, 2021, 4:53 AM UTC

carschno wrote: post #18

colecut wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Which is of Hebrew origin and shares roots with the African "Boomshakalaka!"

Can you elaborate? I couldn't find anything toegang, but googling this without more information is hard. For starters, what does "African" refer to?

I think he or she is joking.