"Back in the Day"

[Boatti, Stephen]

I think that's a very likely origin. When  I first heard it, I considered it
ironic or  mocking, though nowadays it has attained  a more straightforward
usage. It still strikes me as awkward though. I always say to myself, "back
in which day?"


Steve

 -----Original Message-----
From:   Drew Danielson [mailto:drew.danielson at CMU.EDU]
Sent:   Friday, February 23, 2001 2:05 PM
To:     ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject:        Re: "Back in the Day"

Margaret Lee wrote:
>
> "Back in the day" originated in the African-American community
> probably in the mid-80's.

It seems to me that "back in the day" may have grown out of the "back in
MY day" clichéd construction used by (and to represent ironically) an
older person admonishing a child for taking advantage of something
modern (e.g., technology, less strict social conventions), and in other
sorts of pointed reminiscing.