[Ads-l] (like) a boss

[Barretts Mail]

> On 10 Sep 2017, at 23:44, Ben Zimmer <bgzimmer at GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> 
> On Mon, Sep 11, 2017 at 12:27 AM, Barretts Mail wrote:
> 
>> 
>> https://twitter.com/c4chaos/status/906920301685989376
>> 
>> —
>> wtf is happening with #Verge $XVG? mooning LIKE A BOSS in a bloody market!
>> —
>> 
> [...]
> 
>> 
>> Full disclosure: I spent almost no time on this email. I did not check the
>> ADS archives or go through all of the Urban Dictionary entries.
>> 
> 
> A moment's Googling would reveal the source of "like a boss" as a popular
> phrase -- the 2009 song of that name by the comedy troupe Lonely Island.
> The song was featured in a Saturday Night Live digital short, with Andy
> Samberg (who's in Lonely Island) and Seth Rogen.
> 
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NisCkxU544c
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Like_a_Boss
> http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/like-a-boss <http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/like-a-boss>

I wasn’t aware that “like a boss” was so prevalent, but that’s a good lesson, thank you. Wilson’s earlier citation shows that this not the earliest, but the “SNL” appearance is still an important event.

I am more remiss in not checking the “HDAS” which defines “the boss” (noun) as: the best (or many); the champion example; the finest. Citations go back to 1879. 

BB
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