[Ads-l] fuck you very much (1974)

[Barretts Mail]

I don’t see this in the HDAS, published in 1994, or the OED.

Wiktionary (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/fuck_you_very_much <https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/fuck_you_very_much>) says the expression is a blend of “fuck you” and “thank you very much” and labels it vulgar. AFAIK, this is usually jocular.

The earliest entry in the UD (https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=fuck%20you%20very%20much <https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=fuck%20you%20very%20much>) is 2005. Two UD definitions give a negative connotation and one an ironical one. One definition claims it originated in “The FCC Song”.

Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuck_you_very_much <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuck_you_very_much>) gives the “FCC Song” from 2004. The Wikipedia entry on Divine (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divine_(performer) <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divine_(performer)>), however, cites Bernard Jay’s book “Not Simply Divine” (1993, https://tinyurl.com/yy7wnrdz <https://tinyurl.com/yy7wnrdz>), which has the expression as used by Divine (Harris Glenn Milstead).

The earliest citation I find is a master’s thesis:

https://tinyurl.com/y44rxzme <https://tinyurl.com/y44rxzme>
The Folk Speech of United States Air Force Transport Pilots 
1974 (https://www.worldcat.org/title/folk-speech-of-united-states-air-force-transport-pilots/oclc/29421517 <https://www.worldcat.org/title/folk-speech-of-united-states-air-force-transport-pilots/oclc/29421517>)
Suzanne G Kenagy

Other citations earlier than Jay’s 1993 work are the "National Lampoon" (1982, but probably wrong, https://tinyurl.com/y4rao7kt <https://tinyurl.com/y4rao7kt>), "Native speech” by Eric Overmyer (revised 1986, https://tinyurl.com/y6pugqjv <https://tinyurl.com/y6pugqjv>) and “Mother Jones” (April 1984, https://tinyurl.com/y5jjh86f <https://tinyurl.com/y5jjh86f>).

Benjamin Barrett (he/him/his)
Formerly of Seattle, WA



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