"knock up" --usage

[David Bowie]

From:    Lal Zimman <zimman at SFSU.EDU>
> On Sep 19, 2005, at 7:46 PM, Baker, John wrote:

>>        I would say that it was mildly offensive and inappropriate,
>>but
>>not a hanging offense.  Although the phrase usually refers to an
>>unwanted pregnancy out of wedlock, it has been ameliorated in recent
>>years and now is used not infrequently to refer to pregnancy in
>>wedlock.
>>The first listing on Google for "knocked up" is for a Salon article
>>entitled "'So, why aren't you knocked up yet?' Since I got married,
>>everyone and their mailman has asked me this question."  IIRC, the
>>movie
>>Mystic Pizza (1988) included the line "I've only been married two
>>hours
>>and she wants me to get knocked up."

> Notice though that in both cases it's a woman complaining about
> others wanting them to be pregnant, which they (apparently) don't
> want themselves, so there's still some sort of negativity in the
> message. I think most speakers wouldn't generally use the word to
> refer to a situation in which the pregnancy is considered a joyous
> occasion by all.

I recently (read: yesterday) saw a visibly pregnant woman wearing a
t-shirt that read:

           Laid down
           Knocked up

My guess is that it's related to the current popularity of "attitude
tees" (to use a term i read in the newspaper a few days ago, probably in
a reprinted New York Times story where the reporter was trying to coin a
fashionable term--but either way, i really like It's Happy Bunny shirts).

--
David Bowie                                         http://pmpkn.net/lx
     Jeanne's Two Laws of Chocolate: If there is no chocolate in the
     house, there is too little; some must be purchased. If there is
     chocolate in the house, there is too much; it must be consumed.