fancy man

[Benjamin Zimmer]

The Democrats have fought back with their own zzz-worthy site, "Fancy Frist".

http://www.wonkette.com/politics/bill-frist/when-did-fancy-become-such-a-pejorative-159767.php


--Ben Zimmer

On 3/10/06, Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at yahoo.com> wrote:
> ---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at YAHOO.COM>
> Subject:      Re: fancy man
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> I guess I'm pretty obtuse, but my reaction to the headline was " 'Fancy?' What the hell ? ? ? Oh. It's a Republican site. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz."
>
>   Though I believe  I'm probably more cognizant of "fancy man" in the senses given than most Americans, that term didn't exactly spring to mind as I read the title.
>
>   My perception is that "fancy" as used on the site is intended as the antithesis of "plain, down-to-earth, 'regular.' "  It implies that Ford has "fancy" tastes and ideas.
>
>   Oh. It's Democrats that are flogging the "fancy man" issue. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
>
>   JL
>
> Benjamin Zimmer <bgzimmer at BABEL.LING.UPENN.EDU> wrote:
>
> There's some uproar over "Fancy Ford" , a
> website attacking Rep. Harold Ford put up by the National Republican
> Senatorial Committee (Ford's running for senate in Tennessee).
> Left-leaning bloggers say that the site draws on stereotypical (and
> racist) "pimp" imagery to demean Ford. To make their point, they note
> the dictionary definition of "fancy man":
>
> -----
> http://firedoglake.blogspot.com/2006_03_05_firedoglake_archive.html#114196154904381347
> So why use the word fancy?
> Well, according to Encarta:
> fancy man
> noun
> 1. woman's lover: the lover or boyfriend of a woman, especially a
> married woman (dated informal)
> 2. Same as pimp
> (archaic)
> -----
> http://nomoremister.blogspot.com/2006/03/wow-three-fer.html
> Jesse and Atrios say that the "Fancy Ford" site is basically calling
> Ford a pimp. They're right -- and before any right-winger
> disingenuously tells you that such a slur was the furthest thing from
> any Republican's mind, why don't you grab a dictionary and look up
> fancy man.
> -----
>
> Now, I agree that this site is reprehensible, but... "fancy man"? Are
> Americans even familiar with that archaic slur?
>
> Others say that calling Ford "fancy" is implicitly homophobic, not racist:
>
> -----
> http://www.tpmcafe.com/node/27690#comment-102076
> Honestly, if the liberal blogs weren't telling me, I wouldn't know
> Ford was black from the pictures on that page. The language seems more
> to be implying that he's gay... "fancy," "fabulous" and pampered,
> buying flowers.
> -----
>
> Thoughts?
>

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