flip the script

Benjamin Zimmer bgzimmer at BABEL.LING.UPENN.EDU
Thu Sep 6 20:15:54 UTC 2007


On 9/6/07, davemarc <davemarc at panix.com> wrote:
>
> This one was new to me, so I figured I'd share it. Sorry if this is
> redundant.
>
> Regarding reporters: "By 'flip the script,' I mean they sometimes will give
> you the distinct impression they are writing something that will flatter you
> or otherwise serve your interests -- when all along they're planning to
> eviscerate you with the spiral binding on their reporter's notebook."
> http://www.ideagrove.com/blog/2007/09/eight-warning-signs-that-reporter-plan
> s.html
>
> It's been in Urban Dictionary since 2003.
> http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Flip+The+Script

And it's been in hiphop parlance since at least 1992, when the rap duo
Gang Starr released the album "Daily Operation" featuring the song
"Flip The Script".

Lyrics: http://www.ohhla.com/anonymous/gngstarr/daily_op/script.gsr.txt


--Ben Zimmer

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org



More information about the Ads-l mailing list