[Ads-l] Right back atcha!

[Jonathan Lighter]

Thanks, G.

A poker game would be an ideal environment for the phrase.

JL

On Sun, Oct 16, 2016 at 9:34 AM, ADSGarson O'Toole <
adsgarsonotoole at gmail.com> wrote:

> The phrase reciprocates a compliment or insult according to an online
> dictionary.
>
> Website: The Free Dictionary by FARLEX
> Category: Idiom:
> Entry: right back atcha
> http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/right+back+atcha
>
> [Begin excerpt]
> right back atcha
>
> An exclamation used to express the same sentiment back to the original
> speaker; same as "you too" and "same to you." ("atcha" is a colloquial
> contraction of "at you.") Primarily heard in US, South Africa. A:
> "You're one of the nicest people I know." B: "Aw, thanks! Right back
> atcha! A: "You act like an idiot sometimes." B: "Right back atcha, you
> jerk.
> [End excerpt]
>
> The phrase can be used more generally to reciprocate actions or utterances.
>
> In 1913 Ring Lardner recorded its use in the gambling domain.
>
> [ref] 1913 December 21, Chicago Tribune, Section 3: Sporting Section,
> In the Wake of the News by R. W. Lardner, Quote Page 1, Column 2,
> Chicago, Illinois/ (Newspapers_com)[/ref]
>
> [Begin excerpt]
> Zim—All right. A buck.
> Schulte—A buck more, Heine. Throw' em away.
> Zim—You think you'r going' to chase me. I'll raise you another buck.
> Schulte—All right. A buck more.
> Zim—Right back atcha.
> Schulte—Once more.
> Zim—Once more.
> [End excerpt]
>
> Garson
>
>
> On Sun, Oct 16, 2016 at 7:31 AM, Jonathan Lighter
> <wuxxmupp2000 at gmail.com> wrote:
> > PBS _Dinosaur Train_: "Lesley, you look great!" "Right back atcha!"
> >
> > 'And the same to you (usu. in a positive sense).'  Stress on "ATcha."
> >
> > I first encountered this long ago, but can't recall when. Maybe late
> '70s?
> > But maybe much later than that.
> >
> > I associate it with TV personalities for some reason.
> >
> >
> > JL
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the
> truth."
> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------
> > The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>



-- 
"If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."

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