[Ads-l] double/triple-dog dare

[Jonathan Lighter]

In my day, before inflation, it was a "double-dog dare" that could not be
refused on pain of eternal humiliation. I've never heard of the triple-dog
variant.

JL

On Sun, Jun 30, 2019 at 2:36 PM Barretts Mail <mail.barretts at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Not in the OED. I don’t see “double-dog dare” in the HDAS.
>
> Merriam-Webster (
> https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/double-dog%20dare <
> https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/double-dog%20dare>) labels
> “double-dog dare” as “chiefly South & Midland” and doesn’t have the triple
> version. I have long been familiar with at least “triple dog dare” and
> wonder whether the label is appropriate.
>
> Wiktionary (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/double_dog_dare#English <
> https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/double_dog_dare#English>) has “double dog
> dare” (verb cited to 1893, noun uncited) and an entry (
> https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/triple_dog_dare <
> https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/triple_dog_dare>) for the verb “triple dog
> dare” without citations.
>
> As a nine-year-old just informed me, a triple-dog dare is a dare that
> cannot be refused, a requirement confirmed by the UD:
>
> https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Triple%20Dog%20Dare <
> https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Triple%20Dog%20Dare>
> 1. DemonVampire180
> 17 Oct 2010
>
> ***
> It is the ultimate dare. It's for when a person rejects a regular dare,
> AND a double dog dare. It is a dare that you HAVE to do under any
> circumstances. If you don't do it you look like a weakling or a chicken.
> I triple dog dared her to run around the house completely naked. She
> chickened out and to this day we don't let her live it down.
>
> ####
> ####
>
> 2. Rachael the Great
> 30 Sep 2004
>
> ****
> Note: The infamous Triple-dog-dare is infamous for the sole reason that
> you cannot back down from it--without exception! An issued triple-dog-dare
> has no counteraction and must be implemented and/or carried out.
> Ever seen the movie "A Christmas Carol"? Enough said.
> ####
> ####
>
> 3. Dubiks
> 7 Dec 2018
>
> ****
> A way to get stupid people to do what ever you want.
> Me: "I want you to go clean out my toilet after that massive shit I just
> took."
> person: "No, I'm not doing that."
> Me: "I triple dog dare you."
> person: "Deal!"
> ####
> ####
>
> I quickly searched for the noun and verb of “triple dog dare” and came up
> with the following two citations.
>
> 4. Noun:
> https://tinyurl.com/y4p5l6n5 <https://tinyurl.com/y4p5l6n5>
> Loving an alcoholic: help and hope for significant others
> Jack Mumey
> 1985
>
> ****
> … it got to a “triple-dog-dare you,” that was _serious_ stuff! Anyone who
> didn’t answer a “triple dog dare” threat couldn’t expect to save face ever
> again!
>
> ####
> ####
>
> 5. Verb
> https://tinyurl.com/yxttjdzd <https://tinyurl.com/yxttjdzd>
> Rocka-Good-Bye
> Molly Bass
> 18 April 1990 (date the play was performed)
>
> ****
> I didn’t either, but Dillon triple-dog dared me and put two double-dog
> dares on top … and he gave me a dollar.
>
> ####
> ####
>
> Benjamin Barrett
> Formerly of Seattle, WA
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>


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