[Ads-l] Slang: Create a new posterior orifice metaphorically

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

Ben Zimmer wrote:
> Interesting research, Garson! While not appropriate for your site, it would
> be excellent fodder for the Strong Language blog, where I contribute <
> https://stronglang.wordpress.com/>. I could put together a post on this and
> any other findings from ADS-Lers on the topic.

Ben: Your idea of putting together a post for the Strong Language blog
sounds excellent. Happy to hear that you found the material
interesting. If you can verify the citations that would be great;
alternatively, warning notes somewhere would be helpful.

Additional findings from you or other list members would be valued
together with appropriate acknowledgements to all contributors.

Garson

> On Wed, Sep 2, 2020 at 2:20 PM ADSGarson O'Toole <adsgarsonotoole at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > There is a family of expressions based on the metaphorical creation of
> > a new posterior orifice. The meaning is "to injure or rebuke someone"
> > (RHDAS) or "to attack someone savagely, either physically or verbally"
> > (Green's Slang). Here are some examples:
> >
> > tear 'em a new asshole
> > cut him a new asshole
> > fit you for a new asshole
> > blow you a new asshole
> > ripped them a new asshole
> > kick a new asshole into someone
> >
> > I received a request to explore this topic, but it does not fit my
> > website which is largely advertiser-friendly. So I decided to perform
> > preliminary research which I am now sharing:
> >
> > What is currently known:
> >
> > Green’s Dictionary of Slang has an entry with citations beginning in
> > 1969. The first citation is bracketed. Click on the four line symbol
> > at the end of the timeline to see the citations.
> > https://greensdictofslang.com/entry/x2lfcjy
> >
> > JL's "Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang" has an
> > entry (page 47) with citations beginning in 1968.
> >
> > Subreddit r/etymology has a web page with citations beginning in 1965.
> >
> > https://www.reddit.com/r/etymology/comments/5shx7f/origin_of_the_phrase_tear_subj_a_new_one/
> >
> > What I found:
> >
> > There is a Google snippet match circa 1958. The match looks solid, but
> > I have not verified it with hardcopy or scans which is necessary.
> >
> > Year: 1958
> > Book: Ruled by the Whip: Hell Behind Bars in America's Devil's Island,
> > the Arkansas State Penitentiary
> > Author: Dale Woodcock
> > Quote Page 50 (maybe)
> > Database: Google Books snippet match; requires verification with hard
> > copy or scans
> >
> > [Begin snippet text]
> > When I get home I'll cut him a new asshole. Law! What's it good for?
> > If they'd put everybody in jail that's out an' let everybody out
> > that's in, it wouldn't make any change.
> > [End snippet text]
> >
> > An article on the Encyclopedia of Arkansas supports the 1958 date for
> > "Ruled by the Whip".
> > https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/ruled-by-the-whip-book-12426/
> >
> > [Begin excerpt]
> > Ruled by the Whip: Hell behind Bars in America’s Devil’s Island, the
> > Arkansas Penitentiary is a 1958 self-published autobiographical
> > account written by Dale Woodcock. One of the few printed accounts by
> > an Arkansas prisoner, the book chronicles Woodcock’s experiences at
> > Cummins prison farm in the 1950s.
> > [End excerpt]
> >
> > There is blind match in HathiTrust for the phrase "fit you for a new
> > asshole" on page 275 of a book dated 1959. A blind match (my
> > terminology) means that no snippet is shown and no context is visible.
> > So this match must be verified with hardcopy or scans.
> >
> > Year: 1959
> > Book: The Numbers of Our Days: A Novel
> > Author: Francis Irby Gwaltney
> > Publisher: Random House, New York
> > Quote Page 275 (maybe)
> >
> > [Begin search phrase match]
> > "fit you for a new asshole"
> > [End search phrase match]
> >
> > There is a Google snippet match circa 1960.
> >
> > Year: 1960
> > Book: A Step in the River: A Novel
> > Author: Francis Irby Gwaltney
> > Publisher: Random House, New York
> > Quote Page 108 (maybe)
> > Database: Google Books snippet match; requires verification with hard
> > copy or scans
> >
> > [Begin snippet text]
> > “Now by God, John Frank, you remember: Doc'd spit in your face and fit
> > you for a new asshole if you start offering to build any bridges or
> > roads. Ask 'im what he's got in mind and then tell 'im he'll get it.
> > But be sure to tell 'im right away that you ...
> > [End snippet text]
> >
> > Garson
> >
> >
>
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