[Ads-l] Antedating of "Bogart"

[Peter Reitan]

Early use of "Bogarting,"  usually "out-bogarting", in the sense of behaving or acting like Humphrey Bogart, which later, by extension, was applied to behaving in any manny popularly associated with Bogey's tough-guy image.

1944. "Seen and Heard About Town . . . Small boy Humphrey Bogarting in cafe, "Gimme a cuppa java . . ."
Grayson County News-Gazette, Leitchfield, Kentucky, March 10, 1944, page 8.
https://www.newspapers.com/article/grayson-county-news-gazette/178291202/

1946. "Out-Bogarting Humphrey Bogart in Johnny Angel, George Raft is the star of the action epic now playing at the Strand."
The Tampa Tribune, February 3, 1946, page 13-C.
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune/178291606/

1947. "Before he gained fame in the pulpit and kitchen, soft-spoken, blond Albert Henry Kimball was a familiar and feared figure to the underworld of the Nutmeg State.  On one occasion he single-handedly rounded up half a dozen hoodlums.  One night he actually out-Bogarted Humphrey, the toughest cop on film, by running a couple of car thieves off the highway, whacking their heads together, and disarming them."
Okemah News Leader, Okemah, Oklahoma, January 10, 1947, page 2.
https://www.newspapers.com/article/okemah-news-leader/178292093/

1949. In reference to Sessue Hayakawa's return to Hollywood movie-making. "Vet Jap Actor Out-Bogarting Bogart Himself."
The Springfield News-Leader, Springfield, MIssouri, January 13, 1949, page 6.
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-springfield-news-leader/178291545/


1951. In reference to witnesses who testified at Senate hearings about the mob. "Only Adonis conformed to the Hollywood picture of an underworld boss.  He out-Bogarted Bogart."
The Advertiser, Adelaide, South Australia, March 26, 1951, page 2.
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-advertiser/178291763/

1952.  Used in reference to Humphrey Bogart, himself, in a review of the African Queen.  "Her [(Katherine Hepburn's)] co-star out Bogarts himself in this movie, working his teeth and jaw overtime.  But he fits the part, and he has a charm all his own, a charm which manages to emerge even from layers of dirt and stubble."
 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-ledger/178292325/

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From: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> on behalf of ADSGarson O'Toole <00001aa1be50b751-dmarc-request at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Sent: Tuesday, August 5, 2025 7:19 PM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Subject: Re: Antedating of "Bogart"

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Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
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Subject:      Re: Antedating of "Bogart"
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This citation for "bogarted" seems to fit the sense of "To force,
coerce; to bully, intimidate."

Date: June 13, 1953
Newspaper: Citizen News
Newspaper Location: Hollywood, California
Article: For the Record
Author: John Hall
Quote Page 6, Column 1 and 2
Database: Newspapers.com
https://www.newspapers.com/image/683825409/?match=3D1&terms=3D%20bogarted

[Begin excerpt]
At this point, for no special reason at all, I was beginning to lose
my confidence.
"Gimme that form," I Bogarted at my cohorts as I knocked them flat on
the fancy Club House floor.
You get that way after a few races.
[End excerpt]

Garson

On Tue, Aug 5, 2025 at 3:46=E2=80=AFPM Shapiro, Fred
<00001ac016895344-dmarc-request at listserv.uga.edu> wrote:
>
> bogart (OED 1965)
>
> 1959 Evening Star (Washington, D.C.) 15 Feb. Teen section 5/4 (Newspapers=
.com)
>
> Boys who break into lines or take charge without permission are said to b=
e "bogarting."
>
> Fred Shapiro
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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