[Ads-l] IDGAF

[Jonathan Lighter]

Related:  DILLIGAF and DILLIGAS.

JL

On Mon, Nov 17, 2025 at 11:39 AM Dennis During <
00001bcaf94bd005-dmarc-request at listserv.uga.edu> wrote:

> Citations appearing in Wiktionary are unlikely to be the earliest citations
> of the existence of an expression. Each one ought to unambiguously support
> some or all of the definition under which it appears. In addition many
> citations that are helpful in specifying the meaning of a term are
> disqualified because they are considered mentions rather than uses. This is
> intended to exclude "dictionary-only" terms, but it also keeps out many
> dialectal and slang terms, not to mention early reports of usage both
> spoken and written. I suppose all this means that I shouldn't bother
> posting such citations, as ADSers on this list are likely to look at
> Wiktionary for clues without any help from me.
>
> On Sat, Nov 15, 2025 at 10:26 PM ADSGarson O'Toole <
> 00001aa1be50b751-dmarc-request at listserv.uga.edu> wrote:
>
> > Interesting topic, JL and Dennis.
> > Here is a slight improvement to the Wiktionary citation. This citation
> > points to the same music album.
> >
> > Usenet discussion message,
> > Timestamp: Oct 15, 1993, 1:18:39 PM
> > Newsgroup: rec.music.misc
> > From: Gonzo
> > Subject: RELEASE: Recent and Upcoming Album Releases: 93-41
> > Google Groups Search; Accessed Nov 15, 2025
> > https://groups.google.com/g/rec.music.misc/c/Hf7YZPE_XTI/m/xQ4fP8ie4XkJ
> >
> > [Begin excerpt]
> > Date Artist/Group Title
> > ...
> > 2 Nov Lyrical Prophets I.D.G.A.F. [RM]
> > [End excerpt]
> >
> > The following Usenet message clarifies the interpretation of the
> > initialism.
> >
> > Usenet discussion message,
> > Timestamp: Nov 6, 1993, 1:29:24 AM
> > Newsgroup: alt.rap
> > From: Ryan - MacMichael
> > Subject: New Lyrical Prophets release ad
> > Google Groups Search; Accessed Nov 15, 2025
> > https://groups.google.com/g/alt.rap/c/iaEf9ng3pSI/m/Yu2uAch4bcsJ
> >
> > [Begin excerpt]
> > This is Laze from the Lyrical Prophets, and yes -- it's finally here:
> > the release of our fourth album, "I.D.G.A.F." ("I Don't Give A F...").
> > We're real excited about this album... lots of PHAT, PHAT, PHAT shit.
> > [End excerpt]
> >
> > In 1963 a high school student in Newton, Massachusetts presented a
> > more elaborate initialism without providing an interpretation:
> > I-D-G-A-F-F-A-A-R-D. I conjecture that this initialism meant: I don't
> > give a flying fuck at a rolling doughnut.
> >
> > Yearbook: 1963 Newtonian
> > Newton High School, Newton, Massachusetts
> > Entry for Student: Philip Lawrence Gilman
> > Quote Page 158, Column 1
> >
> >
> https://archive.org/details/newtonian1963newt/page/158/mode/2up?q=%22I.D.G.A.F%22
> >
> > [Begin excerpt]
> > PHILIP LAWRENCE GILMAN 138 Albemarle Rd., Newtonville
> > ...
> > Favorite Expression: I-D-G-A-F-F-A-A-R-D (I'll explain).
> > [End excerpt]
> >
> > To support of my interpretation I cite Kurt Vonnegut Jr.'s 1969 novel
> > "Slaughterhouse-Five" which included the following closely related
> > expression: Go take a flying fuck at a rolling doughnut. The primary
> > setting of the novel was WWII although the hero was "unstuck in time";
> > hence, there were multiple settings and time periods.
> >
> > Year: 1969 Copyright
> > Book Title: Slaughterhouse-Five or The Children's Crusade
> > Author: Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
> > Chapter 6
> > Quote Page 127
> > Publisher: A Delta Book: Dell Publishing Company, New York
> >
> > [Begin excerpt]
> > "Go take a flying fuck at a rolling doughnut," murmured Paul Lazzaro
> > in his azure nest. "Go take a flying fuck at the moon."
> > [End excerpt]
> >
> > In 1933 a publication in North Carolina employed the expression:
> > flying-leap at a rolling doughnut.
> >
> > Date: May 1933
> > Periodical: The Carolina Buccaneer
> > Article: The Missing Link
> > Start Page 23, Quote Page 28, Column 2
> > Publisher: The Publications Union of the University of North Carolina,
> > Chapel Hill
> >
> >
> https://archive.org/details/carolinabuccanee1019unse/page/28/mode/2up?q=+%22rolling+doughnut%22
> >
> > [Begin excerpt]
> > The fairy god-mother then reluctantly showed me a gopher hole.
> > Sneezing in embarrassment, I took a flying-leap at a rolling doughnut.
> > Getting intensely hungry, I took off my shirt and, throwing stones
> > industriously, I jumped on the back of a galloping goose and went
> > home.
> > [End excerpt]
> >
> >
> >
>
> --
> Dennis C. During
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>


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