[Ads-l] Phrase: hold my beer (and watch this)

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

Wiktionary has an entry for "hold my beer"
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/hold_my_beer

[Begin Wiktionary information]
Phrase
hold my beer
1. (humorous, imperative, originally) I am about to start a fight.
2. (humorous, imperative) I am about to attempt something dangerous or
unintelligent.
3. (humorous, imperative) I will outperform someone who did something
foolish by doing something even more foolish.

Usage notes
This was originally an abbreviation of the longer phrase Hold my beer
and watch this, but the full phrase is now rare in all three senses.
When the context is appropriate, a different beverage can substitute,
often a pun.
[End Wiktionary information]

The earliest citation listed in this Wiktionary entry is dated 2008.
Below is a 1999 citation for sense 2.

Usenet discussion message,
Timestamp: Nov 2, 1999, 3:00:00 AM
Newsgroup: misc.writing
From: Bob Pastorio
Subject: NTSB Findings and pickup trucks
Database Google Groups / Usenet; Accessed July 14, 2026

https://groups.google.com/g/misc.writing/c/raSVzqgMLHo/m/VtC6Zd6bdFEJ

[Begin excerpt]
NTSB Findings:
The National Transportation Safety Board recently announced that they
had covertly funded a project with a U.S. auto maker for the past five
years. The auto makers were installing black boxes in four-wheel drive
pick-up trucks in an effort to determine, in fatal accidents, the
circumstances in the last 15 seconds before the crash.

They were surprised to find in 49 of the 50 states the last words of
drivers in 61.2 percent of fatal crashes were, "Oh, Shit!" Only the
state of Texas was different, where 89.3 percent of the final words
were, "Hey Y'all, hold my beer and watch this!"

Bob (...and that's the truth, officer...) Pastorio
[End excerpt]

Garson

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