When and where did “bad boy” start being used to mean something impressive, e.g. “Let's take this bad...
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The term "bad boy" literally means a boy who is bad. Those of us who were boys and grew up speaking English are likely to have heard it applied to us, either as a description or a warning.
Somewhere along the way this term acquired another meaning rather far afield from its original one:
bad boy
3. Something that is considered especially impressive, potent, or powerful. My new motorcycle has some real power in the engine; I can't wait to take this bad boy out on the road.
From TFD Online
I had always thought this to be an American term, but just this evening I heard it used on a British TV crime drama. That got me to wondering who started using it first. It could be that the term originated in the UK, or that the term wafted its way across the pond from the US.
Can anybody nail down when and where this specialized meaning of "bad boy" gained currency?
idioms slang
asked 18 mins ago
Robusto
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The term "bad boy" literally means a boy who is bad. Those of us who were boys and grew up speaking English are likely to have heard it applied to us, either as a description or a warning.
Somewhere along the way this term acquired another meaning rather far afield from its original one:
bad boy
3. Something that is considered especially impressive, potent, or powerful. My new motorcycle has some real power in the engine; I can't wait to take this bad boy out on the road.
From TFD Online
I had always thought this to be an American term, but just this evening I heard it used on a British TV crime drama. That got me to wondering who started using it first. It could be that the term originated in the UK, or that the term wafted its way across the pond from the US.
Can anybody nail down when and where this specialized meaning of "bad boy" gained currency?
idioms slang
asked 18 mins ago
Robusto
127k27303512
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
The term "bad boy" literally means a boy who is bad. Those of us who were boys and grew up speaking English are likely to have heard it applied to us, either as a description or a warning.
Somewhere along the way this term acquired another meaning rather far afield from its original one:
bad boy
3. Something that is considered especially impressive, potent, or powerful. My new motorcycle has some real power in the engine; I can't wait to take this bad boy out on the road.
From TFD Online
I had always thought this to be an American term, but just this evening I heard it used on a British TV crime drama. That got me to wondering who started using it first. It could be that the term originated in the UK, or that the term wafted its way across the pond from the US.
Can anybody nail down when and where this specialized meaning of "bad boy" gained currency?
idioms slang
asked 18 mins ago
Robusto
127k27303512
The term "bad boy" literally means a boy who is bad. Those of us who were boys and grew up speaking English are likely to have heard it applied to us, either as a description or a warning.
Somewhere along the way this term acquired another meaning rather far afield from its original one:
bad boy
3. Something that is considered especially impressive, potent, or powerful. My new motorcycle has some real power in the engine; I can't wait to take this bad boy out on the road.
From TFD Online
I had always thought this to be an American term, but just this evening I heard it used on a British TV crime drama. That got me to wondering who started using it first. It could be that the term originated in the UK, or that the term wafted its way across the pond from the US.
Can anybody nail down when and where this specialized meaning of "bad boy" gained currency?
idioms slang
idioms slang
asked 18 mins ago
Robusto
127k27303512
asked 18 mins ago
Robusto
127k27303512
asked 18 mins ago
Robusto
127k27303512
asked 18 mins ago
Robusto
127k27303512
asked 18 mins ago
Robusto
127k27303512
127k27303512
add a comment |
add a comment |
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