Since my husband is 11 years older than me and also Hawaiian, he sometimes drops words and phrases that I’ve never heard of.
“Rubber neck!” is something he might say if he told you your package was on the front porch and you turned to look only to see that nothing was there.
In my world we would say, “Made you look!!!”
And there are a ton of Hawaiian style references…rubbish instead of garbage, icebox instead of fridge, slippers instead of sandals, skoo instead of school, row instead roll, perfeck instead of perfect, etc…
And let’s not forget about the whole “bone up” conversation.
So when we were talking whether or not we used to get nervous on our first day of school, the discussion turned to first day of school outfits and how old you are when you start caring about what you look like on the first day.
Pat was all, “I’m sure you got all pussed out for school when you were a teenager.”
And I was all, “Wait, what did you just say?”
And he was all, “Did you get pussed out?”
And I was all, “Oh my God, please just stop with that phrase, what are you even talking about?”
And he was all, “You’ve never heard of pussed out? You know, like getting all dressed up?”
And I was all, “Ummmm no.”
And he was all, “Seriously, look it up and you’ll see that people get pussed out when they want to look nice.”
And I was all, “Are you sure you’re not talking about ‘all gussied up’? Because I could definitely go with a gussied up, but for sure have never in my life have used the term “pussed out” to describe an outfit and I’d really appreciate if you stopped too because I just can’t.”
And he was all laughing, “look it UP Kat!”
I did take the time to look up “pussed out” in the Urban Dictionary and unlike the time he had to sell me on “bone up” as an actual phrase people use, this time I’m afraid he’s incorrect…sort of.
Pussed out DOES exist, but it’s a way of saying someone backed out of something they said they were going to do. Once I read that I was all, “ohhhh okay yes…when you’re 17 and annoyed with your friend because they said they would go sky diving with you and then changed their mind…that might be an acceptable reason to use that phrase.”
When describing an outfit you’re wearing to school however, definitely doesn’t work at all.
Gigi says
Um, yeah, I’m with you on this one.
Mama Kat says
Thank you! My old timer Hawaiian isn’t going to pass this one over my head.
Melissa B. says
“All gussied up.” Most def a phrase my Nana used. I’m not sure about “pussed out,” but I was definitely “dressed to the 9s” most of last week! Second week of school – any bets on whether this trend continues?
Mama Kat says
Oh dressed to the 9’s is a good one too! Sounds like it was an excellent week! ;)
Beverly says
Reminds me of my grandmother. .. she told me that my local shopping plaza what the “cats ass” …. we now use the term frequently.
Salena Lee says
Ummmm what?! Born and raised in Hawaii and I have NEVER heard of “pussed up” it sounds offensive. Lol. All the rest yes. However, “rubber neck” is used when passing an accident and someone looks which is what causes traffic. Looking for something that’s not there has always been ” made you look”. And yes, we always got “dressed up” in our new clothes on the first day of school. :)
Julia says
I keep laughing about this maybe Pat can start a new trend and we can all say we are getting pussed out when we go out, lol.
kim- Today's Creative Blog says
Oh my…….only you can make me giggle til I cry!
kelley says
Sunday Best was what my mom always said when she wanted us to look our best.
Andrea says
Yes. Gussied up. Of course we used that to describe old women when they put on their pearls to eat at Denny’s or something.
We also used pussed out when we referred to someone backing out of something possibly dangerous. As in “Joe was going to ask Sonya to the kegger, but when he found out her ex Johnny was going to be there, he pussed out.”