Date: Tue, 10 Sep 1996 09:11:03 -0700

From: Peter McGraw pmcgraw[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]CALVIN.LINFIELD.EDU

Subject: Re: "my bad"



Funny you lived in Ohio and never heard it. That's the only place I ever

DID hear it, and your note took me back. My son and his

middle-school-age friends used it in the meaning you mention below

(something like "Oops, I screwed up, sorry, my fault!"). This was in the

late '70s-early '80s in Yellow Springs, Ohio, a harmoniously integrated

community where the black kids usually set the trends. I had it pegged as

originating among the black kids and being picked up by the white kids,

though I don't know where I got this impression. I never heard it used

by anyone of college age or older.



Peter McGraw

Linfield College

McMinnville, OR



On Tue, 10 Sep 1996, Sonja Lanehart wrote:



I have been in Georgia for a year now and have heard "my bad" used for

about that same period of time. I am from Texas and lived there most of

my life, however, I lived in Michigan and Ohio for 5 years. I had never

encountered this usage before then.



I have usually heard it used in sports, but I have also heard it used

outside of that context. For example, one might hit into a double play

or make an error for which the appropriate response by that person is

"My bad." Hence, it seems to refer to an error or mistake one makes

that may or may not cause a problem for others involved. Has anyone else

encountered this usage?



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Sonja L. Lanehart

Dept. of English (300 Park Hall) Phone: (706) 542-2260

University of Georgia Fax: (706) 542-2181

Athens, GA 30602-6205 E-mail: Lanehart[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]uga.cc.uga.edu

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