Is it buck naked or butt naked? now with poll

[amoeba]

I've heard it both ways. I always thought the correct phrase was buck naked, but perhaps some of the more idiom knowledgeable folks can enlighten me.

 

[mchammer187]

buck

 

[Howard]

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...&keyword1=dirtwich

 

[amoeba]

this isn't a parody thread, although I can see why it can be construed as one.

 

[Scouzer]

butt

 

[mugs]

Buck Naked - George's porn star name on Seinfeld

Although neither makes any more sense than the other unless there's some strange etymology for buck naked, and I've heard both.

 

[Thraxen]

either

 

[Bryophyte]

It's buck naked. Though I have nothing against naked butts.

 

[Wag]

George Costanza's pr0n name= Buck Naked.

 

[mchammer187]

the third time's A charm

 

[Nimloth]

boot nekkid

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: amoeba
this isn't a parody thread, although I can see why it can be construed as one.

I know. But it's the same idea.

 

[amoeba]

should there be a poll since you guys don't seem to come to a consensus.

 

[BuckNaked]

Hey, get it right...

Naked, Buck_Naked

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: amoeba
should there be a poll since you guys don't seem to come to a consensus.

Yes.

I've convinced myself that buck naked is probably the original, but since butt naked is now in common usage it is also acceptable. My reasoning is this - if the original phrase was buck naked, it's not unlikely that someone could mishear it and think it was butt naked, since the butt is a part of the body normally covered. But if the original was butt naked, I can't imagine someone mishearing that and assuming the person said buck naked - it just doesn't make any sense. Therefore the original and proper phrase is buck naked because it makes the least sense.

I'm going out to lunch, someone vote buck for me when this noodnick gets his poll up.

 

[amoeba]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: amoeba
should there be a poll since you guys don't seem to come to a consensus.

Yes.

I've convinced myself that buck naked is probably the original, but since butt naked is now in common usage it is also acceptable. My reasoning is this - if the original phrase was buck naked, it's not unlikely that someone could mishear it and think it was butt naked, since the butt is a part of the body normally covered. But if the original was butt naked, I can't imagine someone mishearing that and assuming the person said buck naked - it just doesn't make any sense. Therefore the original and proper phrase is buck naked becuase it makes the least sense.

you mean makes the most sense

 

[mugs]

It makes the most sense BECAUSE it makes the least sense.

It appears that nobody knows, but I'm convinced I'm right.
http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl...g/archives/001351.html

"So which is "right" and which is "wrong"? That question can be interpreted to mean "which is the standard expression?" In this case, there's no clear answer. The question can also be interpreted to mean "which is the original expression?" There's no clear answer to that one either, though if the origins are really in the 1920s, someone may find some evidence eventually. The question can alternatively be interpreted to mean "which expression will make people think I've made a mistake, or will offend them for some other reason?" The answer to that one is "both, depending on the audience and the context". So you might as well do what comes naturally."

Butt naked has a decisive lead on buck naked in a google search, 5 million to 300,000

 

[Yossarian]

"butt naked" is said by the same sort of people who write "could of".

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Yossarian
"butt naked" is said by the same sort of people who write "could of".

Haha, I love that one.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Buck Naked.

 

[Bryophyte]

http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl...g/archives/001351.html
http://www.takeourword.com/TOW155/page2.html

Two pages that examine this topic.

 

[thomsbrain]

i think in everyday conversation, it can be either

 

[Kyteland]

buck naked.

Linky

The standard expression is ?buck naked,? and the contemporary ?butt naked? is an error that will get you laughed at in some circles. However, it might be just as well if the new form were to triumph. Originally a ?buck? was a dandy, a pretentious, overdressed show-off of a man. Condescendingly applied in the U.S. to Native Americans and black slaves, it quickly acquired negative connotations. To the historically aware speaker, ?buck naked? conjures up stereotypical images of naked ?savages? or?worse?slaves laboring naked on plantations. Consider using the alternative expression ?stark naked.?

 

[Aharami]

doesnt matter as long as she's naked