7 ms·
It's a bit odd how the word "pimping" has come to mean "embellish". I know how it happened, from "pimp my ride", a show that tried to use "street" language for
by jordigh 9y ago
It's a bit odd how the word "pimping" has come to mean "embellish". I know how it happened, from "pimp my ride", a show that tried to use "street" language for effect. I can't shake the awful connotations of pimping, though. Nice hardware hack problem, but I hate to think of you pimping your son.
- AnnoyingSwede 9y agoAgree, that word isn't the best, but as long as we are clear i'm pimping the car and not my son it's all kosher to me ;)
- kakarot 9y agoAs individuals, we don't have much personal agency over the evolution of language, so sometimes it's best to just let words change meaning. We wouldn't be speaking English today if people got in a fit every time a word changed meaning. People have been using "pimp" as a verb in this context since at least the 70's, so I'd say this is a lost battle. The phrase did not come from Pimp my Ride. edit: my interpretation of your use of quotations is one of many, but I should give you the benefit of the doubt here
- aidenn0 9y agoA more generous interpretation of the quotes around street is that the commenter thought the language on the show was inauthentic (i.e. not real street language).
- vinay427 9y ago> putting quotations around the word "street" implies a certain attitude about urban culture that I'm going to assume you don't actually wish to convey. I read those quotes as simply indicating that they weren't sure if "street" was the most accurate way to convey what they meant (urban, etc.). It is common to use quotes around a word that is an approximation of the intended meaning.
- thieving_magpie 9y agoIf you're going to rant about how the word has taken on new definitions at least be accurate about how it was used. Pimping my son != Pimping my son's ride
- jovial_cavalier 9y agoWow. You must be a really good and decent person for a simple word to affect you so. Bravo, sir. Bravo.
- marnett 9y agowords are thought. thought forms knowledge. knowledge is power.
- mywittyname 9y agoThe author doesn't appear to speak English as his first language, so it's completely possible he's far more familiar with the informal definition of the word, especially in the context of cars.
- SirZimzim 9y agoBetter than the use of "porn" on sites like reddit to signify fancy photos.
- jordigh 9y agoYeah, I don't like that much either. :-) Thankfully, that usage seems to be petering out?