Guess What?
July 12, 2016 7:26 AM Subscribe
Mark R. asks: Where did the whole kids thing of saying “Guess what?” and answering with “chicken butt!” come from? Today I Found Out delves into the history of the greatest joke in the world (if you are seven years old).
Spoiler: Like much American slang, it appears to have its roots in African-American culture.
Spoiler: Like much American slang, it appears to have its roots in African-American culture.
A stupid joke that I made up is:
Person 1 (initiating the joke): What do you call a unit of amperage times voltage?
Person 2: A watt.
Person 1: ...a unit of amperage times voltage?
Person 2: A watt.
Rinse. Repeat.
posted by I-baLL at 7:31 AM on July 12, 2016 [6 favorites]
Person 1 (initiating the joke): What do you call a unit of amperage times voltage?
Person 2: A watt.
Person 1: ...a unit of amperage times voltage?
Person 2: A watt.
Rinse. Repeat.
posted by I-baLL at 7:31 AM on July 12, 2016 [6 favorites]
Northern California.
Early 1980s.
We went like this:
--What?
--Chicken butt ... five cents a cut
--Ten cents a cut ... inflation!
posted by chavenet at 7:32 AM on July 12, 2016
Early 1980s.
We went like this:
--What?
--Chicken butt ... five cents a cut
--Ten cents a cut ... inflation!
posted by chavenet at 7:32 AM on July 12, 2016
"Guess who? Chicken tattoo!" Tattoo? What the hell kind of weirdo kids does this guy know? It's obviously chicken poo.
posted by The Man from Lardfork at 7:34 AM on July 12, 2016 [16 favorites]
posted by The Man from Lardfork at 7:34 AM on July 12, 2016 [16 favorites]
But do you know why? Chicken thigh!
posted by 445supermag at 7:36 AM on July 12, 2016 [9 favorites]
posted by 445supermag at 7:36 AM on July 12, 2016 [9 favorites]
My fave was always....
You know what's between us?
Chicken penis!
posted by ian1977 at 7:36 AM on July 12, 2016 [10 favorites]
You know what's between us?
Chicken penis!
posted by ian1977 at 7:36 AM on July 12, 2016 [10 favorites]
And yes I know that chickens don't have penii.
posted by ian1977 at 7:37 AM on July 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by ian1977 at 7:37 AM on July 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
We always followed "chicken butt" with:
"Do you know why?"
"Why?"
"Cow pie."
Growing up in a rural area certainly had something to do with that one.
posted by Ber at 7:41 AM on July 12, 2016 [5 favorites]
"Do you know why?"
"Why?"
"Cow pie."
Growing up in a rural area certainly had something to do with that one.
posted by Ber at 7:41 AM on July 12, 2016 [5 favorites]
It wasn't my friend Ewert, in about 1988? He was 10, I'm sure he created it.
posted by jb at 7:41 AM on July 12, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by jb at 7:41 AM on July 12, 2016 [8 favorites]
"My fave was always.... You know what's between us? Chicken penis! And yes I know that chickens don't have penii."
So, then what obscure rhymes are we left with? "Don't forsake a chicken cloaca"?
posted by mystyk at 7:41 AM on July 12, 2016 [10 favorites]
So, then what obscure rhymes are we left with? "Don't forsake a chicken cloaca"?
posted by mystyk at 7:41 AM on July 12, 2016 [10 favorites]
The interrupting cow is the greatest joke for 7 year olds. That is all.
posted by dglynn at 7:41 AM on July 12, 2016 [26 favorites]
posted by dglynn at 7:41 AM on July 12, 2016 [26 favorites]
I’m surprised it’s so recent! It’s so aurally satisfying & sturdy & seems like it should have been in Chaucer. TFA prompted me to look up “guess what” itself on Google Books ngram viewer and I was even more surprised to see that it first showed up only in the '30s, which makes the later arrival of chicken butt less weird, maybe.
posted by miles per flower at 7:47 AM on July 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by miles per flower at 7:47 AM on July 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
Is this a regional thing? I have never heard this (I'm French Canadian which might be why) but I wholeheartedly support it though!
posted by Ashwagandha at 7:51 AM on July 12, 2016
posted by Ashwagandha at 7:51 AM on July 12, 2016
It's a dikfer.
posted by leotrotsky at 7:56 AM on July 12, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by leotrotsky at 7:56 AM on July 12, 2016 [4 favorites]
Yes, yes, only seven year olds do this joke. It is certainly not the most common joke I make in my home. Certainly not.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 7:58 AM on July 12, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by MCMikeNamara at 7:58 AM on July 12, 2016 [12 favorites]
What's a dikfer?
I love that stupid joke
posted by caution live frogs at 8:00 AM on July 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
I love that stupid joke
posted by caution live frogs at 8:00 AM on July 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
For some reason, down in Georgia we always followed this with our own made-up refraction of "Guess how- chicken cow!" (which was, as it occurs to me now, a prescient nod to Wesley Willis) And then, the inexplicable "Guess when- chicken fin!" (which makes absolutely no sense at all, but follows in that it conjures certain cryptozoological images that delight) "Guess where- chicken hair," (mainly just 'cuz it rhymes, natch). "Guess who- Chicken Boo!"
posted by Bob Regular at 8:01 AM on July 12, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Bob Regular at 8:01 AM on July 12, 2016 [3 favorites]
What's a dikfer?
It's kinda like an updog.
...or a henway.
posted by leotrotsky at 8:04 AM on July 12, 2016 [2 favorites]
It's kinda like an updog.
...or a henway.
posted by leotrotsky at 8:04 AM on July 12, 2016 [2 favorites]
I will add for the record that my brothers and I were well versed in the "chicken butt" joke as early as 1982-3 or so, elementary school, in Montana. And my 7 year old son is of course carrying on the tradition.
I got him good the other day when I said he could have a matta... he asked "What's a matta?" and walked right into that one
posted by caution live frogs at 8:06 AM on July 12, 2016 [6 favorites]
I got him good the other day when I said he could have a matta... he asked "What's a matta?" and walked right into that one
posted by caution live frogs at 8:06 AM on July 12, 2016 [6 favorites]
I remember teaching my kids chicken butt.
One of my proudest moments.
posted by Annika Cicada at 8:08 AM on July 12, 2016 [3 favorites]
One of my proudest moments.
posted by Annika Cicada at 8:08 AM on July 12, 2016 [3 favorites]
The next five years of chicken butt really grated on my ex-wife though, and thinking back, might have marked the beginning of the end of our marriage. (/me ponders a bit on that one....)
posted by Annika Cicada at 8:09 AM on July 12, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Annika Cicada at 8:09 AM on July 12, 2016 [2 favorites]
When my son was two, I started answering "chicken butt!' whenever he said "guess what?" He was briefly annoyed but now he mostly ignores me when I do it (he's five) though occasionally he'll play along, and we'll do the whole who/poo why/thigh routine. But he's a natural at the knock knock jokes, though he's recently switched out "knock knock" for "ding dong". Also, when he was three, we would tell him jokes and have him repeat them back to us, which is how we ended up with video gems of e.g. "A horse walks into a bar and the bartender says BIG HEAD!" and "Two peanuts were walking down the street, and one of them was salty."
posted by rabbitrabbit at 8:14 AM on July 12, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by rabbitrabbit at 8:14 AM on July 12, 2016 [5 favorites]
Arrgh, I skimmed too quickly. Sorry for the repetition.
posted by Greg_Ace at 8:16 AM on July 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Greg_Ace at 8:16 AM on July 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
My dad, who is white and was born in Indiana in the 1940s, grew up with, "Guess what? Chicken snot!" I always thought that was weird because "what" and "snot" don't rhyme very well in my dialect.
posted by enf at 8:18 AM on July 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by enf at 8:18 AM on July 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
Read the bonus facts. Wish I had not.
posted by AugustWest at 8:25 AM on July 12, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by AugustWest at 8:25 AM on July 12, 2016 [2 favorites]
Between this and the origin of "tarnation" I think I'm going to be delving deep into this web site for months to come. Many thanks!
(Chicken spanks)
posted by ejs at 8:27 AM on July 12, 2016 [2 favorites]
(Chicken spanks)
posted by ejs at 8:27 AM on July 12, 2016 [2 favorites]
Where did it start? Chicken fart!
It's gone on for how long? Chicken schlong!
What does it mean? Chicken peen!
What can this research do for us? Chicken uterus!
posted by Metroid Baby at 8:30 AM on July 12, 2016 [4 favorites]
It's gone on for how long? Chicken schlong!
What does it mean? Chicken peen!
What can this research do for us? Chicken uterus!
posted by Metroid Baby at 8:30 AM on July 12, 2016 [4 favorites]
What do you call a cat wrapped in a blanket?
A purritto!
posted by AlexiaSky at 8:34 AM on July 12, 2016 [3 favorites]
A purritto!
posted by AlexiaSky at 8:34 AM on July 12, 2016 [3 favorites]
Chicken nugget?
Totally dug it.
Chicken breast?
Give it a rest.
posted by oneswellfoop at 8:35 AM on July 12, 2016
Totally dug it.
Chicken breast?
Give it a rest.
posted by oneswellfoop at 8:35 AM on July 12, 2016
The hind end of the chicken is actually pretty delicious.
posted by destrius at 8:39 AM on July 12, 2016
posted by destrius at 8:39 AM on July 12, 2016
My friends and I were saying this back in the early 1970s in Nova Scotia. We had four television stations back then (two Canadian, two American - I remember reading TV Guide's Fall Previews and being upset at all those CBS shows I was missing). I can't imagine something that started in southern Black culture in the mid-60s travelled that far, that fast back then, without it hitching a ride on some larger pop culture vehicle.
posted by GhostintheMachine at 8:55 AM on July 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by GhostintheMachine at 8:55 AM on July 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
Can we trace "winner winner chicken dinner" too?
posted by Billiken at 8:58 AM on July 12, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Billiken at 8:58 AM on July 12, 2016 [2 favorites]
I don't remember playing this when I was young. I do remember making up for lost time once I saw it in the punksploitation gem that is the movie Suburbia though.
posted by Fezboy! at 9:00 AM on July 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Fezboy! at 9:00 AM on July 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
"The interrupting cow is the greatest joke for 7 year olds."
And also 35 year olds.
posted by kevinbelt at 9:02 AM on July 12, 2016 [3 favorites]
And also 35 year olds.
posted by kevinbelt at 9:02 AM on July 12, 2016 [3 favorites]
I have 6 chickens. I have about a billion photos of their butts. Chickenbutt, chickenbutt, chickenbutt.
posted by Sophie1 at 9:03 AM on July 12, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by Sophie1 at 9:03 AM on July 12, 2016 [5 favorites]
I have 6 chickens. I have about a billion photos of their butts.
That first one (linked in the MetaTalk "Take care of yourself and those you love!) thread is what reminded me about this TIFO article and pushed me to post it.
So... thanks?
posted by Etrigan at 9:23 AM on July 12, 2016 [2 favorites]
That first one (linked in the MetaTalk "Take care of yourself and those you love!) thread is what reminded me about this TIFO article and pushed me to post it.
So... thanks?
posted by Etrigan at 9:23 AM on July 12, 2016 [2 favorites]
Disregarding a rather interesting, though seemingly unrelated, 1970 work Psychoanalytic Study of the Child – Volume 25 in which one Ruth S. Eissler describes a girl named Naomi who uses some peculiar terms such as “chicken-butt” to mean “sex”
Well, well. Chicken butt and taters, mmmm.
posted by mwhybark at 9:26 AM on July 12, 2016
Well, well. Chicken butt and taters, mmmm.
posted by mwhybark at 9:26 AM on July 12, 2016
You know what? Chicken butt
You know why? Chicken thigh
You know wooperwillan? Chicken supervillain
posted by zippy at 9:29 AM on July 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
You know why? Chicken thigh
You know wooperwillan? Chicken supervillain
posted by zippy at 9:29 AM on July 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
What's a dikfer?
all right god, you son of a bitch ive never asked you for anything. but im asking now if you let me updog this fuckin guy i fuckin swear
posted by Mayor West at 9:31 AM on July 12, 2016 [11 favorites]
all right god, you son of a bitch ive never asked you for anything. but im asking now if you let me updog this fuckin guy i fuckin swear
posted by Mayor West at 9:31 AM on July 12, 2016 [11 favorites]
The hind end of the chicken is actually pretty delicious.
The parson's nose! But only if it gets properly crispified.
posted by tavella at 10:09 AM on July 12, 2016
The parson's nose! But only if it gets properly crispified.
posted by tavella at 10:09 AM on July 12, 2016
The greatest BOFA in history. Don't forget to play the video.
posted by Errant at 10:48 AM on July 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Errant at 10:48 AM on July 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
It's kinda like an updog.
Yep, that's within a stone's throw for a strong man. Time to repost Game of Updogs!
posted by Naberius at 1:45 PM on July 12, 2016 [3 favorites]
Yep, that's within a stone's throw for a strong man. Time to repost Game of Updogs!
posted by Naberius at 1:45 PM on July 12, 2016 [3 favorites]
It took me a minute to remember, but I have anomaly. I also grew up in Northern California in the 70s and 80s, and I remember first knowing it as "Guess what? That's what!" I only learned of the chicken like, in the 90s. I honestly think it's possible my dad tweaked it because it was too risqué.
posted by rhizome at 6:28 PM on July 12, 2016
posted by rhizome at 6:28 PM on July 12, 2016
Can we trace "winner winner chicken dinner" too?
Viva Las Vegas
posted by unliteral at 11:16 PM on July 12, 2016
Viva Las Vegas
posted by unliteral at 11:16 PM on July 12, 2016
Grew up in Ontario, Canada, went to a dozen different schools (some French, some English), never heard this before being exposed to the character Buckley on "King of the Hill."
posted by Construction Concern at 4:31 AM on July 13, 2016
posted by Construction Concern at 4:31 AM on July 13, 2016
Chicken butt.
posted by Etrigan at 7:00 AM on August 12, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Etrigan at 7:00 AM on August 12, 2016 [3 favorites]
« Older “I've decided that this is it. It's done.” | Come, gentle night, come, loving, blackbrow'd... Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by selfnoise at 7:29 AM on July 12, 2016 [7 favorites]