Ever been at a bar and heard a bartender mutter that they've "86ed" a guy in the corner? Or maybe you were at a diner, and the waitress shouted to the kitchen that the meatloaf is 86. It's one of those weirdly specific numbers that has somehow lodged itself deep into the American lexicon. We use it constantly. We use it to mean someone is kicked out, something is out of stock, or an idea is officially dead. But honestly, most people have no clue where it actually came from.
It’s a slang term that feels old. Because it is.
The most basic 86 meaning is to eject, cancel, or discard. If you’re 86ed from a club, don’t try to go back in next weekend; you’re banned. If the kitchen 86es the salmon, stop ordering it because they ran out ten minutes ago. It is the verbal shorthand for "it's gone."
The Gritty Kitchen Roots of 86
Most linguists and historians, including the folks over at the Oxford English Dictionary, point toward the frantic, grease-stained world of 1920s and 30s soda fountains and diners. Back then, short-order cooks used a whole system of numeric "boysten" or "soda fountain lingo" to communicate quickly without having to shout full sentences over the sizzle of a grill. It was a code.
Efficiency was everything.
You had "80" for water and "19" for a corned beef sandwich. "95" meant a customer was leaving without paying. In this chaotic numerical language, "86" meant "we’re out of this item." It’s snappy. It cuts through the noise of a lunch rush. If a cook shouted "86 on the apple pie," the servers knew immediately to stop selling it.
Some people think it rhymes with "nix," which is plausible. "Nix" means to cancel or forbid. It’s a short, sharp sound. 86... nix. It fits. But the diner theory isn’t the only horse in the race, and that's where things get interesting.
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The Secret Bars and Navy Ships
There’s a legendary—though often debated—story involving the "Chumley’s" bar in New York City. Located at 86 Bedford Street, this former speakeasy was a staple of the Prohibition era. The story goes that when the cops were about to raid the place, the bartenders would tell the patrons to "86 it" through the Bedford Street exit while the police were coming in through the Pamela Court entrance. It’s a great story. It sounds cool. Is it 100% true? Probably not, but it’s part of the fabric of the term now.
Then you have the military.
The Navy has a habit of influencing how we talk. Some claim the term comes from the Navy's "Allowance List." If a ship was being decommissioned or cleaned out, items that were destined for the scrap heap were disposed of under "Article 86" of some manual or another. Others point to the Winchester Model 1886 rifle, suggesting that being "86ed" meant being taken out by a bullet.
Honestly, these military theories are usually a bit of a reach. The diner lingo theory has the most paper trail. Written references to soda fountain code appear in books like The 10,000 Public Enemies as early as 1935. It was a professional language for the working class long before it became a Hollywood trope.
Why 86 Still Matters in 2026
You might think slang from the 1930s would have died out by now, especially in a world dominated by digital communication. It hasn't. In fact, the hospitality industry still lives and breathes this term. If you work in a restaurant today, "86" is probably the most important word you’ll hear during a double shift. It prevents the ultimate nightmare: a customer waiting twenty minutes for a dish that doesn't exist.
It has also evolved.
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We don't just use it for food anymore. In the world of screenwriting and journalism, to 86 a scene or a paragraph is to cut it for the sake of the story. In tech, you might 86 a feature that’s causing too many bugs. It’s a clean, decisive way of saying "this is no longer part of the plan."
There’s a certain power in the number. It’s not a suggestion; it’s an executive decision. When something is 86ed, there’s no room for negotiation.
The Darker Side: Being Banned
When the 86 meaning shifts from "out of stock" to "get out," things get personal. In the bar industry, 86ing a customer is a formal process. It’s not just "hey, go home, you’re drunk." It’s a permanent or long-term ban.
Establishments keep "86 lists." These are the names and faces of people who have caused enough trouble—fighting, harassment, or extreme intoxication—that they are no longer welcome. In some states, being 86ed carries legal weight; if you return after being told you’re 86ed, you can be charged with criminal trespassing. It’s the ultimate "failing grade" for a socialite.
Common Misconceptions About the Number
People love to make up patterns where they don't exist. You’ll hear people say it’s because a standard grave is 8 feet long and 6 feet deep. That’s a myth. Most graves are about 6 feet deep, but the dimensions don’t actually match up to an "86" footprint in any standardized way.
Another one? The "80 miles out and 6 feet under" theory from old maritime law. Again, it sounds poetic, but there’s zero historical evidence for it. People just like the idea of slang having a morbid, ancient origin. The truth is usually more mundane: it was just a way for a guy in a white apron to tell another guy in a white apron that they ran out of ham.
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How to Use It Without Sounding Like a Poseur
If you want to use the term naturally, keep it to situations involving removal or unavailability.
- In a professional setting: "The client hated the third slide, so we 86ed it from the presentation."
- At a party: "We had to 86 the music because the neighbors started banging on the walls."
- In the kitchen: "Check the fridge before you go—if the milk smells weird, 86 it."
It’s a versatile tool. It’s short. It’s punchy. It’s a piece of linguistic history that’s survived nearly a century because it does one job perfectly: it signals the end of something.
The Actionable Takeaway for Your Life
Understanding the 86 meaning is about more than just trivia. It’s about understanding the "shorthand" of the world around you. If you’re ever in a high-pressure environment—whether it's a kitchen, a startup, or a film set—you need a "kill word." You need a single, unambiguous signal that tells everyone to stop, pivot, or discard.
- Develop your own "86" list. Identify the habits or tasks in your daily routine that provide zero value and 86 them. Be ruthless.
- Listen to the lingo. When you're in a restaurant or bar, listen for the numbers. It’s a window into a subculture that has its own rules and its own history.
- Respect the 86. If a professional tells you something is 86ed, don’t argue. It means the decision is final and the resources are gone.
The next time you see a "Menu Item 86" sign or hear a bouncer tell someone they’re done for the night, you’ll know exactly what’s happening. It’s not just a number. It’s a century-old cultural "delete" button that shows no signs of being deleted itself.
Stop wondering about the "why" and start using the "what." When something isn't working, don't phase it out slowly. Don't overthink it. Just 86 it and move on to the next thing. That's the real spirit of the word. Efficiency over everything. Goodbye to the old, room for the new. That is the essence of 86.
Now, go look at your own to-do list and see what deserves to be 86ed today. You'll feel better once it's off the menu.