You’ve heard it in a crowded diner. You’ve heard it in a gritty Scorsese flick. Maybe you’ve even been on the receiving end of it after one too many drinks at the local dive. To 86 something is one of those weirdly universal Americanisms that everyone understands but almost nobody can actually explain. It’s short. It’s sharp. It’s final. If a steak is 86’d, it’s off the menu. If a person is 86’d, they’re banned.
But why 86? Why not 42 or 99?
Honestly, the history of the phrase is a messy pile of urban legends, New York City lore, and naval jargon. It’s not just one thing. It’s a linguistic shapeshifter that has survived for nearly a century because it’s just so satisfying to say.
The Most Likely Culprit: Soda Fountain Shorthand
Back in the 1920s and 30s, working at a lunch counter was basically a high-speed sport. It was loud. It was hectic. To save time and breath, "soda jerks" developed a massive list of numeric codes. This wasn't just for 86; they had a whole secret language. A "95" meant a customer was leaving without paying. "19" meant a staff member needed a bathroom break.
In this chaotic environment, 86 meant "we’re out of this item."
Walter Winchell, the legendary gossip columnist who basically lived in New York City restaurants, actually mentioned these codes in his columns. The logic was simple: "86" rhymed with "nix." If a waiter shouted to the kitchen that the roast beef was 86, it was a quick, rhythmic way to say "nix the roast beef." It’s a lot easier to hear a sharp "eighty-six" over a clanging dishwasher than it is to hear a muttered "we are currently unavailable to serve the poultry."
Some people think it specifically refers to Article 86 of the New York State Liquor Code, but here’s the thing: that article doesn’t actually exist in the way people think it does. It’s one of those "facts" that sounds true because it’s specific, but it falls apart the second you look at the actual legal books.
The Chumley’s Theory: 86 Bedford Street
If you spend any time in Greenwich Village, you’ll eventually end up at Chumley’s—or at least where it used to be. This was a legendary speakeasy during Prohibition. The story goes that the bar’s entrance was at 86 Bedford Street.
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Now, Chumley’s was a favorite of writers like Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Because it was an illegal operation, they had a system. When the cops were about to raid the joint, the bartenders would reportedly yell "86!" to warn the patrons. This was the signal to bolt out the 86 Bedford Street door while the police were coming in through the "secret" entrance on Barrow Street.
Is it true? Maybe. It’s a great story. But etymologists—the people who nerd out over word origins—are often skeptical of "story-based" origins like this. Usually, phrases evolve from boring, functional use rather than a single dramatic event at a specific bar. Still, the Chumley’s connection is so baked into New York lore that it’s hard to ignore.
Naval Lore and the Death of a Ship
There is a darker, more technical theory from the world of the U.S. Navy. When a ship is decommissioned or "stricken" from the record, it’s gone. In the old Naval manuals, "Standard Form 86" was allegedly used to dispose of surplus materials.
Then there’s the graveyard theory. A standard grave is six feet deep and eight feet long. To be 80-6’d is to be buried. This is probably a "backronym"—a meaning someone made up after the phrase was already popular—because the usage in restaurants predates the widespread "buried" metaphor in pop culture.
How 86 Moved From the Kitchen to the Streets
Language is infectious. By the 1940s, 86 had escaped the confines of greasy spoons. It started appearing in movies and noir novels. It shifted from meaning "we are out of ham" to "get that guy out of here."
Think about the transition. If you "nix" an item from a menu, you are removing it. If a bouncer "nixes" a rowdy customer, he is removing them from the premises. The leap isn't that big. By the time the 1970s rolled around, "86" was a standard verb in the American lexicon.
It’s a brutal word. It’s a "hard" sound. The "t" in eighty and the "x" sound in six are percussive. It sounds like a door slamming.
Modern Usage and the Digital Age
Today, we 86 things all the time without even thinking about it. A software developer might 86 a feature that isn't working. A producer might 86 a scene from a movie. It has become a synonym for "cancel," but with a more blue-collar, decisive edge.
Interestingly, the meaning of 86 has stayed remarkably consistent. Unlike other slang that morphs over decades (think about how "cool" or "wicked" have changed), 86 still fundamentally means the same thing it did in 1930: This thing is over. This thing is gone.
Why This Matters for You
Understanding the "why" behind the words we use makes us better communicators. If you work in the service industry, 86 is a survival tool. If you’re a writer, it’s a way to add flavor. If you’re just someone who likes history, it’s a window into how the working class of the early 20th century shaped the way we talk today.
If you want to use the term effectively in a professional or social setting, keep these points in mind:
- Be Decisive. You don't "kind of" 86 something. It's an all-or-nothing move.
- Know Your Audience. While it’s common, it still carries a bit of a "tough guy" or "industry" vibe. Using it in a formal corporate board meeting might come off a bit abrasive.
- Context is King. In a restaurant, it’s a logistics term. In a bar, it’s a warning. In a relationship, it’s a breakup.
Next time you see a "86" on a whiteboard in a kitchen, or hear it in a movie, you'll know it's not just a random number. It’s a piece of living history that survived the transition from Prohibition-era New York to the modern digital world.
If you're looking to apply this mindset to your own life—whether that’s "86-ing" bad habits or streamlining your business processes—start by identifying the "menu items" in your life that are no longer serving you. Be as ruthless as a New York City chef during the Friday night rush. If it doesn't work, 86 it and move on to what does.