To detest the saying "I'd have ripped them a new one"

[MarthasGinYard]

When talking in anger or annoyance about someone.

I saw today, the horrific saying in full...."I'd have ripped them a new arse hole"

I find this an extremely grim expression.

Anyone else hate this one? or should I hoik up my Hyacinth Bucket twinset and try to be more accepting of this unsavoury phrase?

@MarthasGinYardYeah it is annoying. And it's also SOOOOOOO 10 years ago. Sounds so naff now!

Vile. I've only ever seen it used on here.

How bizarre frog. It's definitely both a noun and a verb, so it's not you it's them!

Sorry, link www.reddit.com/r/etymology/comments/5shx7f/origin_of_the_phrase_tear_subj_a_new_one/?sort=old

Anyway.

Yes I dislike it. Happy to join you in your rejection of this horrid phrase!

I really must get out more.

I hate it too. I can't believe people say it on here so casually when it's such a violent act.

YANBU, it's disgusting and I don't even understand it. Doesn't really make any sense, American or not!

YANBU, it’s dreadful. I also hate “I didn’t miss him/her and hit the wall.” Recently used by my horrid neighbour when describing how rude he was to his GP when she suggested he lose weight.

But Cal this is just your guess from reading Reddit, you don't actually know the origin of the phrase and no one uses it in that context so maybe just don't say it yourself?

I don't use this phrase btw, but it's just a figure of speech I don't understand why people are horrified by it (unless you just find swearing offensive in general).

The horrific thing is 'ripping someone a new arsehole' either by some sort of sexual violence or with a weapon, or hands ripping. The imagery is brutal.

I hear this at work, but i work in a macho kind of environment. But yes, i find it nasty aggressive language

I imagine being hauled over the coals is pretty awful too.

@anotherthink

I read more about it a while back - just did a quick google search now and found that link to reddit. But there is more out there.

When you say no one uses it in that context, that’s the issue. Those using gay as synonymous with crap or rubbish would say they aren’t using it in that context. But if it came from being a homophobic slur then the origin does matter. It perpetuates it. It’s not ok.

Same with this. It’s grounded in brutal violence. And explicitly it means physically injuring them to the extent they need a new arsehole. A colostomy. That is what it means. That is the context. Do you have an alternative meaning that explains the actual phrase? If not, and if you agree it’s a revolting phrase, then why not just not use it? There are plenty of other words to choose from!

Yes hauled over the coals is horrid, though less recent in origin.

Women accused of witchcraft were dragged across burning coals. If they died they were innocent. If they survived they were declared to be a witch and promptly burned to death for witchcraft.

Dare say people weren’t too keen on that phrase being used jokingly at the time. I’m a bit irritated so I’ll haul them over the coals. At a time when that was done.

Right now people are being ripped new arseholes and are in hospitals as a result.

Good example. Illustrates perfectly why the op is correct. Time fortunately has made your example less topical.

Something a tad more credible than Reddit. US based study so included gunshot as well as knife injuries.

www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(18)31880-4/fulltext

“The final cohort in this study included 7,324 patients (4,916 black, 2,408 white) with penetrating colon trauma who underwent operative intervention. More than 67% of the cohort consisted of black patients, compared with only 33% white males, demonstrating the disproportionate incidence of penetrating abdominal trauma in the black population. Using the general male population to infer expected incidence, ≅12% of the patients would be expected to be black and 88% white.17, 42 In the study cohort, black patients and white patients underwent fecal diversion with stoma formation at similar rates (19.6% vs 18.5%, p=0.28).”

Young black men are overwhelmingly the victims. Study includes those from age 14 upwards.

This is where this phrase originated. It is a disgusting phrase. I do judge people who use it. I do call them out on it. It’s not ok.

What about the expression "piss on your chips"? As in I don't want to piss on your chips, but....

Not a pleasant image.

I hate it too. I have never anyone say it IRL; it's always on social media in my experience.

It's not necessarily always a negative thing. What if you have a very long decorative piece of home-made paper bunting - the sort in the shape of a line of dancing people - that sadly tears, so somebody very kindly offers to spend hours of their time to 'rip you a new one' to replace it?

It's only the other 99.9999999999999999999999% of times when the phrase is used that it might be interpreted as threatening violent sexual assault....

What about the expression "piss on your chips"? As in I don't want to piss on your chips, but....

It always used to just be 'rain on your parade', but that obviously just didn't sound passive aggressive enough.

Yes it’s an American phrase. I hear it a lot here. But here it has nothing to do with sexual violence. The hole implies putting a bullet in someone. Figuratively, of course. Not that shooting someone is acceptable either....

I actually think "who pissed in your cereal?" sounds funny.

I hate it too.

Great username Martha.
Weirdly, this phrase popped into my head the other night before dropping off to sleep ... I was contemplating what a revolting turn of phrase it is.

Usually deployed by bullshitters who are full of themselves after the event, keen to tell everyone else how they would have handled the situation so much better, & have neglected their personal development in favour of grandstanding.

I actually quite like 'piss on your chips'

But prefer

'Shit on your strawberries'

So no I'm not adverse to a little sweary talk but just hate the vile one I mentioned.

It's on a different level.

Grim

Why thank you Messolini

Oh. I always sort of assumed it meant kick someone in the arse. I can be a bit naive sometimes.

I thought blowing smoke up someone’s ass meant bullshitting them/ sweet-talking them/ telling them what they wanted to hear.

Cannot stand “who pissed on your chips/ shat on your porridge” etc etc. Not so much for the language but the sentiment behind it. It’s always some smartarse saying it.