Jamie Oliver - 'pimp the flavour'

[Katiekitty]

He says this over and over...

example: 'add some garlic to pimp the flavour'

Is this now a fully-acceptable term to use? His cookery programme is on at 5.30

It all seems part how the sex industry is becoming more and more accepted and normal, cool even.

That's awful. It's kinda shocking and not shocking at the same time. :(

I think you're looking for reasons to be offended. It's as in 'pimp my ride' - enhance - I assume - it's cringeworthy english but that's all.

NB: don't put me in the position of defending Jamie oliver again! He is indeed a tool.

i hate this phrase

this is right up there with 'that's so gay' on my list of phrases that drive me batshit

someone needs to have a word

I would also think of the 'pimp my ride' thing before thinking of porn. And Jamie is ace . He's got my 17yo cooking!

Tondelayo

Nope, I'm not looking for reasons to be annoyed, it IS annoying me.

What do you think it means, as a term?

And yes, I have heard of 'Pimp my Ride' but why is it acceptable to have a chef using this term on an afternoon tv programme?

At what point did 'pimp' become a verb meaning 'to enhance'? Pimps are essentially agents/sellers/vendors, aren't they? What part of their vile jobs have lead to the change/addition of meaning?

I'm just wondering if the term 'pimp' used as a 'seller' of prostitutes is the same word, or does it actually have a different root.

apparently there are 2 official definitions of 'pimp'

pimp1
n

1. a man who solicits for a prostitute or brothel and lives off the earnings
2. a man who procures sexual gratification for another; procurer; pander

vb (intr) to act as a pimp [of unknown origin]

pimp2 Slang chiefly Austral and NZ
n
a spy or informer
vb
(intr; often foll by on) to inform (on)
[of unknown origin]
Collins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003

interesting comparison to 'primp' here...
(from wikipedia)

Etymology

The word pimp first appeared in English in 1607 in a Thomas Middleton play entitled Your Five Gallants. It is believed to have stemmed from the French infinitive pimper meaning to dress up elegantly and from the present participle pimpant meaning alluring in dress seductive. Pimp used as a verb, meaning to act as a pimp, first appeared in 1636 in Massinger's book, The Bashful Lover.[2] In the 18th and 19th centuries, the term was commonly used to refer to informers.[3] A pimp can also mean "a despicable person".[4] The term can also be applied to a person who is considered a ladies' man.[2]
The verb "pimping" came up in the early 17th century.[2] In the first years of the 21st century, a new meaning of the word has emerged in the form of a transitive verb pimp, which means "to decorate" or "to gussy up" (compare primp, especially in Scottish usage). This new definition was made popular by Pimp My Ride, an MTV television show.[2] Although this new definition paid homage to hip-hop culture and its connection to street culture, it has now entered common, even mainstream commercial, use.[5] In medical contexts, the verb also means "to ask (a student) a question for the purpose of testing his knowledge".[6]

Its not ok, but i think mainly due to him being a touch on the dense side, he won't have thought about it. But its not nice the way its become acceptable term.

Erm I'm not at all sure about that wiki entry robyn.

My understanding (and I could be wrong!) was that it came from the fact that in a poor area a pimp has lots of cash and often ostentatiously displays it. So "pimp my car" = do the car up in a way that makes it look expensive and obviously so.

I thought it was a pretty direct route - pimps are rich and cool you want stuff like they have.

That makes a lot of sense ISNT. I wonder, though, where there could be found a definitive answer (ie. something not wikipedia!)

that definitely makes sense ISNT, sorry for being so lowbrow and quoting wiki, just thought it was interesting to think about the different possibilities...

No I wasn't having a go! Didn't mean to come across like that. I just was fairly sure that I was right had heard something different

'a touch on the dense side'? How patronising.

Sorry are you his mother?

ISNT is spot on

From the OED (because I have nothing better to do of a Friday evening )

"6. trans. slang (orig. U.S.). To customize or modify (something, originally a car) so as to be more stylish, ostentatious, or flashy; to improve by customization. Also with out, up. Cf. pimped-out adj.

With reference to the ostentation or conspicuous wealth associated with pimps; cf. pimpmobile n.

Popularized by the name of Pimp my Ride, a U.S. television programme (first broadcast in 2004) in which old or dilapidated cars are remodelled or customized.

2000 Re: What's Deal with Riceboys? in chi.general (Usenet newsgroup) 13 Mar., They have to pimp their ride up.

2002 Rolling Stone 14 Nov. 63/3, I pimped out the Bentley with white-and-blue-striped interior.

2004 N.Y. Times 4 July viii. 11/4 Customizers who ?pimp? their rides with gargantuan tires and costly, flashy wheels.

2006 Canad. Business (Electronic ed.) 25 Sept. 114 You get plenty of options to pimp your PC. For the exterior, you can choose Poison purple, Monaco yellow, [etc.]."

I love Jamie Oliver, I don't think he is a tool.

But I think he hasn't thought this one through.

I like him too (but not for his gender politics, obviously )

You mean you fancy him, coleys?

Fancy him!?

Oh don't be so coy, coleys