Did a UPS delivery guy throw your parcel carelessly onto your porch? You could say they decided to ‘yeet’ it without caring about delivering it properly. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.
Meaning
The expression ‘yeet’ means throwing something carelessly, without concern for its flight path or landing. For instance, the UPS delivery guy tosses your fragile parcel onto your porch, smashing it, then walking away without regard for their actions.
Typically, people who ‘yeet’ something knows the parcel or object has value and throw it carelessly out of spite for the other person, even if they don’t know them personally. Yeet emphasizes the lack of concern and forcefulness of the throw and the demeanor of the person completing the action.
Yeet also has an alternate meaning. When used as an exclamation, yeet is an expression of excitement and happiness at an occurrence. You could use it when someone gives you a pleasant surprise you didn’t expect. Typically, it’s a nice surprise, but it can also refer to something shocking.
Example Usage
"Did you see that compilation video of Amazon drivers and how they yeet those packages onto people's porches? They all get caught on Ring cameras; it's so funny."
"Don't just yeet it over there. Something could be valuable in that bag, and you don't want to break it. Be careful with other people's property."
"Is there any reason not to yeet this parcel over the gate right now? It's not like I care about the recipient and the condition they receive it in."
"Just yeet it over the wall, and let's get out of here before the cops show up. We'll come back and get it later."
"I told her not to touch it, so she turned around and yeeted it straight into the road. A car ran over it, and now it's useless."
"Why you go to yeet my stuff on the road like that? Can't you think about other people for one second in your life? You're such an annoying person.'
"Don't just yeet the package on the person's doorstep. As an Amazon employee, your duty is t get the parcel to the recipient in immaculate condition, or it's your job."
Origin
The expression ‘yeet’ originates from the Ramsay students section, were supporting teammates and fans in the stands would yell ‘yeet’ whenever players make free throws.
There is no known reason or meaning behind the word, and a record in the Birmingham Alabama News in reference to the final four of 2007 explains that ‘yeet’ is just a cheer with an unknown meaning.
The Urban Dictionary also defines ‘yeet’ as the following in 2008.
“Term used to express excitement; especially in basketball when someone has shot a three-pointer that they are sure will go in the hoop.”
However, the meaning of throwing something carelessly without regard for its contents or safety appeared in 2018. It’s become the more popular version of the phrase in street slang conversations.
Phrases Similar to Yeet
- N/A.
Phrases Opposite to Yeet
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What is the Correct Saying?
- Yeet.
Ways People May Say Yeet Incorrectly
The term ‘yeet’ usually has a spelling with two ‘e’ characters. However, some people may add further ‘e’ characters to emphasize the action of throwing something carelessly. Using the term to describe a baseball pitch or a purposeful throw is inaccurate.
Acceptable Ways to Phrase Yeet
You can use ‘yeet’ in social conversations with friends that understand slang terms. Yeet suits text conversations and verbal exchanges. It describes the action of throwing or pitching something with no regard for its safety or care. ‘Yeet’ has no professional use.
Typically, ‘yeet’ refers to the act of throwing something valuable, such as a delivery box, carelessly. The person throwing the object will understand its value or importance, but they don’t have any empathy for the recipient and the condition of the thing they throw.