Would you like to let someone know that your impending wrath is incoming, and that you are about to “let loose” on all fronts and let them know what you think of them? The expression '[opening up a] can of whoop ass' can be used to say what you mean. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.
Meaning
The common expression 'can of whoop ass' is a figurative saying that is sometimes used to mean that someone is about to unleash their wrath, or put their anger into motion.
The saying is often meant as a direct insult, and can be said to someone or about them.
The term indicates that someone is angry and about to act on their feelings. The term can be used to express emotions that include more than just anger, but also frustration at something.
If you are going to 'open a can of whoop ass' it means that you are angry about something. It can also mean general frustration in which the context of what is frustrated about is explained in the rest of the term.
Sometimes the term implies conflict that may or may not actually take place in the end.
The expression is used as saying that someone is 'opening up a can of whoop ass.'
The expression might be derived from the common expression to 'whoop ass'.
Example Usage
“I'll tell you, we were so angry about the fact that they served us bacon on those burgers that I was about to open up a can of whoop ass right there on the manager.”
“I hated the fact that my father preferred to put pineapple on his pizza. I hated the fact that he made us all do it. I was going to open up a good can of whoop ass on him.”
“If you were going down to the woods tonight, were you going to look for the creepy old man just to open up a can of whoop ass for what he did with those pictures of your sister?”
“If you don't believe me, I swear I'm going to show you all the proof I have that your sister started the fight. If you still don't believe me, I'm just going to open up a can of whoop ass.”
Origin
The exact origin of the saying '[to] open up a can of whoop ass' is heavily disputed, and most online language resources disagree about when and where this term might first have been used.
Most resources are in agreement that the term began to spread through the internet in the 1990s on message boards, although the term is accepted to have originated some time before this.
The term uses 'whoop ass', which is likely derived from the term 'whoop' that can be traced back to the Old English term whopen.
The term 'whopen' has been in use for centuries, and means 'to threaten'.
This is the most likely origin of the term 'can of whoop ass' even though most resources miss this point.
Phrases Similar to Can of Whoop Ass
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Phrases Opposite to Can of Whoop Ass
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What is the Correct Saying?
- [open up a] can of whoop ass
- [crack a] can of whoop ass
Ways People May Say Can of Whoop Ass Incorrectly
There are ways in which someone can use the term 'can of whoop ass' in the wrong way, or misunderstand the context of the term if the meaning is not known to them.
The most common way in which 'can of whoop ass' can be misunderstood is often by translating the term into languages that are not English, for which the term would have a much more literal meaning.
Acceptable Ways to Phrase Can of Whoop Ass
The correct way to phrase the term 'can of whoop ass' is to say it as a direct or veiled insult, often directly to someone (or about them).
Someone is generally said to 'open a can of whoop ass' in the most common usage of the expression.