Have you ever experienced something that has no rational reasoning? Perhaps you are going through a tough phase that is simply unavoidable. There are plenty of situations in life that are impossible to escape, in fact, many are inevitable.
If you are looking for a way to describe such a situation or experience, the phrase “dinkin flicka” will come in handy. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.
Meaning
The phrase “dinkin flicka” roughly means “that’s life”, comparable to “c’est la vie”. If things do not go as planned, or something unfortunate happens in your life, you may respond with “dinkin flicka”, as a way of saying “that’s just how it is”. Though the phrase usually refers to a negative experience, it can also be used in any common situation.
The phrase can also be used as a way to say “get over it” or “it’s not that big of a deal”. If someone comes to you and tells you of something unfortunate happening in their life at the moment, you may respond with “dinkin flicka” to say “get over it”. More information can be found in the video (here).
Example Usage
“Your girlfriend broke up with you this morning? Dinkin flicka.”
“Your dog died last night? Dinkin flicka.”
“When live gives you lemons, just say Dinkin flicka and make some lemonade!”
“I lost my car keys and spilled coffee everywhere this morning, but whatever. Dinkin flicka.”
“I can’t find my homework that’s due today. Oh well. Dinkin flicka.”
Origin
The phrase “dinkin flicker”, that this one is believed to originate from, has been around since the 1970s. It was primarily used in Black communities, and had much of the same meaning as “dinkin flicka” does. However, the phrase changed and gained a lot of popularity after being featured on the television show The Office.
The Office is a popular television show that ran from the years 2005 to 2013, had nine seasons, and over two hundred episodes. It caused many of the actors that were in it to become household names because of how immensely popular it became. In episode 18, season two of the show, Michael Scott (played by Steve Carell) asks his worker Darryl (Craig Robinson) to teach him slang words from “the hood”, and “dinkin flicka” was one of the terms used. It became something that Michael said whenever things did not go his way. The phrase kept a similar meaning as it became popular on the Internet, and it has been a well-known phrase ever since.
Phrases Similar to Dinkin Flicka
- C’est la vie.
- Such is life.
- Get over it.
- It be like that sometimes.
Phrases Opposite to Dinkin Flicka
- That’s sad/unfortunate/etc.
- I’m sorry.
- Tell me more.
- My condolences.
What is the Correct Saying?
- “Dinkin flicka” means “that’s life”. The proper saying is Dinkin flicka.
Ways People May Incorrectly Say Dinkin Flicka
The phrase is used to mean “that’s just life” or “get over it”. It is something that you say to someone when they tell you of something bad that has happened in their life and you are telling them to just “move on”. Or, if something bad happens in your own life, you may use this phrase to show that you do not really care that much about it. Using this phrase any other way would be incorrect. Some ways that “dinkin flicka” is used incorrectly are:
- You lost your job? That’s so sad! Dinkin flicka! I’ll cry with you.
- Aw, you’re getting married tomorrow? Dinkin flicka!
- You just got promoted? Dinkin flicka.
Acceptable Ways to Phrase Dinkin Flicka
- I lost my wedding ring this morning, but I don’t really care. Dinkin flicka.
- My favorite pair of jeans ripped, but I’ll just buy a new pair. Dinkin flicka.
- There is no point getting upset about being passed over for a promotion. Dinkin flicka.
- My girlfriend broke up with me. Dinkin flicka. I didn’t like her that much anyway.