Did someone just ask you to "guess what?" Instead of asking back with the usual "What?" you could retort with "chicken butt." This colloquial saying is a great choice to get a laugh out of people and catch them off guard when they expect to catch you off-guard with a question.
Guess what? Chicken butt! This phrase has several applications for use in modern language. This post unpacks everything you need to know about the phrase's origin, meaning, and use in conversations.
Guess what Chicken Butt Meaning
If you're using "guess what chicken butt," it's usually in two parts, with one person saying the "guess what" and the other person replying with "chicken butt." Many people also use the "chicken butt" part of the phrase as a more polite way of calling someone out on their nonsense, other than by using profanity.
"Guess what chicken butt" is a part of the American child-language lexicon, and it's popular in playgrounds across the country, with many young kids using the phrase with their friends. The "chicken butt" part of the saying is more of a retort to someone else. You can mean it harmlessly or offensively, depending on the tone presented by the speaker.
Guess what Chicken Butt Example Usage
Mike: "Guess What?"
Jim: "Chicken butt!"
Guess what Chicken Butt Origin
So, where does "guess what chicken butt" come from? The origin of the saying dates back to the 14th century. Back in these times, butchers would take the undesirable cuts of meat, like the shoulders, into barrels – known as "butts."
The name for the barrels comes from French origins but also entered the English language as a term for these storage units and their contents. As a result, the saying morphed over time to describe the contents of the butt more than the container itself.
People would refer to the cheaper cuts of undesirable meat in the containers as the "butts." After the Great Depression, society saw an increase in poverty before the economic turnaround in the thirties.
As a result, many people resorted to cutting back in their food expenses, and many families had no choice other than to eat the "butts" of the meat cuts from the butcher.
Some language experts also state that the phrase's popularity comes from the 1935 debut of George Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess." In the opera, the character of Maria compares Sporting Life to a chicken. She does so by invoking the merchant's chant.
As a result, some language experts believe the phrase gained a springboard into the national culture around the US through Porgy and Bess opera. Many adults started using the phrase, passing it down to their kids, some of whom still use it today.
Phrases Similar to Guess what Chicken Butt
- That's rubbish.
- That's nonsense.
- I don't care.
Phrases Opposite to Guess what Chicken Butt
- That's interesting.
- Tell me more.
- I want to know more about that.
What is the Correct Saying?
- Guess what, chicken butt?
- What's up, chicken butt?
Ways People May Say Guess what Chicken Butt Incorrectly
"Guess what chicken butt" is a colloquial term, and it's only suitable for use between friends and families. Using the term in a professional setting will likely make your manager or superior look at you like you're an idiot.
Acceptable Ways to Phrase Guess what Chicken Butt
You can use "guess what chicken butt" in social scenarios and with family members. It's a fun phrase to teach kids, and it keeps them away from using profanity. "Guess what chicken butt" is usually suited to Gen X and Boomer generations, and millennials or zoomers might not have heard the saying before.