Some popular memes and slang terms used on the Internet today have come from various movies over the years. It is not uncommon for those terms to gain lives of their own as they get more and more popular within the Internet community.
There are times when those terms develop definitions that they did not originally have in the movie they were taken from. “Mike Honcho” is an example of that kind of phrase. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of the expression.
Meaning
More commonly referred to as “Mike Honchoing” on the Internet, this is the practice of spreading one’s butt cheeks before using the bathroom, to facilitate the process.
Much less commonly, and way more recently, the phrase has also been used to refer to people who lead lives that are not their own (more on that in the ‘origin’ section of this post). More information can be found in the video (here).
Example Usage
“After the Taco Bell I had last night, I really had to Mike Honcho it in the bathroom this morning.”
“Did you hear that Jack is a Mike Honcho? Apparently his real name is Johnny.”
“I was staying over at this girl’s apartment last night, but I had to leave to use the bathroom. I didn’t want to Mike Honcho at her place.”
Origin
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby was released on August 4th, 2006 by Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Releasing. John C. Reiley’s character Cal Naughton Jr. tells him a story (while he was in a coma) of when he got asked to do a nude photoshoot for Playgirl Magazine. He mentions at one point even “spreading this butt cheeks” for the photos. But he did the photoshoot under the alias “Mike Honcho” so that no one would know it was him.
The definition that it has today is credited by some people to the YouTube channel Joogsquad PPJT as an inside joke shared by his community and subscribers. The phrase, under this definition, was originally referred to as a “YouTube meme” before it spread to other parts of the Internet. The use of “Mike Honcho”, and photos of John C. Reiley as his character associated with it, are commonplace on websites like Reddit and 9GAG, which are popular meme-sharing sites.
Jordan Beck, a student at University of Tennessee and star baseball player on the school’s team, was referred to by his coach as “Mike Honcho” after Beck was called out for using an unapproved bat at one of their recent baseball games. Beck said Talladega Nights is one of his favorite movies and played along, and more than 3,000 shirts with the nickname ended up being sold at the team’s merchandise shop.
Phrases Similar to Mike Honcho
- Going number two
- Alias/nickname/etc.
Phrases Opposite to Mike Honcho
- Real life
- Truthful/honest/etc.
What is the Correct Saying?
- “Mike Honcho” or “Mike Honchoing” are the correct sayings.
Ways People May Incorrectly Say Mike Honcho
“Mike Honcho” can either refer to a specific way of using the bathroom, or a person who has led a double-life or lied about something in their life. Attempting to use this term to mean anything else would be incorrect. Some ways “Mike Honcho” is used incorrectly are:
- Ashley is exactly who she says she is. She’s such a Mike Honcho.
- I had no trouble going to the bathroom earlier. I had to Mike Honcho it.
- Turns out Paul wasn’t lying about his age after all. He’s Mike Honchoing us.
Acceptable Ways to Say Mike Honcho
- I can’t believe Bill got away with Mike Honchoing us! He’s been attending classes here for three years and he’s not even a student!
- I didn’t know that I was lactose intolerant until I had to Mike Honcho it in the bathroom after eating Italian the night before.
- Jessica totally Mike Honchoed us. She’s two years younger than she told us she is.