eighty-six
LowInformal, Slang, Jargon (Restaurant/Hospitality Industry)
Definition
Meaning
(verb) To refuse service to a customer; to reject or discard something; to get rid of.
(noun) The action of refusing service or discarding. Also used as a general term for being out of something.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a slang term originating in the restaurant industry. Its meaning has broadened to signify any kind of rejection or removal, but remains highly context-dependent and informal.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is understood in the UK, but its primary usage and origin are strongly associated with American restaurant/bar slang. In the UK, similar meanings might be expressed with 'bar', 'blacklist', or simply 'refuse service'.
Connotations
In the US, it has a strong connotation of hospitality/kitchen staff culture. In the UK, it may sound like an imported Americanism.
Frequency
Much more frequent in American English, particularly in the service industry. Rare in general British usage.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
VERB + OBJECT (We need to eighty-six the tuna tartare.)PASSIVE (He was eighty-sixed from the club for fighting.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “on the eighty-six list (blacklisted)”
- “to pull an eighty-six (to refuse service)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Informal business talk: 'We'll have to eighty-six the proposal after the budget review.'
Academic
Virtually never used.
Everyday
Limited to informal situations, often with a humorous or ironic tone: 'I think we should eighty-six the movie plans; it's too late.'
Technical
Core usage is in hospitality management/culinary arts as industry jargon.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The barman decided to eighty-six the rowdy patron.
- We'll have to eighty-six the scallops; the delivery hasn't arrived.
American English
- The manager eighty-sixed the customer for not wearing shoes.
- Eighty-six the soup du jour; we're all out.
adverb
British English
- (Not standardly used as an adverb)
American English
- (Not standardly used as an adverb)
adjective
British English
- The eighty-sixed customer waited outside. (less common)
- The lamb chops are eighty-six. (meaning 'unavailable')
American English
- He's on the eighty-six list at every bar on this street.
- Put an '86' sign on the coffee machine; it's broken.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The café had to eighty-six the apple pie because it was all gone.
- They eighty-sixed my favourite drink from the menu.
- After the third complaint, the restaurant manager eighty-sixed the problematic diner.
- We should eighty-six that marketing strategy; the data shows it's ineffective.
- The controversial policy was quietly eighty-sixed during the board's closed-door session.
- Having been eighty-sixed from the premier literary salon, he found his influence waning.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a restaurant with 85 items on the menu. If they '86' the 86th item, they are removing it from service.
Conceptual Metaphor
REJECTION IS CANCELLATION (like removing a number from a list).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as "восемьдесят шесть". The number is irrelevant to the meaning.
- Avoid confusing with similar-sounding informal terms like "кикс" (blunder).
- It is slang, not a standard verb like "отказать" or "выгнать".
Common Mistakes
- Using it in formal writing.
- Using it as a noun without context ('He is an eighty-six').
- Incorrect conjugation (e.g., 'eighty-sixed' is standard past tense).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'eighty-six' MOST likely to be used authentically?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Its exact origin is debated but is firmly rooted in 20th-century American restaurant and bar slang. One popular theory links it to the standardised dimensions of a coffin (8 feet long, 6 feet deep), implying something is 'dead' or finished.
Yes, its usage has broadened in informal American English. It can be used humorously to mean cancel, reject, or get rid of almost anything (e.g., 'eighty-six that idea').
It is industry jargon. When used among staff, it's neutral. Telling a customer 'You're eighty-sixed' would be direct and confrontational. The action of refusing service can be polite or impolite depending on execution.
It is regular: eighty-six, eighty-sixes, eighty-sixing, eighty-sixed. The past tense and participle 'eighty-sixed' is most common.