- Get a life
"Get a life" is an originally American
idiom andcatch phrase usually intended as ataunt , to indicate that the person being so addressed is devoting an inordinate amount of time to trivial or hopeless matters. The phrase has also appeared as a generally more emphatic variant of the taunt "get a job"cite book
title = Growing the Distance: Timeless Principles for Personal, Career, and Family Success
first = Jim
last = Clemmer
year = 1999
id = ISBN 0968467504] and implies the addressee needs to go out and make their way in the world, without being supported by outside sources such asparent s orbenefactor s. It may also be directed at someone who is perceived as boring or single-minded; suggesting they acquire some other, more practical interests or hobbies and get dates, find a job, or move to their ownhouse .It was also applied to so-called
workaholic s and others who are perceived as dedicated to their work (out of "labor of love" as opposed to money or loyalty to the company) but not taking the time to relax or enjoy life.Sometimes the phrase is used against people who are viewed as officious or intermeddling in someone else's affairs. It is another way of saying "Get your own life", or "Stay out of my business."
Documented early usage
*1983: The first
Oxford English Dictionary citation is from a January 1983 "Washington Post " article: "Gross me out, I mean,Valley Girl s was, like, ohmigod, it was last year, fer sure! I mean, get a life! Say what?". [Oxford English Dictionary ]
*1986: Appears in "Baby Anger" page 48 as "Get a life, people of New Jersey!Sean O'Casey, Peter Hedges "Baby Anger", p. 48 , 1986. "Get a life, people of New Jersey!"]
*1987: The term was used byWilliam Shatner 's appearance in a 1987 episode of "Saturday Night Live ", in which he tells a group oftrekkie s to "get a life." Although this was meant in jest, some diehard Trekkies were offended by this. [ [http://snltranscripts.jt.org/86/86hgetalife.phtml Transcript of William Shatner's SNL appearance] ]References
ee also
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Popular culture
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