If you’ve watched movies or TV shows set in the 1970s you’ve likely heard the insult “jive turkey” thrown around for comedic effect. With its association with outdated slang and funky attitude calling someone a “jive turkey” today is seen as a humorous, tongue-in-cheek way to call them out for being unreliable or deceitful.
But given its status as a seemingly retro diss, it raises the question – is “jive turkey” considered an actual slur? Or is it just an innocuous old phrase used for laughs?
The Meaning and Origin of “Jive Turkey”
To understand if “jive turkey” is a slur we first need to look at what it means and where it comes from. According to Dictionary.com a “jive turkey” is defined as
“Someone who is unreliable makes exaggerations or empty promises, or who is otherwise dishonest.”
The term originated in the 1970s when calling deceitful people “jive turkeys” became popular slang. The word “jive” on its own was already slang for foolish, frivolous, or deceitful behavior since the 1940s. Pairing it with “turkey,” known for making gobbling noises and sometimes used as an insult for a stupid or worthless person, created the phase “jive turkey.”
The insult was frequently used in 1970s TV shows like The Jeffersons and also appeared in funk songs like “Jive Turkey” by The Ohio Players. By the 1990s, it had become so associated with outdated 70s slang that it was used in shows like The Simpsons to depict characters as behind-the-times.
Was “Jive Turkey” Intended as a Serious Slur?
When “jive turkey” first emerged in the 1970s, it was likely intended to be a playful or humorous insult, rather than a serious ethnic or racist slur.
The word “jive” itself had a lighthearted connotation, indicating silly, deceptive, or flirtatious behavior. Pairing it with “turkey” added to the goofy imagery. There isn’t much evidence that “jive turkey” was ever meant to seriously offend or disparage an entire group of people.
Some sources speculate there may be sexual overtones to the term, since “jive” could also refer to sex. However, these sexual meanings don’t seem to have carried over strongly into the “jive turkey” insult.
Is “Jive Turkey” Considered Offensive Today?
While “jive turkey” wasn’t intended as a genuine slur, could the term be considered offensive by modern standards?
For the most part, no. The term is now seen as a comical, outdated relic of the 1970s era. Calling someone a “jive turkey” will likely elicit laughs rather than outrage. Some may view it as silly and lame – like a dad trying unsuccessfully to seem cool by using outdated lingo. But it’s not interpreted as truly insulting or disparaging.
However, a few caveats are warranted:
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Use discretion depending on your audience – what amuses some may offend others.
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Be aware that looser historical meanings of “jive” included connotations of black urban culture. So take care to avoid racial overtones.
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As with any attempts at humor, don’t use the term in a belittling, mocking, or explicitly derogatory manner.
The term is now mostly used in a lighthearted, humorous way as a reference to outdated 1970s slang. It may imply mild mockery at worst, calling someone “uncool” in an old-fashioned way. But it is not interpreted as a genuine expression of hate or contempt.
However, discretion is still advised in using “jive turkey” or any attempts at humor, as what amuses some may offend others. As long as it’s done in a spirit of good-natured fun, though, calling someone a “jive turkey” is generally seen as a safe, nostalgic way to poke fun at shifty or unreliable behavior.
Where does jive turkey come from? me.me
On its own, the term jive was slang all the way back in the 1940s for, among other senses, actions that ranged from foolish and frivolous to vile and deceitful. It was in the 1970s, though, when calling these shady fools jive turkeys became a thing. Turkeys are known to gobble, adding to the sense of jive, and have been variously used to insult someone as “dull” or “worthless.”
Then, in 1974 the funk band the Ohio Players released the song “Jive Turkey,” which uses the phrase repeatedly in the lyrics: “Give me it straight baby / Jive turkey, jive turkey / Jive turkey / Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow.” No doubt there are some sexual undertones here, with jive also historically referring to sex. The insult jive turkey also appeared on popular 1970s-1980s sitcoms, such as The Jeffersons.
By the 1990s, the term jive turkey was so associated with the 1970s that The Simpsons even had the perpetually dimwitted Homer Simpson use the term around a bunch of kids to show how out of touch he was. Though the term jive turkey is still quite recognized today—there’s even a Brooklyn-based fried turkey store named Jive Turkey, which has quite a few fans—the term is dated enough that it’s pretty much only used for comedic effect. Honestly, if you take offense to being called a jive turkey, you probably are one.