darcy@sh.itjust.works to No Stupid Questions@lemmy.world · 11 months agoWhy do Americans answer the phone with "Gopher"?message-squaremessage-square50fedilinkarrow-up196arrow-down140file-text
arrow-up156arrow-down1message-squareWhy do Americans answer the phone with "Gopher"?darcy@sh.itjust.works to No Stupid Questions@lemmy.world · 11 months agomessage-square50fedilinkfile-text
minus-squarePutangInaMo@lemmy.worldlinkfedilinkarrow-up124arrow-down3·edit-211 months agoI’m American and I’ve never heard this used. But after thinking about it, gopher is a play on words that means “go for”. So saying gopher John is like saying “go for John” and can be a greeting.
minus-squarethrawn@lemmy.worldlinkfedilinkarrow-up68·11 months ago“Go for X” was somewhat common, including in media. I think OP was mishearing that. There’s virtually no way to differentiate between “gopher” and a rushed, casual “go for” in speech.
minus-squareCurious Canid@lemmy.calinkfedilinkarrow-up30·11 months agoMe too and me neither. I’m over sixty, I’ve lived in various parts of the country, and I’ve never head anyone say that. I want to know what that’s about too!
minus-squareGranite@kbin.sociallinkfedilinkarrow-up6·11 months agoI’ve only ever used this on a movie set radio. It’s real but limited in its uses.
I’m American and I’ve never heard this used.
But after thinking about it, gopher is a play on words that means “go for”. So saying gopher John is like saying “go for John” and can be a greeting.
“Go for X” was somewhat common, including in media. I think OP was mishearing that. There’s virtually no way to differentiate between “gopher” and a rushed, casual “go for” in speech.
Me too and me neither. I’m over sixty, I’ve lived in various parts of the country, and I’ve never head anyone say that.
I want to know what that’s about too!
I’ve only ever used this on a movie set radio. It’s real but limited in its uses.