Eighty-six 是數字 86 的英文,但它還是個俚語字,可當名詞、形容詞和動詞用。名詞意思幾乎已不用,而形容詞用法有時還會見到,意為「被拒絕往來的」,如 John’s gonna be eighty-six if he doesn’t call me back! (如果約翰不回我電話,他將被拒絕往來)。
這個字現在主要是當及物動詞用,較新的意思為「取消;拒絕;去除;摒棄;被逐出某個場所 (如酒吧、夜店)」,但「(酒吧或飯店因某樣餐飲賣完而) 不再供應;酒吧或飯店拒絕招待 (奧客)」這兩個較舊的意思仍然存在。再者,eighty-six 經常被寫成數字的 86,而它們的時態變化分別為 eighty-six, eighty-sixed, eighty-sixed, eighty-sixing 以及 86, 86ed (或 86’d), 86ed (或 86’d), 86ing (或86’ing)。據信,eighty-six 是動詞 nix (拒絕;否決) 的押韻俚語 (rhyming slang)。
例句:
- Our picnic was eighty-sixed because of rain. (我們的野餐因雨取消了)
- The injured player was eighty-sixed from tomorrow’s game. (那位受傷的球員已從明天比賽的名單中被剔除)
- I need to eighty-six my job. (我必須辭去我的工作)
- She was cheating on me, so I had to 86 her. (她背著我劈腿,所以我必須甩了她)
- My boyfriend 86’d me. (我男友把我甩了)
- He was 86ed from the nightclub last night. (他昨晚被趕出夜店)
- The restaurant has been eighty-sixing (or 86ing or 86’ing) lobsters for the last three days. (過去三天來那家餐廳都沒有供應龍蝦)