[PW] ? "Sopranos" Quotes & Terms (Quotation Query #643)

[Dennis Lien]

At 11:26 AM 4/3/2007, you wrote:
>Just started watching on A&E.  How about  "freaking"    anything   or maybe
>it's   "freakin"
>
>Barbara

>At 05:37 AM 4/3/07, you wrote:
>
> >I have been asked by a reporter to comment on quotations and words and
> >phrases
> >originated or popularized by "The Sopranos."  There is a tight deadline, 
> so I
> >would welcome any quick suggestions.
> >
> >Fred Shapiro


Allegedly tough-guy characters in mainstream comics have been saying
"Freakin' " for years as a euphemism for a word you can't print in
mainstream comics.  Marvel's LUKE CAGE, HERO FOR HIRE was especially
fond of it.  (Said characters also tend to say "Oh, spit!" at times.)

But no doubt THE SOPRANOS boosted awareness of the word with the
general public...

Dennis Lien / U of Minnesota Libraries // d-lien at umn.edu