Buck naked
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Dating from the 1920s, the expression buck naked commonly means completely naked or without a "stitch" (as opposed to partially naked). Synonyms include "bare naked", "buck-arse naked", and "butt naked" (also spelled, facetiously, "butt nekkid"). In the American South, "buck naked" or its corruption "butt naked" means not in your house, out looking for trouble on Saturday night and wearing no clothes.[citation needed]
The origin of the term is "buck naked" as in as naked as a buck deer. It originated during a time when people were less urban and a deer or other wildlife were not such alien concepts, and their references were sprinkled throughout speech. "Naked as a jay-bird" is another such cliché. It was further reinforced in its usage by the fact that a buck-skin is similar to tanned human skin. The corrupted term "butt naked" is just another example of mis-pronounciation that gets ingrained in people's speech. Just like "coming down the pipe" has garnered common usage for those that don't understand that the term "pike" is the proper word. Such corruptions are common in that a mis-heard expression gains acceptance as the erroneous phrase is also reasonably non-sensical when it is heard by others, and propagated.
While there is much debate over the origin of this phrase, that is common with corrupted clichés, as admitting the corruption is often seen as a comment on intelligence. Thus, many argue that "butt naked" came first and that "buck" was later adopted by some to tone down any vulgarity perceived in using the word "butt." Regardless of origin, the Associated Press style guide currently advises using "buck naked."
[edit] Uses
- In the classic Seinfeld episode "The Outing", George reveals that if he ever became a porn star his stage name would be "Buck Naked".
- In May 24, 1994 David Byrne from Talking Heads released the album simply titled David Byrne and on it he sang the much-acclaimed song "Buck Naked".
- Australia's underground DJ "Buck Naked" is known for playing "music to have sex to". Most known for playing in the "Hordern Pavilion Toilets" for the 20th Anniversary of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras to thousands of men, he is also famous for playing the Black Party at the Gay Games in Sydney in 2002, among others.
- Peter Baynham (co-writer of I'm Alan Partridge), refers to the term "Billy Bollocks" meaning "Buck Naked".
- Barenaked Ladies named their 1989 demo tape Buck Naked.
- Actor Lee Weaver played a friendly exhibitionist named "Buck Naked" (from his favorite line -- "I'm Buck Naked!") on several episodes of Hill Street Blues and NYPD Blue.
