We were easing into the end of a hot day on Taylor’s roof deck, with chips and guac and beers. The sun was getting lower as we lazily talked about this and that and what we might do about dinner. As we both reached for the same chip, she politely said, “oops, excuse me, I almost bogarted your chip.”
Oh. My. Goodness. “BOGARTED!!!” I have not heard that word since 1980-something!!!!
She said it so politely, I just had to clarify: “You mean, “bogarted” as in ‘duuuude, you just bogarted my wave!’???”
Yep. That’s what she meant. And, sister, I am bringing it back.
For those of you who did not grow up in California, to “bogart” means to snatch something away or take and use something for your own purposes. You can “bogart” someone’s food, their girlfriend, or their car. You can “bogart” a parking space, a position in line, or a conversation. You can “bogart” the best seat, a better job, or more time. “Bogarting” isn’t as bad as stealing and has a laid back, unintentional element to it.
To get this awesome word back into circulation, I am offering these fabulous vintage souvenir pictures of California (where you can go on your own and not as any part of this fabulous prize to hear the word “bogart” spoken by the natives) as an incentive.
These postcards are perfect for framing and creating ART for your home! You can tell all of your friends how you were able to “bogart” them from this rad blog called “plentyperfect”!
Each time you do one of the following things, you can bogart another chance to win!
1. Use the term “bogart” or “bogarted” or “bogarting” in a comment below.
2. “Like” the plenty perfect blog on Facebook.
3. Send an email to a friend with a link to www.plentyperfect.com.
4. If you see me in person and casually work the word “bogart” into our conversation, you can bogart yet another chance to win!
5. Use the word “bogart” in a conversation with someone and post a comment about how that person reacted.
The winner will be chosen at random on Saturday, September 8, 2012. I promise that the drawing will be completely random and not bogarted in any way.
Help me bring this very useful word into the common lexicon. Use it whenever you can. Use it with people of all ages. Teach your children to use it when they are caught doing something they should not be doing: “Mom, I am sorry I bogarted the last cookie” or, when they get older, “Mom, it wasn’t me! My friends must have bogarted your liquor.” Pay someone a compliment by saying, “nice bogart in soccer today” or “good job bogarting the last parking space.” The possibilities are endless.
We all need a word like this - “bogart” is here to help!
Annie, you crack me up! I never used this term but may start. In college, we said “rad” and “stoked” because it was southern California but now I don’t use those terms – except to horrify my teenagers from time to time!
Oh, I remember “rad” and “stoked”!!! Isn’t it funny to hear what the kids say now? I hear some kids say “beast” and “dirty” to describe something really great – cracks me up! Try out “bogart” and see what happens! We can make a coast to coast effort to bring it into the mainstream!
W A I T ! ! ! ! I want those postcards!! Do I actually get to play if BOGART is already part of my lexicon??
Too funny. Can’t wait to see how people creatively pepper this into their everyday lives.
Good job! You are IN the running! (you have 100% chance of winning at this point!)
You would love these postcards! They would look awesome in your house too!
Me too! The best would be if my kids came home from school saying “bogart”!!!! I would know it had come full circle then!