What is a New York Hello

January 12, 2006 7:33 PM

What exactly is a "New York Hello"?

Is there such a thing as a New York style Hello, if so where did it originate, what is its meaning, etc. etc. thanks!

posted by psychobum to society & culture (20 answers total)

Hello.
posted by TonyRobots at 7:34 PM on January 12, 2006

Where did you see it cited?

I mean, most people say "hello" as anyone normally would. New Yorkers may be guilty of saying something like "h'lo", but the difference is barely noticeable.

I'm wondering if someone was referecing the 'hey-wake-up-stupid' version of "hello" -- you know, "Hel-LO, I've been waiting for ten minutes."

Or do they mean "hello" as in "HEL-lo", aka "check out the hottie?"

Need context.
posted by Miko at 7:38 PM on January 12, 2006

There is the old Robin Williams bit on the New York City echo:

"Hellooo..."

"Shut the fuck up!"

Perhaps not what you were looking for, though.
posted by mojohand at 7:44 PM on January 12, 2006

"out of my way!"

"move!"

?
posted by amberglow at 7:52 PM on January 12, 2006

A New York Hello is when you get introduced to the city in an unfortunate way, or just when something untoward happens in general, like by having a plant from a fire escape fall and bop you on the head, or by having a taxi drive by and splash water all over you, or by having someone spit on you. Instead of saying "Well that's a fine how do you do" (Laurel and Hardy style) you would say, "Well that's a fine New York hello". I never heard the phrase New York hello when I actually lived there, but I've heard it a handful of times since moving away.
posted by iconomy at 7:53 PM on January 12, 2006

posted by rob511 at 7:58 PM on January 12, 2006

I never heard the phrase New York hello when I actually lived there, but I've heard it a handful of times since moving away.

I never heard it in all my growing up years near there.

I detect a whiff of "Sex and the City." Sounds just like the kind of lame catchphrase they hang an episode on.
posted by Miko at 8:13 PM on January 12, 2006

Miko: Naw. It's an old old phrase, along the lines iconomy put down. A "welcome to New York City" kind of thing, like "welcome to the NFL" or so on.
posted by zerolives at 8:21 PM on January 12, 2006

Oh, OK. Lookee, it's a blog title too.
posted by Miko at 8:27 PM on January 12, 2006

Is it anything like a Bronx Cheer?
posted by ch1x0r at 9:16 PM on January 12, 2006

A Bronx Cheer is hissing or razzing or booing (or "blowing raspberries"), so the answer to that would be nope.
posted by iconomy at 9:23 PM on January 12, 2006

I always thought it was the phrase 'fuck you!' No, seriously. I'm not sure why.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 9:28 PM on January 12, 2006

it just means people in nyc are grumpy and impolite
posted by suni at 9:56 PM on January 12, 2006

hmm, mojo and stavros are definitely right, it comes from getting an unexpectedly impolite answer to a polite question..
..a tourist stepping off the bus in nyc asking a passerby for directions and getting "fuck you" as an answer
posted by suni at 10:02 PM on January 12, 2006

I thought it was "Fuck You." as well.
posted by drezdn at 10:32 PM on January 12, 2006

Yeah, 40 years in Manhattan and I've never heard it. And the truth is, tourists asking for directions in NYC - even tourists holding maps and looking lost - have to fight off helpful New Yorkers with a stick.
posted by nicwolff at 10:42 PM on January 12, 2006

nic: maybe the name should be updated to "manhattan sorry" :D:D
posted by suni at 11:01 PM on January 12, 2006

i'm wondering is there a name for the "hey-wake-up-stupid" version of hello?
posted by suni at 1:19 AM on January 13, 2006

I heard it first from an old joke.

"In New York, 'fuck you' is their way of saying 'hello.'
In Los Angeles, 'hello' is their way of saying 'fuck you.'"

However, I think iconomy is closer to the mark.
posted by Mozai at 9:33 AM on January 13, 2006 [2 favorites]

A Bronx Cheer is hissing or razzing or booing (or "blowing raspberries"), so the answer to that would be nope.

Actually, my comment was a joke. See, if a new york "hello" is an unpleasant greeting, it is in fact figuratively like a bronx "cheer", which is not a cheer but a jeering at. See how that works?
posted by ch1x0r at 7:54 AM on January 14, 2006