everywhere else it's coke
December 9, 2009 12:09 PM Subscribe
In Chicago the standard term for bags of heroin sold on the street is "blows." I've also heard the word used as a verb, e.g. "You blow?" Does anyone have any clue as to the origin of the term?
Yeah, to me 'blow' means cocaine (as in the film 'Blow' starring Johnny Depp as a cocaine dealer).
"Insufflation (Latin insufflatio 'blowing on or into') is the practice of inhaling substances into a body cavity." "Insufflation (known colloquially as 'snorting,' 'sniffing,' or 'blowing') is the most common method of ingestion of recreational powdered cocaine in the Western world."*
posted by ericb at 12:49 PM on December 9, 2009
"Insufflation (Latin insufflatio 'blowing on or into') is the practice of inhaling substances into a body cavity." "Insufflation (known colloquially as 'snorting,' 'sniffing,' or 'blowing') is the most common method of ingestion of recreational powdered cocaine in the Western world."*
posted by ericb at 12:49 PM on December 9, 2009
When I was copping in Chicago back in the early 90s heroin was "boy" and coke was "girl." As in, "Here's $30, gimme two boys and a girl."
posted by The Straightener at 12:49 PM on December 9, 2009
posted by The Straightener at 12:49 PM on December 9, 2009
Googling around I find that heroin is also called 'blow' in Detroit.
Also ... "Blow - Cocaine; to inhale cocaine; to smoke marijuana; to inject heroin."
So, it appears the term is interchangeable in some places. I wonder if the 'heroin' use of the term derives from the colloquial slang for 'cocaine.'
posted by ericb at 12:59 PM on December 9, 2009
Also ... "Blow - Cocaine; to inhale cocaine; to smoke marijuana; to inject heroin."
So, it appears the term is interchangeable in some places. I wonder if the 'heroin' use of the term derives from the colloquial slang for 'cocaine.'
posted by ericb at 12:59 PM on December 9, 2009
I was mostly on the South side but would occasionally go out west. Philly doesn't do the boy/girl thing, it's just dope/coke.
posted by The Straightener at 1:19 PM on December 9, 2009
posted by The Straightener at 1:19 PM on December 9, 2009
Philly doesn't do the boy/girl thing, it's just dope/coke.
That's not what I've heard. Maybe not boy, but I've heard girl.
posted by Pax at 6:57 AM on December 10, 2009
That's not what I've heard. Maybe not boy, but I've heard girl.
posted by Pax at 6:57 AM on December 10, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
Maybe in Chicago they're just getting midwest with it. I have heard heroin called "working class cocaine", so it might be something down that etymological path.
posted by rokusan at 12:19 PM on December 9, 2009