> People were picking up words we had made up, like “regifting” and “shrinkage.”
They really believe made up the word "shrinkage"? Or is this some in-joke?
They really believe made up the word "shrinkage"? Or is this some in-joke?
"There's significant shrinkage, my friend".
Usage of the word shrinkage topped in the 1930's and has been in steady decline during the Seinfeld years.
https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=shrinkage&year...
Screenshot: https://imgur.com/a/6Esimrk
Your comment likely means that you actually don't really understand what is the shrinkage we talk about here ;)
How about "regifting" what context does he use there instead of the preexisting definition of gifting a gift you have received? The existing definition would apply for ALL gifts - including penises (or whetever context thats about).
Shrinkage became a word used in a comical attempt to quash rumours of small penis size as well as to describe what happens when men swim in cold water. In the time when Seinfeld was popular then the word shrinkage used in a certain way would have been understood in these contexts and wouldn't have resulted in a HN-style overly literal interpretation and the question "what shrunk?". (speaking of overly-literal interpretations I feel the need to clarify that i'm referring to people who were vaguely up to date with popular culture).
Regifting isn't a literal description of giving a gift you received to another person. After Seinfeld's use it became a humorous euphemism for cheapness and tactlessness.
From all I have seen in this thread, these words are being used in the literal context for which they were already defined - and they are already humorous without the need to imply it.
EDIT: you can downvote all you like, doesnt change the fact that he didnt actually make up the words or even their usage...
The Macmillan Dictionary dates it to 1995: https://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/regift
Perhaps someone with the full Oxford would like to check what cites they have for it.
The OED traces the word back to 1837, but it was used primarily to mean giving a gift multiple times. In fact, it states that the definition of gifting of an unwanted gift is a predominately north american (although I have used it myself - no doubt through coming into contact with it through popular culture).
There ARE example uses in that form that predate the Seinfeld show (you can find them by searching google books) - but they seem exclusively Indian English.
This is obvious if you click through to any of the results from the link you provided above.
Before Seinfeld nobody would know what you're talking about if you said you were experiencing shrinkage. It's a way to talk about genitalia without being explicit.