English Slang

“86 it.” The phrase your line cook yells when they’re out of salmon, your bartender mutters when they’re cutting you off, and your boss says when they want you to quietly delete that email chain before Legal sees it.

Meaning: to cancel, remove, reject, get rid of, or refuse service to something/someone.

As in:

• “86 the truffle fries, we’re out.”
• “He’s been 86’d from the bar for life.”
• “86 that idea, it’s terrible.”

• Restaurant: “86 the chicken, we’re out.” (Kitchen speak. Respect it.)
• Bar: “He’s 86’d.” (He’s banned. Don’t ask.)
• Office: “Let’s 86 that proposal.” (Corporate speak for “this idea is dead and we’re not doing a funeral.”)
• Relationships: “I had to 86 him.” (You dumped him. Efficiently.)