Hip to be Hip?
@tallpaulno44a (1574)
United States
April 29, 2007 5:16pm CST
Back in the mid-to-late 1800's on the U.S. frontier, Chinese immigrants brought opium use to the U.S. Soon it spread to other Americans as well.
When someone goes under the influence of opium, they tend to get a feeling of euphoria and lie down, more often than not lying on their side (or hip).
As is typical in drug cultures, a slang develops among users. Thus, when someone was identifying themselves as an opium user to another user, they would refer to their practice of lying on their side by saying "I am hip". And that is how that particular American phrase came into use.
1 person likes this
3 responses
@sadgirl_1958 (1088)
• United States
6 May 07
Well, I did not know that - but thanks to you - I now do know this bit of trivia. I was inclined to read because there was just an raid of one of my neighbor's homes. Seems he was smuggling opium in from Laos via the mail. It was a sight to see! All these federal agents on our little city of 2400 people where the newspaper police blotter usually has great crimes like this one (I was the offender by the way): Chief of Police received report of local resident cutting grass and clippings were falling in the street. Police went to resident home and requested the clippings be removed from the street to prevent clogging the gutters.
@sassinqueen (710)
• United States
14 May 07
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOwwwwwwwwww. Thats high crime. SG, you're a rouge. Even to form the thought to have the decision with someone about grass clippings is a stretch. Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. Thats good stuff.
@sadgirl_1958 (1088)
• United States
14 May 07
I love reading the police blotter in my town. Yesterday someone reported a suspicious vehicle parked on the street with a man inside. The police came and questioned the man - he was waiting for his wife to get off work at the convenience store. :p
@sassinqueen (710)
• United States
30 Apr 07
I don't know that much about the Opium trade or history. I wonder is it still is wide use in China?
