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Etymology Journal ยท G

Go pound sand

Meaning

A very firm way to tell someone that their request is denied and they should go away. It is essentially a polite version of a much ruder anatomical insult.

Grumpy, firm

Used in a sentence

  • If you think I am going to paint your entire house for free, go pound sand.
  • I told him if he wanted the car back, he could go pound sand.
  • My neighbor asked to borrow my tools again, and I told him to go pound sand.

The backstory

The phrase is a truncated version of go pound sand up your backside. It has been a favorite of grumpy grandpas across the country for decades.

Heard in

Nationwide

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