Etymology Journal ยท H
Hey, I'm walking here!
Meaning
- An assertive, often grumpy declaration used when someone is impeding your physical progress. It serves as a loud signal to get out of the way immediately.
Aggressive, cinematic
Used in a sentence
- The tourist stopped dead in the middle of the escalator and I yelled, Hey I am walking here!
- When the bike messenger cut me off on the sidewalk, I shouted Hey I am walking here!
- She bumped into me in the hallway and I just instinctively said, Hey I am walking here!
The backstory
This phrase became iconic thanks to Dustin Hoffman in the 1969 film Midnight Cowboy. It was reportedly an unscripted reaction to a real taxi that almost hit him during filming.
Heard in
Nationwide
Vibe check