The Archive

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

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