Etymology Journal ยท L
Listen here, pal
Meaning
- A condescending way to grab someone's attention right before you deliver an ultimatum or a lecture. It is almost never used in actual friendship.
Aggressive, condescending
Used in a sentence
- Listen here, pal, you are not parking in my driveway again.
- Listen here, pal, I do not care what the manual says, we are doing it my way.
- I would suggest you back down right now, listen here, pal.
The backstory
The term pal is used here ironically to create a false sense of familiarity. It is the verbal equivalent of poking someone in the chest.
Heard in
Nationwide
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