I have been seeing on TV shows the use of the exclamation "Jinx!" when 2 people say the same utterance at the same time. My family always said "Someone's coming hungry" on such occasions. When did "Jinx!" become the norm?

flashguy

We've always said "jinx" here. But what do I know. I'm only 58, and I'm from the "upper" South (Tennessee).

It's always been the norm for everyone I've known for the past 3-4 decades, all across the country. Including in Texas.

On the other hand, I have literally never heard (or even heard of) anyone saying "someone's coming hungry" in those circumstances.

It was jinx growing up for me in California

Another one was Coke: You owe me a coke.

Another game we played was slug bug. Every time you saw a VW Bug on the road if you saw it first, you got to slug the person next to you. Me being the youngest of 5 meant I got bruised up a lot

My family was from German-Dutch roots. Maybe that explains it. Maybe the Teutons have a different expression for it? Also, I'm 81--maybe in the rural mid-South back in the 1940s people said different things.

flashguy

Interesting. This is the first time in my 70+ years that I have heard of the practice.

I became acquainted with it about 17 years ago when my son learned it from his friends at school. They would exclaim, "Jinx!" And, follow it with, "You owe me a Coke!"

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
It's always been the norm for everyone I've known for the past 3-4 decades, all across the country. Including in Texas.

Uhhh, yup. "Jinx" has been a thing since at least I was a child.

quote:

On the other hand, I have literally never heard (or even heard of) anyone saying "someone's coming hungry" in those circumstances.

Yeah, that's a brand new one on me.

I'm over 60, and we did that when I was in elementary school.

I'm beginning to think that flashguy, like bendable, comes from a different planet.

I come from a better place! And "I come in peace!"

flashguy

Grew up in KS. Jinx was the norm. There was more to the "coke" thing. We always said, "a pinch a poke, you owe me a coke."

What about walking on each side of a pole,fure hydrant, sign, etc (walking on separate sides of something)? That was a "bread and butter" or "PB&J," but short, not peanut butter and jelly.

Most in our area were of European decent either German or Italian.

It was always "Jinx" here as well. Never heard of the "Someone's coming hungry".

Did y'all play padiddle too?

Jinx here too from a very early age, but the penalty was you couldn’t speak until someone said your name 3 times. My kids brought it home from school all on their own.

My daughter (now 16) came home one day with “punchbuggy” where you had to call out the color as well as the games name. Also learned on their own from friends.

One of those self enduring societal practices I suppose.

quote:

Originally posted by C-Dubs:
It was always "Jinx" here as well. Never heard of the "Someone's coming hungry".

Did y'all play padiddle too?

Yes to padiddle.

Never heard of people getting hungry. It was always "Jinx, no talk backs," or "Jinx, you owe me a Coke."

Flashguy, if someone yelled "punch buggy yellow, no punch backs." Would you know why?

Never heard of jinx, it was always Coke.

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:
Interesting. This is the first time in my 70+ years that I have heard of the practice.

I too am over 70 and never heard of it. Maybe it's a regional thing.

quote:

Originally posted by ffips:
Grew up in KS. Jinx was the norm. There was more to the "coke" thing. We always said, "a pinch a poke, you owe me a coke.

I’ve been in Kansas for 67 years, and I’ve never heard of either one of those.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
It's always been the norm for everyone I've known for the past 3-4 decades, all across the country. Including in Texas.

On the other hand, I have literally never heard (or even heard of) anyone saying "someone's coming hungry" in those circumstances.

Never heard either one, but I've only lived in seven states.

I'm 55. Grew up in GA. We said Jinx.
Never heard of "someone's coming hungry" in ANY setting whatsoever.