ditch

v. especially in the phrase ditch in line, to unfairly take a place in front of others (in a line); to cut or butt (in line); to jump a queue. Subjects: Ohio, English, Colloquial

Editorial Note: Also infrequently given as dish. This term is particularly common in Ohio. Political commentator and Ohioan John Kasich frequently uses the term in the discussion of immigration. Doug Wilson has speculated that this form of ditch is a variant of dish defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as “to ‘do for’, defeat completely, ruin; to cheat, circumvent,” which dates to at least as early as 1798. However, this and other theories are unproven. Thanks to Chris Waigl for bring this word to my attention and Steve Hartman Keiser for first mentioning it on the American Dialect Society email list.

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Citations: 1956 Jackie Stensel @ Coshocton High School The Red and Black (Ohio) (Nov. 2) “Noontime Chaos” p. 2 @ Coshocton Tribune: Along the hall in the new gym the seemingly endless cafeteria line forms. Girls, giggling and laughing, “ditch” in line. This is a system whereby twelve girls crowd in front of you with the light remark “Ann was saving this space for us.” And so the line becomes a game of leapfrog, with each group trying to jump ahead of everyone else. 1990 Marty Noble Newsday (Long Island, New York) (Mar. 26) “A New Man: Jefferies tries to show he’s really a good guy” p. 78: Yesterday, when the team interrupted its workout for lunch, Jefferies “ditched” in line, prompting a glare from one wronged player, and then took his lunch to his locker. 1998 Usenet: rec.collecting.coins (June 5) “Re: People that bother me”: People that bother me the most are people that “ditch” in line. It happens to me at the deli counter at the supermarket, the check out line in stores, and just about any place imaginable. This is not limited to people on foot, this also happens when people are in their cars. 1999 [Mike Haught] Usenet: rec.sport.boxing (Feb. 6) “Re: Don King must be laughing his ass off at Tyson”: The AP newswire has reported that Lennox ditched in line at a multi-plex last night in front of a 64 year old lady. Once inside, he ate some of her popcorn too! 2000 [Michael Payton] Usenet: rec.arts.comics.dc.universe (Apr. 12) “ Re: Stan Lee to do DC characters”: “And yes, I’ll be one of the thousands fighting to be first in line for the book."…"Hey! No ditching in line!” 2001 Steve Hartman Keiser ADS-L (June 13) “More on dishing in line”: So far I have talked to 35 people who are Columbus natives or from nearby towns. “DISH” is used only by persons 40 or older. “DITCH” is most common among high schoolers and up to age 40. So, Arnold, your observation about usage in the 70s and 80s is right, but it looks like “DISH” is the older term. Finally, the youngest generation, 6-12 year olds now uses simply “D.” I’m still trying to figure out the geographic distribution of this term, but it doesn’t seem to reach much beyond the boundaries of Franklin County (i.e., a radius of 20 miles or so). 2002 John Kasich Fox News (June 28) “The O’Reilly FactorUnresolved Problem”: Now if somebody ditches the line in immigration, you know, it’s a billion times worse than if they ditched the line at a ballgame or a movie theater. 2003 [Mary Beth (embie06)] Dance Like No One is Watching. (Feb. 13): In sociology with Debb I got to tell the class how people from the Columbus Ohio area say “I ditched in line” while everyone else says “I cut in line.” I still think I am correct in saying ditched but I was met by much opposition—even from Debb herself. Oh well. It caused a stir at least! 2003 [F16Fighter] Free Republic (Sept. 11): I assume it’s because these religio-elitists feel Mel Gibson is ditching in line to meet the King of Kings without having proper heavenly “credentials.” *2004 Perrysburg High School (Ohio) (Sept. 1) “Perrysburg High School Student Handbook”: Students will not “ditch” in line, and will use a conversational tone in communication with other students and cafeteria employees. 2004 Ted Casablancas E Online (Dec. 2) “The Awful Truth”: Fer the bitchy record, not all A-listers ditch the line—Sean Penn waited a whopping 40 minutes with the rest of the commoners. 2005 Bernie Lincicome Rocky Mountain News (Denver, Colorado) (Jan. 8) “Broncos Will Deliver A Shock To The System”: The Colts were the natural challengers to the Patriots, and while they weren’t looking, Pittsburgh dished the line. Urgency replaces nonchalance. 2005 Neal Whitman Languagehat (June 16) “Budge/Verse”: In central Ohio, the standard term for line-jumping/pushing in/budging/cutting, etc. is “dishing” or “ditching.” *2005 Circleville High School (Ohio) (Aug. 23) “2005-2006 Student Handbook”: Students are expected to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner during lunch. Running, horseplay, and ditching in line are not permitted. 2006 [A Message] Free Republic (Apr. 2) “‘Day Without Americans’ (Time To Organize The Greatest Work Stoppage America Has Ever Seen Alert)”: Ditching in line. Do you like to be ditched in line at a restaurant or a movie theater. Is that not what illegal immigrants are doing? 2006 John Kasich Fox News (Apr. 5) “The O’Reilly Factor: Immigration Boycott”: If the American people were not concerned about people who ditched the line, and jumped in front of people who waited for years, you would have an immigration bill. 2006 Jane Duckwall Charlotte Observer (North Carolina) (Apr. 16) “Reader shares a different view on traffic etiquette” p. 2U: Steve complained about drivers who zip down the right-hand merge lane and then expect to cut in front of “good bee” drivers who have been waiting patiently in the left-hand through-lane.…Ken, who moved to the area from New Jersey , wonders why people think a driver is “line ditching” when he attempts to merge into traffic at the end of the lane.

Posted 22 May 06 | Permalink | Tell a Friend