Like for instance someone saying “Gopher John” when answering the phone. What does this mean?
Pretty sure it’s an old businessman thing. “Go for (my name)!” in a cock-sure tone is pretty much how I would expect any old business hot-shot asshole to answer the phone.
We would say, “go for (name)” at work over the handheld radio, never heard of anyone using this on the phone. Sometimes I’d get bored and say “go for Zap Rowsdower” or whatever
The only time I have ever heard this used was “Go for Papa Palpatine.” on Robot Chicken.
And I’ve habitually called him Papa Palpatine ever since.
It’s uncommon, I’ve heard it used every once in a blue moon like Barney Stinson (HIMYM) answering his phone and I haven’t seen a definitive answer other than indicating to the caller that he, Barney, is the one answering the phone.
That’s not a thing.
:(
You see in the US there are secret underground copies of all of our houses and gopher versions live there.
They are making it clear if you are speaking to John or Gopher John.
Sorry, for real I’ve never heard this before. Can you tell us where you heard it from? I’m really curious now.
I don’t think I’ve ever heard someone say that at the start of a phone call but it’s common when communicating with two-way radios like:
“Alex for John, over”
“Go for John, over”
“<whatever Alex needs to say to John>”
I mostly heard that when working in large retail stores, usually the walkie talkies have an end-transmission sound que so we didn’t actually have to say ‘over’ at the end
thanks 😃
Is this the same context in which you heard it?
Never heard it in real life, but have in multiple war/military movies.
Bone apple tea
I’m American and I’ve never heard this used.
But after thinking about it, gopher is a play on words that means “go for”. So saying gopher John is like saying “go for John” and can be a greeting.
“Go for X” was somewhat common, including in media. I think OP was mishearing that. There’s virtually no way to differentiate between “gopher” and a rushed, casual “go for” in speech.
I’ve only ever used this on a movie set radio. It’s real but limited in its uses.
Me too and me neither. I’m over sixty, I’ve lived in various parts of the country, and I’ve never head anyone say that.
I want to know what that’s about too!
It means that he works for Google and writes in Go.
ohh
“go for” sounds like the kind of expression a British BBC sitcom would use to exemplify American language. Even though Americans never say it.
Go for john
😃
It’s our national rodent and I’ll thank you to take appropriate pride in her. Squeeker squeek.
I think they’re saying “go for John”. I saw it on a movie once and thought “huh” and my buddy Chris did it a couple times, but that’s about all my IRL experience with it.
I’ve never heard anyone say this. Maybe we need more context?
