86

Meaning

1. (informal) To cancel an order for food.
2. (informal) To temporarily remove an item from the menu.
3. (informal) To throw out; discard.
4. (informal) To deny service to.
5. (informal) To kill.

Synonyms

discard

dispose

eighty-six

fling

fling away

jettison

throw away

sluff

lxxxvi

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˌeɪtiˈsɪks/

Etymology

Unknown. The OED suggests possible rhyming slang for nix.
Other, more elaborate theories include Delmonico's Restaurant in New York City, as item #86 on their menu, their house steak, the famous Delmonico steak, is supposed to have run out often in the 19th century. Another theory is that this term came from the New York speakeasy Chumley’s, which was a hotspot in the 1920s. Chumley’s is hidden inside a West Village building which has two entrances: a well-set-back main entrance on Barrow Street and an obscure back-door exit on 86 Bedford Street. When police were sighted approaching the main entrance, the barkeeps yelled ‘86 it!’ to signal the patrons to hide the liquor and exit quickly through the back door.