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Wouldst like to con a glimmer with me this early black?’…

“Wouldst like to con a glimmer with me this early black?’, which he [Cab Calloway] helpfully explains as ‘the proper way to ask a young lady to go to the movies’. It should be noted here, that if the object of your affections replies ‘Kill me’, they are not requesting to be euthanatised and you…” quote by Mark Forsyth
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““Wouldst like to con a glimmer with me this early black?’, which he [Cab Calloway] helpfully explains as ‘the proper way to ask a young lady to go to the movies’. It should be noted here, that if the object of your affections replies ‘Kill me’, they are not requesting to be euthanatised and you should not actually murder them. Kill me is merely the Cab Calloway way of saying ‘Show me a good time’ and is the best response you could have hoped for. Jive was rather confusing in this way.””

Mark Forsyth

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The passage humorously explains that “Kill me” in Cab Calloway’s slang means “show me a good time,” not a literal request for death.

In simple terms: “Kill me” is slang for wanting fun, not death.

Key Takeaway

Understand slang context before reacting.

Themes

language humor slang

Mood

playful informative

Type

cultural educational

When to use this quote

  • nightlife
  • dating
  • social gatherings
  • interpreting slang

Key Concepts

cultural references communication misinterpretation

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you verify slang meanings?
  • What risks arise from misreading cultural cues?
A Different Perspective

Literal interpretation can cause serious misunderstandings.

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