hey rube

See also: hey Rube

English edit

Alternative forms edit

hey Rube

English Wikipedia has an article on:

hey rube

Etymology edit

Used since approximately 1935; from a shortening of the given name Reuben. It originated as a cry used by circus workers, possibly because of the connotations of the name Reuben as belonging to someone living in the rural USA.^[1]

Pronunciation edit

(US) IPA^(key): /heɪ ɹub/

Interjection edit

hey rube

A call to rally circus members in a fight.

Noun edit

hey rube (plural hey rubes)

A fight between members of a circus and the general public.
- 2006, Sara Gruen, Water for Elephants:
  "I said 'Shut it, Camel! I'm dealing with a situation here.' Walter says. /.'What kind of situation?' says Camel. / "'Jacob's messed up.' / "'What? How? Was there a hey rube?'"
(by extension) Any fight or conflict, especially a rowdy and informal one.

References edit

^ Oxford Dictionary of Modern Slang, edited by John Ayto and John Simpson, 1997, Oxford University Press: Oxford, p. 129.

[1] Oxford Dictionary of Modern Slang, edited by John Ayto and John Simpson, 1997, Oxford University Press: Oxford, p. 129.

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