When I introduced my TWERK necklace as August’s Jewel of the Month, I noted that the overuse of a word/acronym tells me when the time is right to add that word/acronym to my pop-culture-inspired WENDY by Wendy Brandes diffusion line. An expression has reached critical mass when I’m ready to cut the next bitch who uses it!
Over the past couple of months, I’ve been eyeing phrases that are condensed and corrupted to basic sounds. Among the examples that I love to hate are “ion” (as in “Ion know why you did that”), “iono” (“Iono why you did that”), and “talmbout” (“You know what I’m talmbout?”). But none of those are a complete thought. It would be weird to wear a necklace that says “I don’t” (“ion”) or “talking about” (“talmbout”). So September’s Jewel of the Month is …
$300. Click to purchase.
Do you want to take a guess at what it means? Recite the letters out loud, quickly. Try it again. And again. I’ll wait!
Give up? UOENO means “you don’t even know.” (If you figured it out, feel free to brag in the comments.) It’s a perfect stand-alone piece for drama queens. “How was work today?” “UOENO!” “How much did you pay for those Louboutins?” “UOENO!” The Twitterati took to it after rapper Rocko released a song called “U.O.E.N.O.” earlier this year. Another rapper, Rick Ross, had a verse on the song that included the lines:
“Put molly all in her champagne
She ain’t even know it
I took her home and I enjoyed that
She ain’t even know it.”
When the song got big enough for people to notice it — a couple of months after it was released — they noticed that Rick Ross seemed to be endorsing date rape at the same time he was endorsing Reebok sneakers in new commercials. Petitions and protests ensued, and Ross lost his contract. When you’re a big sneaker company signing up controversy-loving entertainers to sell your products, UOENO how much trouble they can get you into!
All of that didn’t hurt the use of UOENO in conversation. It’s taken on a life of its own, separate from the song that popularized it, much like YOLO (which was popularized by a Drake song that also happened to feature Rick Ross). I kind of like it when people use the periods in it — “U.O.E.N.O.” — because it makes me think of The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (If you’re not familiar with vintage television shows, UOENO what I’m talmabout, do you?) Five letters starting with a U is a good look, so UOENO works for aesthetics as well as meaning.
You can shop my entire WENDYB by Wendy Brandes here. The collection also works as a glossary for youthful slang. I educate AND adorn you!
INOwhaUTaBout. How appropriate – my anti-spam word is stopthat. I am so out of it.
I educate AND adorn you!
Great line.
I look to you to keep me up to date, and you never disappoint!
Just doing my job, ma’am!
I never even hear any of these phrases… thank goodness!
Lucky you!
Oh Wendy! You are pretty, stylish & SMART! No wonder I always love your blogs!
Jewelry that educates is all that! =)
I definitely need the slang glossary b/c I am so out of that loop =)
xoxo – Beth
Aw, thanks, Beth!
Didn’t guess it, clever you! ACK I hate the sayings you mentioned! But I think the one that drives me the most crazy is “ax” “I need to ax my parents if I can go” What, are you a budding Lizzie Borden? “Imma” drives me nuts too… I’m sure there are others, but I’m a hermit lately, paying attention only to working on too much stuff & trying to sort everything as I’m leaving for London on Sat. XXX
LOL @ Lizzie Borden.
Damn, I should have named my ax stud earrings after her!
That’s okay, you can do a guitar and call it your “Axe” earring! XXX
True!
After you sell your first 40 axe earrings, you can re-name them!
LOL!
You Americans and your words! Lol. Love it. But LOVE Tom P & HB even more than u will know. Is there a proper way to say that in code? I am baffled maaaate!
<3 Tom Petty, UOENO how much!
This is brilliant. You are hilarious!
The Man From Uncle! That brings me back. UOENO!
I think you need to make a necklace that stands for, “I’ll cut a bitch” next!
How about just a big gold knife?
UOENO how much fun The Man From Uncle was to watch as a little kid. I wasn’t actually allowed to watch it but my two brothers had their Wiley ways of sneaking in contraband TV when babysitters were watching us (or not really watching us). Those were the days I also watched Outer Limits and had nightmares! Do you know what I’m talmabout? That show was creepy.
I second the vote for an “I’ll cut a bitch” necklace. Or the knife.
Twilight Zone gave me nightmares!