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  #11 (permalink)  
Old 05-30-2008, 11:47 AM
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One of my exes used to call people "strappers." It's definitely a Philly thing.

Two more of my favorites are "vicked" and "housed." I don't know if it's a Philly thing, but I'm inclined to think they are.
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Old 05-30-2008, 11:58 AM
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Definitley a derogatory term, and an old one I remember being used in the 70's. There's probably a lot more that might just be local one's too.......I'm sure more will come to a few of us eventually.
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  #13 (permalink)  
Old 05-30-2008, 03:22 PM
jettore jettore is offline
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I grew up in South Jersey and we would use the term strapper. Not sure how we picked it up though.
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Old 06-09-2008, 04:11 PM
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I haven't heard that one in a long time. "What a strap" It's one of those words like "sike" (or whatever way you choose to spell it) that had it's time, and slowly died off.
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Old 06-18-2008, 02:20 PM
theatergypsy theatergypsy is offline
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Default Strap (or Strapper) = Straphanger

Way back in the day, a "straphanger" was a person who rode the trolley car and lacking a seat, hung onto the "straps", (loops of leather) that the transit company (back then it was the PTC) thoughtfully provided for standees to hold onto so they wouldn't fall when the car lurched...
In general, a straphanger was a loser, a schlump, probably a factory worker with a lunchbox, someone to whom one could feel superior...
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Old 06-18-2008, 02:40 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by theatergypsy View Post
Way back in the day, a "straphanger" was a person who rode the trolley car and lacking a seat, hung onto the "straps", (loops of leather) that the transit company (back then it was the PTC) thoughtfully provided for standees to hold onto so they wouldn't fall when the car lurched...
In general, a straphanger was a loser, a schlump, probably a factory worker with a lunchbox, someone to whom one could feel superior...
In New York City, where the original word is still commonly used to refer to a regular subway rider (the local riders' advocacy group is called the Straphangers Campaign), the term has a neutral connotation, perhaps because a much broader cross-section of New Yorkers ride that city's subways than do Philadelphians.

I use the word ironically in my own group description, in the header of this and every other post of mine.
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Old 06-18-2008, 03:57 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EFPhilly View Post
I haven't heard it in years, but thought it was a shortened from jockstrap - "he's a strap".
Yeah, I think that's it. Definitely a derogatory term. If you say, "He's a real strapper.", what you're saying is the guy is a real jag-off. A cafone. I don't know if it's used much anymore though.

Variations; He's a strap. (shortened form) If he's a real strapper, "he's a lion strap."
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Old 06-19-2008, 12:55 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by arlee View Post
One of my exes used to call people "strappers." It's definitely a Philly thing.

Two more of my favorites are "vicked" and "housed." I don't know if it's a Philly thing, but I'm inclined to think they are.

"Vicked" is New York slang meaning victim. In Philly it's usually "Broadie"[Bro-dee] which means to steal, usually indicating a strong arm robbery.

Who uses Housed anymore?? That's outta 1989.
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Old 06-19-2008, 06:05 PM
timothytuxedo timothytuxedo is offline
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I've only heard it as "strap" (never "strapper"). It means j**k-off. Not heard too broadly though.
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  #20 (permalink)  
Old 06-19-2008, 06:08 PM
timothytuxedo timothytuxedo is offline
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I should also add the only people who've I've ever heard use it are from Philly. The only person who ever asked me what it meant was not from Philly. Purely anecdotal though.
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