Jack-****

[Keldar]

Apologies for the language, but does anybody know the origin of this phrase which usually means nothing?

[football]

Your question is meaningless. Use a slang dictionary.Jack Frost / J. Horner/ J.nasty/ J.of all trades/ J. of spades/ J. panel/J.priest/ J. straw/ J. rafter/ J.russel/ J. towel/ Jack fruit

[Headtime]

I don't think the question is meaningless. Clearly we all know the word Answerbank has filtered. Quizmonster will be along shortly. All the best.

[Quizmonster]

Actually, H, I had a hunt around over this one yesterday and couldn't come up with anything specific enough for an answer. Like yourself, I recognised instantly what the asterisked-out word was, since the questioner gave the phrase's meaning, and also that it is an Americanism rather than a British usage. On the other hand, as F points out, prefixing an idea with the word 'jack' is extremely common in language generally as well as slang. My guess is that this particular one appeared first in a film-script - I can just see/hear Jack Nicholson saying it! - and simply caught on with the American public. Sorry I can't be more specific, Keldar.

[TommyC]

Some time ago I actually saw on a colleague's desk a complete family history of Jack Schitt and his entire extended entourage, including Aunt Nada, Uncle Zipp and Zero the dog..!! Hilarious...but stupidly I forgot to copy it for myself..!! :o)

[SteveD]

Try this: http://home.pacbell.net/diana_do/knowjack.htm Quicktime required SNSFW

[Louis]

For some time, many of us have wondered just who is Jack Schitt? We find ourselves at a loss when someone says, "You don't know Jack Schitt!" Well, thanks to my genealogy efforts, you can now respond in an intellectual way. Jack Schitt is the only son of Awe Schitt. Awe Schitt, the fertilizer magnate, married O. Schitt, the owner of Needeep N. Schitt, Inc. They had one son, Jack. In turn, Jack Schitt married Noe Schitt. The deeply religious couple produced six children: Holie Schitt, Giva Schitt, Fulla Schitt, Bull Schitt, and the twins, Deap Schitt and Dip Schitt. Against her parents' objections, Deap Schitt married Dumb Schitt, a high school drop out. After being married 15 years, Jack and Noe Schitt divorced. Noe Schitt later married Ted Sherlock and, because her kids were living with them, she wanted to keep her previous name. She was then known as Noe Schitt-Sherlock. Meanwhile, Dip Schitt married Loda Schitt and they produced a son with a rather nervous disposition named Chicken Schitt. Two of the other six children, Fulla Schitt and Giva Schitt, were inseparable throughout childhood and subsequently married the Happens brothers in a dual ceremony. The wedding announcement in the newspaper announced the Schitt Happens nuptials. The Schitt-Happens children were Dawg, Byrd and Hoarse. Bull Schitt the prodigal son, left home to tour the world. He recently returned from Italy with his new Italian bride, Pisa Schitt. Now, when someone says "You don't know Jack Schitt," you can correct them. Sincerely, Crock O. Schitt