By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills
Less than a month ago, my city, Houston, met the challenge of Hurricane Beryl. I’ve experienced hurricanes before, but this one got my attention. I felt like I was living in a documentary about those who attempt to ride out a storm. And don’t get me started on the days without power in 90+ degree temps and high humidity that had felt like temps around 115!
Many people loaded up their vehicles and “Got out of Dodge.” My husband and I talked about the phrase, where did it originate and its initial meaning. My initial reaction settled on Dodge City, Kansas, the scene of many wild west books and movies, like “Gunsmoke.” Husband claimed my explanation was too simple. So off I went to explore the meaning.
I love the history and origin of words, etymology, so I began with dodge. It first appeared in the Scottish and Northern England culture around the 1560’s as “one who dodges or evades” in any sense, especially “one practiced in artful shifts.”
In the 1630’s, dodge was used as a noun to mean “a shifty contrivance or clever trick.” In the1670’s and 1680s, the definition morphed from “start or shift suddenly” to “evade, swindle, or play tricks.” The article provides interesting information on how the word changed to what it means today.
Dodge City, Kansas received its name from a US military man named Richard L. Dodge. And it does make me wonder how he received his surname. Ancestry.com gave insight into the English name, but I’m holding “to my guns.”
I found this fascinating story from a publication titled The Sunflower with an article by Tyler Guthrie, a book review. “Review: Where the phrase ‘Get out of Dodge’ comes from.” If you’re curious about Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson’s roles in Dodge City, you’ll enjoy the article and possibly the book by Tom Clavin. From what I’ve read, I think I would have been looking for another place to live.
By now, you’ve read enough to label me as a Word-Nerd, but that’s okay. You decide which one of us was right, or possibly both of us to keep the peace in the Mills’ household.
The meaning of “Get out of Dodge” has changed over the years. For me, it means to leave and not mess around. What does it mean to you?
Comments 20
When I retired after many many years of working. I did three things:
1. Took off my watch.
2. Took off my name-tag.
3. Gave the switchboard operator a black sharpie to cross off my name from the on call list.and said” I’m getting the heck out of Dodge for a new adventure- called retirement.”
Glad I did!
Joyce, I love that! You made a plan and got out of Dodge. I’m sorta laughing. 🙂
For me, it’s always meant to get out of a sticky situation before it’s too late. I love that you researched its origin and how the meaning of ‘dodge’ has evolved over time.
Blessings, DiAnn!
Thank you, Martha. So many words and phrases have origins going back hundreds of years. The phrase, “bringing home the bacon” came during the middle ages when that is exactly what the head of the household did to provide for his family.
I always thought that phrase originated with “Gunsmoke” also. Thanks for clearing up the mystery!
Barbara, word studies – to me – are fun. I have this huge book called: English through the Ages.
My hubby and I hate the city. When we go shopping or anything in a big city and we are ready to go home, it is getting out of Dodge! Getting back to our country life!
Debbie, I’ve lived in Houston for 45 years, and I’m always ready to Get out of Dodge! Thanks!
This fellow word nerd LOVES that you went down the rabbit hole on this one. I always assumed it was a reference to Dodge City and escaping a gunfight!
Kristine, I’m laughing here. Only a fellow word nerd gets the need to find the source.
Well, for me, “Get out of Dodge” has always meant to leave a bad situation. Of course, when Wyatt Earp “got out of Dodge”, he left Dodge City, KS for Tombstone, AZ. Having lived in Tucson for over a quarter century, I’ve visited Tombstone a few times, and watched the enactment of the O.K. Corral gun fight. The old gun fighter’s cemetery in Tombstone is called Boot Hill, and is probably the most well known cemetery with that name. The epitaphs on the grave markers there are sometimes pretty funny. And of course the newspaper was called the Tombstone Epitaph. It’s also the oldest continuously published paper in AZ.
Tim, I need to visit Tombstone and all it offers! Living in Houston, getting out of Dodge also means escaping a hurricane. Thanks!
I’m with you, DiAnn. I believe it was an order given to a cowboy who swindled another cowboy in a game of cards and the loser pulled his gun and told the cowboy to “get out of Dodge”. I guess that comes from watching cowboy shows with my dad, back in the day.
Marcia, I grew up watching westerns with my dad. Loved them! Still do.
It could very well mean, “Get away from these Calif. earthquakes.” We had a few the other night on my end of Bakersfield…….ugh! I do NOT like earthquakes!!!
Vondia, by all means – get away from earthquakes. Don’t blame you at all. I experienced one earthquake, and that was enough for a lifetime. 🙂
To me it means to get out of town, but we have been to Dodge City, Kansas and
also Boot Hill. I was disappointed in Boot Hill because I imagined it out in the middle of nowhere. Instead, the graves are surrounded by the city itself which doesn’t leave much to the imagination.
Another play on words, where does the term, “Dodgy” come from?
Have fun!
Janet, you challenged me! From what I’ve found dodgy means to deceive, untrustworthy, dishonest, double-dealing. Not a word we want “saddled” on us!
DiAnn, I agree with you but then again, I haven’t researched it any further. I am open to another consideration.
Donna, in the research, I saw the town was named after a man, last name of Dodge. Maybe he had a few dishonest dealings.