I Pooted.
On my way home from an automobile service appointment yesterday morning I saw a billboard on Interstate 40 West in Nashville that cracked me up despite myself. It read:
I pooted.
Actually, a friend of mine snapped a picture of the billboard in question by using her camera phone. Here it is:
Now hear me: I loathe advertisements. Between my TiVo, my iPod, and all of the blood, sweat, and tears I've invested in direct marketing opt-out campaigning, you'd think I would have filtered this particular billboard out of my consciousness, but no...there it was, front and center in my field of vision. The billboard's color scheme was simple: white text on a red background (at least I think that's what the color scheme was—I happen to be profoundly colorblind).
Nevertheless, given the fact that I abhor advertisements, I made an exception for this one because it made me laugh out loud. (And yes, I find stuff like college prank viral videos uproariously funny as well. Get over yourselves.)
Later that evening, my wife and I drove by that same billboard on our way back home from a first-time dinner experience at Maggiano's Little Italy restaurant (sidenote: I cannot recommend Maggiano's to you; the food is mediocre, hardly dietetic, and the establishment's operating philosophy obviously panders to an obese American culture).
Probably because Susan is a graphic designer, she was able to detect was I was not; namely, that the design of the "I pooted" billboard matched the design of the billboard on its opposite side. As it happened, the billboard on the opposite side of the roadside display was an advertisement for our local digital cable company. Its ad copy mentioned something about "You would understand blah blah blah if blah blah blah."
This comments thread at Katastrophes blog mentions that the "I pooted" statement might be a reference to the Cartoon Network show Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends. Evidently one of the characters on this show says or said "I pooted" (although I enjoy cartoons, Foster's isn't one of them).
Therefore, perhaps the "I pooted" deal is a gambit on the part of Comcast Digital Cable to stir up controversy around town that "Hey, in order to get 'cool content' I need to sign up for cable TV! That way I'll understand cryptic references like 'I pooted!' Yay!" Whatever. Kill me now. [NOTE: Upon further reflection and research, I have since changed my mind on this hypothesis and I now believe that this billboard campaign is solely funded by the Cartoon Network. Please see the update at the conclusion of this post for more details. Thanks. -Tim]
I'm not here today to discuss the merits of digital cable with you. Instead, I'd like to discuss the word poot specifically. After all, this is an etymology and language blog, correct? 
Check out Urban Dictionary's entry for poot to begin. However, you may agree with me that UD's entry is none too helpful. It is better than nothing, though. Screw it—I'm just going to cut to the chase and tender my own "homegrown" definition for poot: this word is an onomatopoeic euphemism for the process of expelling flatus, or, to use what is perhaps the most common slang term, farting.
The Oxford English Dictionary tells us that the word fart is "not in decent use." Ahem...okay. It defines the noun fart as "a breaking wind." That definitional entry is plumb weird to me. Let's check out the verb definition in the OED. The verb fart is defined in the OED as "to break wind."
Etymologically, fart derives from the Old English word feortan, which was an imitative word that evidently meant the same thing that our fart does.
What is the deal with the archaic meanings here?
Incidentally, we can obtain a more progressive definition for the verb fart from Merriam-Webster Online. Those folks define the verb as vulgar slang: "to expel intestinal gas from the anus."
Boy howdy, I'll never, ever forget when I was in seventh grade any my old pal Marc ran up to me in our middle school library with this huge Cheshire grin on his face and said "Timmy, Timmy, guess what? I looked up 'fart' in the library dictionary and it said that it's a 'minor explosion between the legs'!!!!"
Sure enough, Marc was correct. Both our middle school library and my Grandpa Cook had matching Funk and Wagnalls unabridged dictionaries—yes, those ginormous, foot-thick 'Wildebeast' editions that I was physically incapable of lifting off of their wooden display stands. My buddies and I used to have so much fun looking up 'dirty words' and tittering wildly at the Victorian definitions we'd discover.
No foolin'—that dictionary defined fart as a "minor explosion between the legs." Good lord. It has been 25 years since I performed that lookup. Time flies when you're havin' fun.
UPDATE 06-23-06: As of this date there appears to be an abundance of anecdotal evidence (though nothing official, at least to my knowledge) that this series of humorous billboards is, in fact, a viral marketing campaign on the part of the Cartoon Network, of which "I Pooted" may have been the flagship display.
Here are some of the other billboard quotes in this series, along with their Cartoon Network 'toon sources (if you can help me out with the unknown ones, I'd be grateful):
- "Look, I have a meat beard." -Camp Lazlo
- "Pretty pretty. shiny shiny." -My Gym Partner's a Monkey
- "Clowns hate tangelos." -The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy
- "I’m a hot toe picker." -Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends
- "My boogers itch." -???
- "The hat sells the sandwich." -Squirrel Boy (per Fletcher)
Technorati Tags: poot, fart, etymology, slang, english, oed, funk and wagnalls, dictionary, definitions, language, linguistics, pop culture
thehomelessguy wrote:
My parents also had those very large dictionaries - two tomes to complete the entire alphabet. Whenever I asked my dad how to spell something, he’s just say, “look it up.”
On another note - I received an email today from a guy who runs a local Scrabble club - I thought I’d share it with you, and if you are so include you might share it with your readers. Thanks
I got this in the mail today - open to everyone - in Nashville anywho
Dear Future Member,
You are cordially invited to join the “Middle Tennessee Scrabble Club”. Enclosed is information from our last meeting, Guidelines and info about the rules of Scrabble and about our club, and a list of Two-letter words.
Our next meeting will be on Saturday, July 8th at 12:00 noon at Meigs Magnet School. Meigs Magnet School is located in East Nashville, just one mile from the Tennessee Titans Stadium at 713 Ramsey St. Join us in learning to love the worlds most popular word game. Expect to have fun, and be relaxed, in a non-threatning and slightly competitive afternoon of Scrabble Brand Crossword game.
Please RSVP by phone or email so we may have an accurate count of the expected attendees.
Club Director: Alvin Haney
Contact: mmmsteachr@yahoo.com
Posted on 18-Jun-06 at 5:37 pm | Permalink
Ann in VA wrote:
Small world…I was driving home yesterday and saw an identical billboard in my hometown, Norfolk, Virginia!
I was intrigued, so asked at work this morning if anyone had heard the “buzz” on it’s meaning or intent…Na-da! So I “Googled” it…got your blog entry, but no other hits.
Alas, my search continues for the meaning…if you’re successful before me, let us know!
Posted on 21-Jun-06 at 8:09 am | Permalink
Valerie wrote:
Hi Tim,
The same as “Ann in VA” I also goggled “I pooted” because we have in on Interstate 95, in Providence, Rhode Island. I asked around to see if anyone had an idea about what it meant, and no one knows. If you find out please let me know too!
Posted on 21-Jun-06 at 8:49 am | Permalink
Radioactive Jam wrote:
I spotted one near Orlando, FL. this morning. This Greeneville (SC) Online article attributes the billboard to a new ad campaign from The Cartoon Network.
Maybe I’ll see the “Clowns Hate Tangelos” ‘board next…
Posted on 21-Jun-06 at 10:48 am | Permalink
Lisa wrote:
I saw this billboard for the first time on Monday on I-40 in Greensboro, NC.
I like it, actually! It’s different. And, even if it ends up being the prelude to an advertisement, then kudos to the marketing department. Job well done!
Posted on 21-Jun-06 at 12:02 pm | Permalink
Tim W. wrote:
From the further online research I’ve done on this subject, it appears that this is a “viral marketing” campaign on the part of the Cartoon Network.
There are quite a few related billboards, I guess. I agree with all of you: the designer(s) who are responsible for this campaign have earned their salaries, no doubt!
Tim
Posted on 21-Jun-06 at 12:18 pm | Permalink
Jana wrote:
There are 3 other signs in and around Nashville that are of the same color background and write. They are “Shiny Shiny Pretty Pretty” on Charlotte @ White Bridge Road, “I’m a great toe picker” on Briley Pkwy between White Bridge Rd & Dickerson Rd, and “I have a great meat beard” on I-40 E before Bellevue. WHAT THE HECK ARE THEY? Are there more around Nashville, TN?
Posted on 21-Jun-06 at 1:42 pm | Permalink
Jana wrote:
I’ve done more searching and came up with the link below…
http://www.katastrophes.com/index.php/archives/141#comment-195
Apparently these are all sayings from Cartoon Network shows.
Posted on 21-Jun-06 at 1:54 pm | Permalink
Stephen wrote:
You hate advertising, yet you give Apple and Tivo free marketing in your entry, plus you fall victim to their copyrighted capitalization methods (IE iPod vs Ipod). All the cool kids spell it Ipod. You should too.
Posted on 21-Jun-06 at 3:36 pm | Permalink
Missy wrote:
They’re in Chicago, too.
Posted on 21-Jun-06 at 5:33 pm | Permalink
Robert wrote:
Just like Lisa (do I know you? hope you aren’t my boss’s boss also with the same name), I saw this same billboard in Greensboro on my way to work along I-40. I think there were two of them, one said said “I pooted” and I forget what the other one said, but it was a differeng saying but the same red background and white letters and fonts.
Posted on 21-Jun-06 at 10:45 pm | Permalink
Mary wrote:
I also saw the signs in Chicago and Indy and did see another red sign that said something about being hit with a sandwich?? Any ideas?
Posted on 22-Jun-06 at 9:54 am | Permalink
StaceyB wrote:
Unfortunately, I Pooted has made it’s way to Cleveland, OH as well. Thanks for attempting to put the pieces of the ‘cleverly’ ripped off marketing.
Posted on 22-Jun-06 at 3:14 pm | Permalink
amy wrote:
i was taking my son to school and i looked up read it once then read it again to make sure i read it right, and sure enough. job well done!!!!
Posted on 22-Jun-06 at 5:37 pm | Permalink
Gregville wrote:
“I pooted” billboard was on the local Nashville (Channel 5) news tonight 6-22-06.
They did verify they are part of “a Cartoon Network ad campaign”.
Posted on 22-Jun-06 at 6:42 pm | Permalink
BT wrote:
“I pooted” billboard spotted in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Posted on 23-Jun-06 at 12:12 pm | Permalink
Leighann wrote:
They are in Brooklyn NY as well….it cracked me up!!!
Posted on 23-Jun-06 at 2:44 pm | Permalink
Kyle wrote:
I spotted one in Vegas!! Really caught my attention. I know for a fact I have never looked for info I saw on a billboard. Pretty damn catchy.
Posted on 23-Jun-06 at 9:40 pm | Permalink
Danielle wrote:
I saw this billboard in Vegas and told my husband about it. We went to a movie tonight and there was Cartoon Network Ad that involved a little yellow thing playing with a horse. At the end, it said “I pooted.” Finally, it all came together. Then I came home and googled it, just to be sure. And here was your post…
Posted on 24-Jun-06 at 2:17 am | Permalink
JIM wrote:
Saw it here in RI….laughed so hard that I POOTED!
Posted on 24-Jun-06 at 6:42 am | Permalink
Jeremy wrote:
add virginia beach to that list….
Posted on 24-Jun-06 at 10:35 pm | Permalink
sean wrote:
I saw this bill board driving on 95 north in Las Vegas. saw another with the same color scheme driving out of town.
Posted on 24-Jun-06 at 11:52 pm | Permalink
Addie wrote:
“The hat sells the sandwich” is from Venture Brothers, one of the adult swim cartoons.
Posted on 25-Jun-06 at 6:34 am | Permalink
Mike wrote:
Another Googler visiting this blog for this billboard. The one in Las Vegas (well, the one I saw) is on Hwy 15 northbound at the Lake Mead exit. Haven’t seen anything like it elsewhere, though. It sits alone amongst a bevy of casino advertisements for prime rib and loose slots, so it’s presence is rather jarring.
Posted on 26-Jun-06 at 4:11 am | Permalink
Fletcher wrote:
Though The Venture Bros. is a great show, “the hat sells the sandwich” is actually from a new series called Squirrel Boy, debuting on Cartoon Network July 14. It’s from Duckman creator Everett Peck, and has sneak-previewed a couple of times already. Funny stuff.
Posted on 26-Jun-06 at 12:48 pm | Permalink
Tim W. wrote:
Fletcher,
I appreciate the clarification. I always strive for accuracy!
Kind regards,
Tim
Posted on 26-Jun-06 at 1:02 pm | Permalink
Gregg M wrote:
In Tampa too!
Posted on 26-Jun-06 at 3:03 pm | Permalink
Steve S wrote:
“I pooted” spotted in Atlanta, visible on the left if you’re on the northbound side of the 75/85 connector, just past Turner Field or I-20… can’t remember which.
Posted on 26-Jun-06 at 10:38 pm | Permalink
Kenny wrote:
The signs are all over Atlanta, probably due to the fact that Turner Broadcasting and Cartoon Network are based in the city.
Posted on 26-Jun-06 at 11:19 pm | Permalink
Rob S wrote:
I saw the billboard as well in Henderson NV just east of Las Vegas. What does it mean.
Posted on 26-Jun-06 at 11:21 pm | Permalink
Andrea,Chantel,Alex wrote:
We were coming home from Universal Studios Orlando Florida when we saw a sign that said “I’m a hot toe picker.” and we were wondering what a hot toe picker is???
Posted on 27-Jun-06 at 5:58 pm | Permalink
Arec, IN wrote:
“I Pooted” spotted on US 40 near downtown Indianapolis, and another on the north side of I465. I laughed for about 10 minutes straight…my girlfriend didn’t think it was funny.
Posted on 27-Jun-06 at 9:37 pm | Permalink
Amy wrote:
We have the same sign here in Providence Rhode Island. I just had to google the “I Pooted” phrase to see what it meant and I found your blog. I told my entire department at work in Massachusetts and they didn’t believe me. (Now they do!)
Posted on 28-Jun-06 at 6:58 am | Permalink
Bill wrote:
We have at least two signs from this campaign in Rhode Island. Besides the “I pooted” in Providence on Route 95N, there’s “I’m a hot toe picker” near the beginning of Route 295N. Thanks for clearing it up.
Posted on 28-Jun-06 at 8:17 am | Permalink
KL Chesapeake,VA wrote:
I was also interested in finding the meaning. I delivered 3 to a camp near Ashville, NC. As my son and I drove back to VA along 1-40 to 1-85, he noticed the first “I pooted.” I thought he was joking. We did see a few more on our return trip. The next day, I saw the same sign on I-64 in Norfolk, VA. It is driving my 15-year old crazy to not know the meaning. Any other ideas?
Posted on 28-Jun-06 at 8:44 am | Permalink
mario dinis wrote:
and what makes us so sure you’re not part of the viral campaign? easy money, bossman.
Posted on 28-Jun-06 at 10:15 pm | Permalink
Tim W. wrote:
Mario,
If you are asking me personally as the author of this blog post and owner of Mother Tongue Annoyances if I think I am part of Cartoon Network’s viral marketing campaign, then I’ll answer you “Heck yes!”
I’m not being paid one penny by CN; nor have any representatives of their organization contacted me over this post. Nevertheless, by my simply authoring this post, I have unwittingly fed into their advertisement, certainly. That’s what I get for sharing my curiosity with the world.
Kind regards,
Tim
Posted on 28-Jun-06 at 10:27 pm | Permalink
Ryan wrote:
And now Cleveland too…
Posted on 29-Jun-06 at 1:37 pm | Permalink
sut wrote:
i remember when an excited friend showed me that definition and i clearly read “explosion” as well. and continued to read it thusly until i told it to my mom who pointed out that the word was “expulsion”. i was shattered!
Posted on 29-Jun-06 at 3:53 pm | Permalink
Inda wrote:
spotted in Oklahoma City as well — the itching boogers one is from Grim Adventures of billy and mandy (I’m pretty sure anyways)
Posted on 29-Jun-06 at 7:48 pm | Permalink
Rawr wrote:
There is a “I pooted” sign in Cincinatti too.
Posted on 29-Jun-06 at 10:33 pm | Permalink
Harry wrote:
Saw “I pooted” on the Gowanus this morning; googled “I pooted” and this site came up second (but you were my first click)
Posted on 30-Jun-06 at 8:43 am | Permalink
Vivian Burrell wrote:
Hello! So this is quite a turnout of the I pooted advertisment -times square in Manhattan, New York . Graduated with a BS in Advertising Communications and I must ask who is the creative guru behind this ? Clap clap !! Amazing I must say - hence the turnout
Posted on 30-Jun-06 at 2:11 pm | Permalink
RavenWolven wrote:
My mom and I just got back from a trip to Kentucky. The first “I pooted.” sign we spotted near Atlanta, sent us into fits of laughter. We tried to fgure out exactly what it meant. We speculated that perhaps some radio station had a really good snese of humor, or that maybe Atlanta was trying to cheer up the commuters on that particularly hairy expressway. The second pooted sign we spied near home in Tampa and THAT really had us wondering. I decided to hop on the internet ASAP when I got home and find out just what the hell the deal was.
Cartoon Network. Figures.
At least we had a HUGE laugh…
Posted on 30-Jun-06 at 6:18 pm | Permalink
rachel kice wrote:
is it affirmative that the billboards are a cartoon network ad campaign?
i sincerely want to know who is putting these billboards up.
rkice
Posted on 01-Jul-06 at 9:53 pm | Permalink
Sarah wrote:
Detroit can now be offically added to the sign spotting list. I seen “shiny shiny pretty pretty”, “Look! I have a meat beard”, and “I pooted” all along I-94 within the past week and I have been racking my brain as to what they all mean. Now, I know that they are all from Cartoon Network. These signs are AWESOME. I laughed my butt off when I seen them, and from reading this site, it Looks as if these signs are everywhere.
Posted on 01-Jul-06 at 11:48 pm | Permalink
Dehn wrote:
I have been looking at that same billboard in Orlando Florida for at least a month….
Posted on 02-Jul-06 at 12:00 am | Permalink
tribe.net: www.mtannoyances.com wrote:
Billboard…
I saw a billboard while driving through Oklahoma City yesterday. Big, red, a……
Posted on 02-Jul-06 at 6:25 am | Permalink
JOHN wrote:
July 2, 06 saw billboard “I POOTED” on I-195 near Seekonk Massachusetts
Posted on 02-Jul-06 at 5:04 pm | Permalink
Barb wrote:
Spotted “I’m a hot toe picker” along the 60 freeway going west in to LA, and “I pooted” on the way back, heading east! Had to Google it, as my husband didn’t believe me when I told him the meaning for poot!! I did it, and PROVED it through your blog!! Thanks!
Posted on 03-Jul-06 at 12:49 am | Permalink
Jeff wrote:
“Clowns Hate Tangelos” is up on Rt 37 in Cranston, RI.
Posted on 03-Jul-06 at 9:13 am | Permalink
Jan wrote:
“I pooted” was the last line of an endearing character that showed up injust one episode of Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends. The yellow guy, named “Cheese” is an imaginary friend that is….simple. A really funny episode that fans responded to! So, Cheese will be seen again on the network.
You can see more of him here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XW82Lyux7g&search=cartoon%20network
Posted on 03-Jul-06 at 11:41 am | Permalink
Barbara wrote:
I’m so glad you all cleared that up for me. Thank you all.
Posted on 03-Jul-06 at 10:33 pm | Permalink
Ken wrote:
This is a Cartton Network campaign. Go here:
http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/ipooted/index.html
Posted on 04-Jul-06 at 5:58 pm | Permalink
RickL wrote:
If youi wish to know the origin of ‘poot’ you may need to turn off google and go read some Robert Crumb comix. ‘poot’ appeared some what frequently in Crumb’s frames but not in a ballon, usually as a sound effect. There may have been a later book he worked on named poot, but that was referencing the use of the word in earlier work.
Posted on 05-Jul-06 at 10:01 am | Permalink
amber wrote:
Wow… I have been looking for the word etymology for over a year now and couldn’t remember what it was! Thank you so much~
Posted on 06-Jul-06 at 7:24 pm | Permalink
tony wrote:
Of course, I don’t know for sure where “My Boogers itch” came from, but being an occassional viewer of Cartoon Network and some of it’s more grotesque shows, appears on the surface to be something uttered on the show “Ed, Edd & Eddy.” More specifically, I can imagine it’s something that would be uttered from the always inappropriate mouth of the taller, not so bright, lunk-headed one in the green jacket. Watch the show and you may agree with my “educated” guess.
Posted on 14-Jul-06 at 1:17 pm | Permalink
Chris wrote:
My boogers itch is from “The grim adventures of Billy and Mandy! it is not on the show, but a commercial. he says the above, and then sticks a hand blender up his nose and says this is fun 3 times! Should be on cartoonnetwork.com
Posted on 22-Jul-06 at 11:59 am | Permalink
Chris wrote:
http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/games/activities/cc/getittogether/index.html is a puzzle explaining all of the ads! also see:http://twx.doubleclick.net/click;h=v7/3446/0/0/%2a/l;20466081;4-0;0;11900102;62-120/240;17204422/17222318/1;;~sscs=%3fhttp://www.cartoonnetwork.com/tv_shows/billymandy/index.html
Posted on 22-Jul-06 at 12:17 pm | Permalink
Mother Tongue Annoyances » Baching It wrote:
[…] Whoa—who farted? […]
Posted on 24-Jul-06 at 11:46 am | Permalink
cheez wrote:
ugh,dont you get it?!I pooted means I FARTED!!!!!!!!and cheese is NOT a little yellow thing playing with a horse, he is an imaginary friend who makes me laugh till milk comes out my nose cause he`s retarded.any questions?P.S are any “i pooted”signs near polaris?in ohio?really,i want to see one cause itll make ME poot!!!!!!!!I like cereal and good bye!
cheez
Posted on 28-Jul-06 at 8:54 am | Permalink
Mace wrote:
Spotted an I Pooted billboard on bell road in phoenix az, while on the way to paintball. It caused my wife and son to poot in response do to laughter.
Posted on 28-Aug-06 at 1:21 am | Permalink
Chica wrote:
as cheez explained… Cheese is an imaginary friend on an awesome cartoon with great animation and creative story lines. Why this has become a forum over a billboard, beats the he*& outa me! You sir, Tim, are ridiculus and in need of a life. Now, I’m going to get some CHOCOLATE MILK!
Posted on 03-Sep-06 at 12:25 pm | Permalink
Esteban wrote:
OMG the other day my MOM asked me it means to “p00t”… I explained what it meant to her (I only knew from watching BET one time) and she eluded to that billboard… why can’t they make more Aqua Teen billboards? Like the one with Ted Nugent and stigmata… or whatever.
Posted on 03-Sep-06 at 12:53 pm | Permalink
Christopher wrote:
At last the truth can be told: As a special feature on the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show back in 1961, a pair of strange alien creatures named Gidney and Cloyd used to have a minute or so spot as a sidebar to the Rocky Show. Cloyd’s favorite thing to do was to invent new nonsense words with which to exasperate Gidney. One of these was “I pooted”. I saw Cloyd’s picture and the caption of that phrase at the Eastland Mall ower level in Charlotte, NC last week. It was the first time I had seen it in 46 years. I am quite sure it means an exhalation of a bodily gas, but from which pore or place on an alien’s body remains unknown. All the best,
Christopher
Posted on 11-Nov-06 at 6:45 pm | Permalink
mikey wrote:
People wear beards of meat in England.. Its an old age tradition going back to pagan times.. Check out Beard of meats on myspace.com
Or Lobbert.. Or meatbeard@myspace.com
Posted on 09-Feb-07 at 12:41 pm | Permalink