I didn't think about the spelling, but now that I am thinking about it, I agree with Known Unknown. "Z" is a much more interesting letter than the ultra-common "S," so I don't want to miss any opportunities to use "z," but is "ditsy" even an acceptable spelling? Was I influenced by "itsy bitsy"? Clearly, there's a noun "ditz" and you'd never think of spelling it "dits."
I Googled "ditsy" and got some indication that it's an acceptable alternate spelling, and I even got the idea it might be the British spelling, but then I looked it up in the Oxford English Dictionary, and it wasn't there at all.
So "ditzy" it is.
The etymology is unknown but it might be a corruption of "dicty." Do you know that word? It's African-American slang for "A black person regarded as snobbish, pretentious, self-important, or ‘stuck-up" or " Snobbish, pretentious, self-important, ‘stuck-up’; having or characterized by aspirations to gentility or elegance; flashy, showy" or "High-class, fancy; elegant, stylish." For example, here's something from 1932: "Harlem's reigning sheik is Cab Calloway... His dicty clothes in zebra patterns set the style pace for ebony swells along Lenox Avenue." And from 1945: "People with slight education, small incomes, and few of the social graces are always referring to the more affluent and successful as ‘dicties’, ‘stuck-ups’, ‘muckti-mucks’, ‘high-toned folks’, ‘tony people.'"
Back to "ditzy." It means "stupid, scatterbrained; ‘cute.'" Why is "cute" in quotations? Anyway, it's mostly said of women. Examples:
1981 Time 12 Jan. 45/1 Bob Newhart plays the President of the United States: Madeline Kahn is his dipso wife, Gilda Radner his ditsy daughter....Ooh! Both examples spelled it "ditsy."
1985 N.Y. Times 31 Jan. a22/2 According to a wholly unscientific sample, this decade's terms [for ‘dumb’] so far include, besides airhead, retard, ditsy and wifty.
"Ditz" is a backformation. It only goes back to 1984.
1985 Guardian 22 June 12/4 Meryl Streep is serious, Suzanne Somers isn't... I've been both. I used to be a ditz. Now I'm talented.Something very 80s about "ditz" and "ditzy." What was going on there? Sexist retrogression after the 60s and 70s?
2007 N. Barker Darkmans 614 ‘I'm a nutter, a ditz, a turd, a ding-bat..' she shrugged.
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Ditzy blonde.
Tomasky certainly writes like a ditzy blonde. If the shoe fits.....
Dicty - Mezz Mezzrow used that all the time in his book, Really the Blues. I did not know what it meant but had to guess from context. He was a great negro-phile so it makes sense he'd appropriate that. He also used "hincty" all the time.
Bitsy. Mitsy. Ritzy.
The etymology is unknown but it might be a corruption of "dicty." Do you know that word? It's African-American slang for "A black person regarded as snobbish, pretentious, self-important, or ‘stuck-up" or " Snobbish, pretentious, self-important, ‘stuck-up’; having or characterized by aspirations to gentility or elegance; flashy, showy" or "High-class, fancy; elegant, stylish.
I like the terms "toff" and "toffy nosed" for "Snobbish, pretentious, self-important, ‘stuck-up’".
The etymology is unknown but it might be a corruption of "dicty."
From the spelling and meaning, dicty must derive from dictator or more precisely dictatorial.
Ditzy, however, suggests to me a variation on dizzy, as in confused, muddled, or drunk.
Thank you Ann! Now I finally understand the title of the Eubie Blake rag, "Dictys on Seventh Avenue". I actually thought it referred to a Centaur or a play by Euripides.
What was going on there, in the 80s?
"Valley Girl" (1983) was going on there. With Frank Zappa's kid leading the way (or leading from slightly behind the bleeding edge, America got the greenlight to unload on "ditzy" chicks. Since then, we've been largely shielded from raw footage of idiotic young ladies (at least in the larger pop culture).
We do this from time to time because we like to keep the youngsters in place-- male and female. We had a spasm of this just a short while ago when we "noticed" (or, rather, NPR finally noticed) "vocal fry," which was a nice way of trashing young ladies (and some young men).
We aren't allowed to trash young, unbelievably stupid college students or high school students as they are the future and we've got to give them the vote because they're smarter than we are... or something.
How about dizzy+ritzy = ditzy, foolish/stupid+inflated self-opinion/esteem.
Every time I see "ditzy" I think of Goldie Hawn's character.
Ditzy seems to be riff of "Dizzy" as in "Dizzy Dean" the 30s MLB star.
Ditsy is a short version of "ditsy blonde." And we all know instinctively what that means.
Ditzy blonde.
A comedy trope since the days of burlesque at least. In the olden times, when striptease was much more tease than strip, an evening at a theatre like Minsky's involved a few non-strip acts just for variety and to pad out the time from curtain to curtain, typically a singer and one or more baggy-pants clowns. (In the case of Martin & Lewis, the two forms were combined into one.) The baggy-pants zannies often performed skits that cast the strippers as angry wives or amorous girlfriends or alluring and flirtatious witnesses in court. These skits were ancient in content if not in form, with predecessors going back to Roman satires at least, and as such, they contain stock characters much like those in Italian commedia dell'arte, one being the fool. The male fool was the perennial victim of the devious servant. The female fool was the someone who misconstrued all that she heard or saw, who as part of a scheme, always gave away the plot to one to be deceived. She was confused, muddled, and incoherent — in a word ditzy.
Now for reasons not important here many striptease dancers performed as blondes, and quite naturally the hair color got associated with the stock character they performed on stage — sexually alluring but not too bright. The baggy-pants comics eventually graduated from the burlesque stage to the screen and quite naturally used the same material that made them successful, which called for "ditzy blondes" to act as their foils. The same performers then appeared on television doing the same skits with another generation of ditzy blondes.
There are many more blondes than genetics would dictate, and the fact that significantly more blondes are female than male is suggestive. A visit to the "hair care" aisle of any CVS or Walgreens should convince one of the profound desire of many women to be blondes whether Nature has so endowed them or not. Natural blondes might well object to the "ditzy" stereotype. The others might as well shut up and enjoy the skit.
There's a Google Ngram graph showing the word starting off as "ditsy" in the early 1970s and then being substantially surpassed by "ditzy," beginning in the late 1980s.
https://www.quora.com/Did-the-word-ditz-come-from-Yiddish-like-klutz-does-Did-ditz-come-from-klutz
In my blog about the movie Dirty Dancing, I wrote an article that contrasted the phrases to go slumming and to put on the ritz.
In the movie, Robbie Gould mocks Baby Houseman's relationship with Johnny Castle by sneering: "That's OK, Baby, I went slumming too.".
Therefore, I wrote a historical explanation of the expression to go slumming for my readers who want to ponder every phrase in the movie.
Although the movie does not include the expression to put on the ritz, this expression is the opposite of the expression to go slumming in Negro slang of the early 1900s.
To put on the ritz -- or to do the ritz -- meant Negroes dressing up in fancy clothes and walking around on Lenox Avenue in Harlem for free fun on Thursday nights.
This meaning was clear in Irving Berlin's original lyrics, which were changed in later years.
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I suspect that the word ditz was a variation of ritz.
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http://dirty-dancing-analysis.blogspot.com/2017/08/going-steady-versus-going-slumming.html
First heard it in the early 70s Brooklyn. I assumed, like so much of the NYC slang I hadn't heard growing up in the West, it was a Yiddish term (partly because of the 'z").
Irving Berlin wrote two contrasting songs:
* Slumming on Park Avenue
* Putting on the Ritz
The first song depicts Caucasians pretending to be rich people on Park Avenue
The second song depicts Negroes pretending to be rich people on Lennox Avenue
New Yorkers in the 1920s generally were familiar with the expression putting on the ritz -- that the expression described a fun, dress-up activity that Negroes did in Harlem.
Sometimes Caucasians would perform the song, and they would do it in black-face, because the song depicted a uniquely Negro activity.
Over the years, however, stupid social-justice warriors found the black-face performances to be racially insulting. Eventually these stupid SJWs found the song itself to be racially insulting -- even when it was performed by Negroes.
Therefore, the lyrics were changed. Now people think the song is about Fred Astaire dressing up in a tuxedo and dancing with Ginger Rogers in an expensive nightclub.
When Irving Berlin wrote "Putting on the Ritz", those people were not called Negroes. Rather, they were called Colored People.
Now, however, those people must be called People of Color.
If you call them Colored People or Negroes, then you will get into a lot trouble.
Everything tastes better when it sits on a ditz.
-LWL
"Now people think the song is about Fred Astaire dressing up in a tuxedo and dancing with Ginger Rogers in an expensive nightclub."
Uh no. I think its about Doctor Frankenstein demonstrating how urbane and sophisticated his monster really is.
In the very early 1960's there was a girl in my school named Ditsie. It was her family's nickname for Dorothy. And, yes, she was ditzy.
I've never seen it spelled any way but 'ditzy'.
Yes, it should be with a Z, and is mostly, but not exclusively, used for women. It's kind of like dizzy. It's cute because it's often used for a woman like the young Goldie Hawn.
Actually, I've heard of men and boys being called dizzy, but I don't think I've heard of them being called ditzy, so maybe it is exclusively female.
Our esteemed blogress (and wordsmith exceptionale) is the antithesis of ditzy.
Long before the 80's, there were ditzy blondes Judy Holliday and Marilyn Monroe. However, I believe the expression the WWII generation would have used is "dizzy broads." It seems more lucky that "dizzy broads" morphed into "ditzy blondes."
As a natural blonde, I should have been offended and triggered and wounded for life by such a stereotype, especially since it only really applies to female blondes. Did anybody ever describe Robert Redford or Brad Pitt or David McCallum as "ditzy?" No!
However, I honestly was never able to work up a lot of outrage over it. I had other things to think about.
"lucky" = likely
" Our esteemed blogress (and wordsmith exceptionale) is the antithesis of ditzy."
That's because deep down at the root level; she's a redhead, not a blonde
(see what i did there?)
As long as primarily men control the economy, they will subject women to denigration, stereotyping, and second-class citizenry. The "me2" movement has laid the abuse and humiliation bare. Donald Trump is the worst example of the "beauty pageant" mentality of pig men. Fortunately, the backward, male chauvinist commentators, here and elsewhere, who deny progress to the fairer sex are old and will die soon. These beasts have denied women full equal rights for far too long. May they rest in pieces.
What have you been drinking? Women have ruled for at least 20 years now.
Once again, somewhere a seagull is missing its cheeseburger.
Fortunately, the backward, male chauvinist commentators, here and elsewhere, who deny progress to the fairer sex are old and will die soon.
Ugly chicks need not apply.
My guess, Trumpit is a moby.
Nice.
Please bore us some more. As if the real "trumpits" aren't tedious enough.
“When I was born I was so surprised I didn’t talk for a year and a half.” Gracie Allen.
Whenever I read ditzy, I think of Gracie Allen's character. 12,200 google search results just now for Gracie Allen ditzy. And behind that ditzy character was a mind as sharp as tacks, and the woman responsible for the success of George Burns. According to none other than- George Burns.
who deny progress to the fairer sex are old and will die soon.
Takes a longer time than you think for a generation to die off. The FDR people just recently left the political stage. By the time we are gone, you will have lived long enough and seen enough things to have your perspective changed, no matter how resolved you are now, Trumpit, not to learn anything from life.
Trumpit at 3:17 PM
Donald Trump is the worst example of the "beauty pageant" mentality of pig men.
You seem to be calling all men ANIMALS.
What was going on there? Sexist retrogression after the 60s and 70s?
Another example of regression toward the mean, isn't it? Everybody who came of age in the 60's thought they were best and brightest, history's crown jewels. Everybody wanted to change the world. Nobody wanted to do the dishes. They really thought their pontifications settled matters forever and aye. Foolish mortals.
If the preferences of our cultural betters are any guide the only respectable religions are non-Western. And what we'd normally call misogyny — arranged marriages of girls to older men, genital mutilation, suttee, burkas, and all the rest — are part and parcel of these respectable religions, ergo the inevitable return of prevailing sexual mores that have dominated the human story since the beginning.
Besides, people like me aren’t even Baby Boomers, we are early Gen X, I was grunge, not hippy, related a lot more to Kurt Cobain than Pete Seeger. The old Boomers are mostly liberals like you, at least once it’s reduced to the binary choices in the voting booth. Yeah, they are headed for their maker, It’s just not going to go the way you think.
Trumpit may or may not be a moby, but xhe is certainly a ditz.
Justin Trudeau, now there’s a ditzy male. Castro must be rolling in his grave over his idiot son.
Justin Castreau!
This goes way back. When Adam first woke up he really like Eve's curves and cute smile...but then her Ditzyness started to annoy him so much he lost track of the names of those slithery things. Then the Ditzy blonde started talking to them about fruit trees...and the rest is history.
ditsy refers to a small pattern on fabric, usually associated with small florals and other, somewhat feminine, motifs.
Speaking of ditzy, we get this story via Drudge:
Stormy Daniels performance cut short after drunk man throws wallet in her face
The 39-year-old porn star's performance was taking place in Bend, Oregon. Now, I don't wish to denigrate Bend, Oregon. I'm sure that it's a fine place, far from the madding crowd, and I'm sure that the citizens of Bend live there because they have no desire to live in a big city. But if you are a superannuated stripper, in the fourteenth minute of your fifteen minutes of fame, notorious from a decades-old one-nighter with a future POTUS, shouldn't you be on a stage in Los Angeles or Las Vegas, or even Portland if you must remain within the Beaver State, if you wish to maximize the amount of lucre you can squeeze from said notoriety? The Bend-Richmond MSA has a 2017 population estimate of 186,875, good for 228th in the United States. If she isn't a ditz, then her manager is.
Also via Drudge, we learn that "The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Friday shows that 50% of Likely U.S. Voters approve of President Trump’s job performance. Forty-nine percent (49%) disapprove."
Keep stripping, Stormy. The bright lights of Saginaw and Racine await!
From that Bend Bulletin article linked above:
Katya Toporkova, 29, arrived early with friends Emily Juno, 24, and Holly Landrum, 25. The women, who are all from Bend, said it was an opportunity they couldn’t pass up.
“The owner of this club called it making history,” Toporkova said. “We are going to see the woman who had sex with our president.”
Katya Toporkova?! Doesn't she sound awfully... Russian? Has anyone notified Mueller yet?
"You seem to be calling all men ANIMALS."
There's not enough Nair in the world to cure you even if you bathed in it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nair_(hair_removal)
Whatever the technical choices, I prefer "ditzy" for its resemblance to "dizzy."
Funny that it is, among people of a certain age, associated with Goldie Hawn, who played them so well while in real life she is anything but. Perhaps Goldie is why ditzy is an endearment. A ditz may not be smart, but she is fun.
The great question of the day is whether you hear yannay or laurel. For some reason the internet went nuts yesterday over this recording. Listen closely
laurel laurel laurel laurel
Now, and some people listen to this and hear the word laurel, some crazy dames think there's some other word in there that doesn't even exist.
The trick is that laurel is recorded at a low register that normal people like men can hear, and yanny is recorded at the same high register at which someone might say honey could you please remember to change the toilet paper when it runs out, which is completely inaudible to one half of the human species.
- Klavan podcast May 17
The trick is that laurel is recorded at a low register that normal people like men can hear, and yanny is recorded at the same high register at which someone might say honey could you please remember to change the toilet paper when it runs out, which is completely inaudible to one half of the human species.
Q: How many men does it take to change a roll of toilet paper?
A: We don't know. It's never been done.
Q: How many men does it take to change a roll of toilet paper?
A: We don't know. It's never been done.
LOL. badum-CHING
"As a natural blonde, I should have been offended and triggered and wounded for life by such a stereotype, especially since it only really applies to female blondes."
As they say, blondes have more fun. How many blondes dye their hair black?
Almost dizzy/ditzy blonde actresses were quite bright in real life. They may have been psychological disasters - but they weren't dumb.
Harlow, Monroe, Holiday, Jean Hagen, Goldie Hawn. All just playing a part.
The etymology is unknown but it might be a corruption of "dicty."
More likely a corruption of "dizzy."
How many blondes dye their hair black?
It's called artificial intelligence. Rimshot
Semantic progression from dizzy+ritzy. The female connotations likely had social origins from the original witch hunters, turned warlock hunters.
Definitely “ ditzy” with a z and the singular noun for one such individual is “a ditz”.
I remember it in common use in Florida in the 1960s and universally understood whenever used.
I’m sure I also have noticed it used in films from the 30s, usually by Damon Runyon type NYC characters, always about silly women (but not necessarily young).
Ditzy was probably originally “dizzy” but with the emphasized pronunciation to add “pizazz”.
Another possibility is that some now-forgotten but then-popular radio or vaudeville personality popularized the “ditzy” pronunciation.
Besides Damon Runyon, another good glimpse of 1920s-1930s hepcat “scat talking” is the “double-talk” improv scenes with Bogart and William Demarest in “All Through The Night” (comedy, 1942, and well worth seeing).
Definitely “ ditzy” with a z and the singular noun for one such individual is “a ditz”.
I remember it in common use in Florida in the 1960s and universally understood whenever used.
I’m sure I also have noticed it used in films from the 30s, usually by Damon Runyon type NYC characters, always about silly women (but not necessarily young).
Ditzy was probably originally “dizzy” but with the emphasized pronunciation to add “pizazz”.
Another possibility is that some now-forgotten but then-popular radio or vaudeville personality popularized the “ditzy” pronunciation.
Besides Damon Runyon, another good glimpse of 1920s-1930s hepcat “scat talking” is the “double-talk” improv scenes with Bogart and William Demarest in “All Through The Night” (comedy, 1942, and well worth seeing).
Definitely “ ditzy” with a z and the singular noun for one such individual is “a ditz”.
I remember it in common use in Florida in the 1960s and universally understood whenever used.
I’m sure I also have noticed it used in films from the 30s, usually by Damon Runyon type NYC characters, always about silly women (but not necessarily young).
Ditzy was probably originally “dizzy” but with the emphasized pronunciation to add “pizazz”.
Another possibility is that some now-forgotten but then-popular radio or vaudeville personality popularized the “ditzy” pronunciation.
Besides Damon Runyon, another good glimpse of 1920s-1930s hepcat “scat talking” is the “double-talk” improv scenes with Bogart and William Demarest in “All Through The Night” (comedy, 1942, and well worth seeing).
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