How does a phrase such as "Gag me with a spoon" originate? I understand the sentiment as a real concept — gagging oneself with a spoon causes a choking sensation without actually constricting breathing. It's uncomfortable and disconcerting.
But, how did this become the go-to dismissive phrase of the 80s?
Best Answer
The phrase "gag me with a spoon" originates from Valley girl speak, which is in turn an obnoxious form of Californian english. From the wiki article:
The phrase is used as an expression of disgust. A typical usage from the online slang dictionary
The phrase also appears in Frank Zappa's song, Valley girl.
As for the how, you could perhaps reason that the act of gagging yourself with a spoon is pretty disgusting and hence it makes sense. However, I'm not sure you should look for a reason/proper etymology for any of the valley girl-isms (ummm, like, totally, so bitchin', whatever, etc.).