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It gives me the heebee jeebees
Sally Neff
1
2008/02/20 - 10:51am
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Hello. Someone told me yesterday that the phrase, "It gives me the heebee jeebees," is anti-semitic. Is that true? Where does this phrase come from? Thanks.
-Sally

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2008/02/21 - 6:56pm
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I don't think it's true, at least in origin. Here's an explanation from Michael Quinion. On the other hand, the word "heeb" is an anti-Semitic slur.

That hasn't stopped someone from playing on the similarity between the two for a book title.

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