Deseret News | Too bad 'thongs' were co-opted by underwear

Reader comments
Too bad 'thongs' were co-opted by underwear

JT | 8:39 p.m. July 12, 2009

Yep. I'm 44, and that's what I called them as a kid. I was never quite sure when the word started being used for string underwear, but it must have been some time after high school for me, which ended in 1983. There must have been a gap when "thongs" stopped being used for what are now called "flip flops" and the beginning prevalence of the new term. Either that, or perhaps the old usage was regional. I grew up in the Northwest. The fact that it meant a type of sandals in the Northwest and in Utah doesn't mean it meant that all over America.

Californian #1@94131 | 11:07 p.m. July 12, 2009

JT, I have a few years on you, and when I was a little kid these were called "zori's." They were rubber sandals, then made in Japan. They were considered house slippers, and wearing them in public except for the beach or park would have been like going downtown in your bathrobe.

We got them for maybe $1.00 at places like Woolworth or Kress. Anyone remember those?

GTG | 11:11 a.m. July 13, 2009

I agree with you, Californian. These cheap rubber sandals were also required footwear for school gym showers to prevent athlete's foot. wikipedia has a good article which also warns of foot and ankle health problems associated with wearing these rubber sole sandals.
problems from the author deliberately embarrassing her children remain to be seen.

Comments continue below

Bob | 5:24 p.m. July 13, 2009

Hysterical! This has got to be one of the more bizarre changes in connotation of a word. I still sometimes think "thongs" when I mean "flip-flops" and I have been known to miss this critical distinction. Once again, Ann Cannon hits with a fun, funny change in our everyday lives. She is just the best!

Moi | 8:12 p.m. July 13, 2009

Yes! I remember zoris! And I haven't thought of Sprouse-Reitz in years. Oh my, we're old.

Annette Wiest Perry | 7:47 a.m. July 14, 2009

Ann! Before Ritz-Carlton emerged for the fairly rich and famous there was the more important and frequented Sprouse-Reitz! Boy what a time warp this took me on. Dude! It's summer and I'm biking with chums(another antiquated word) down 9th east and later skateboarding(no we weren't "skaters" back then) to Sprouse-Reitz. Getting our summer thongs that were on sale for 50 cents. Then went to Stan's for ice cream ah! those were the days! Thanks for taking me there!

Dennis from SoCal | 1:10 p.m. July 14, 2009

And long before they were called flip-flops or thongs, they were called "Go-aheads" by surfers in California and Hawaii. I've called them that all my life. It never occurred to me until recently why they were called Go-aheads until an Hawaiian friend said, "Have you ever tried to walk backwards with them?"
Love your columns!

Mary Brown | 5:31 p.m. July 14, 2009

Yes, we called them thongs too. I remember riding my bike to Longs drugs to buy a pair of them at the first hint of summer. My favorite were layered rainbow colors on the sole of the thong and and a beautiful blue strap between the toes. So cool.

Emily | 10:36 p.m. July 14, 2009

Funny story about that. One day in high school, my class was playing the 'Do you like your neighbor?' game. You know, 'Yes, I like my neighbor but I don't like people wearing _______" Insert clothing of your choice.

So, someone said they didn't like people wearing thongs. Meaning the SHOES. So people got up and switched, suddenly a friend of mine got up and switched but was wearing tennis shoes. Oops!! A little embarrasing, wouldn't you say?

margaret | 1:55 p.m. July 15, 2009

Sometimes don't you just love saying things like "thong" around your kids? Especially when they have friends over... Vivian's kids are just outraged when someone asks "do you want a weinie? I've got buns, too." Time for a inter-generational party...smile

AK Reader | 6:21 p.m. July 16, 2009

Loved this week's column and agreed that the word "thong" just isn't the same anymore. I grew up calling those slip-on summer sandals thongs as well. Flash forward to this morning while reading in Acts 22:25 I got the giggles when I read about the Apostle Paul's travails described here:
"And as they bound him with thongs . . . ."
A very funny scripture picture.

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