3

From the Coach Carter movie:

— That reminds me, Mr. Battle. Mr. Gesek tells me he doesn't see you in his classroom very often.

— Yeah, we cool, though, me and him. Mr. Gesek is a big basketball fan.

— Well, as of now, you're suspended. Oh, you can practice, but you can't play until Mr. Gesek tells me you're caught up in his class. And that's a shout out to the rest of you.

That was said while the coach was chastising the basketball team for bad academical. I was confused by the phrase shout out. The dictionary tells that it means to speak loudly. But that was said in a very calm way and couch didn't speak loud actually. So what does that mean?

Improve this question
10
  • macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/shout-out_2 and de.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=shout-out. Use in this case: a warning.
    – Stephie
    May 11, 2015 at 10:40
  • @Stephie Is that a slang expression? Can I use it in more-or-less formal speech?
    – Dmitrii Bundin
    May 11, 2015 at 10:46
  • It's African American Vernacular English (although it exists also in mainstream)
    – TimR
    May 11, 2015 at 10:50
  • Not really slang, more colloquial. Use primarily in spoken language, not as much in written form. But unless you are in a super formal setting, you can express thanks by saying: "I'd like to give a shout-out to all our volunteers who helped us build this ...." (just a random example).
    – Stephie
    May 11, 2015 at 10:51
  • Those two (neither of them African American, @TRomano) will quite often start or end their podcast with a shout-out either to a listener or some sponsor. Side note, clearly off-topic: I really like and recommend this podcast.
    – Stephie
    May 11, 2015 at 10:56

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
3

"To give a shout out to X" means to give credit to X or to mention X in an positive announcement

I haven't seen the movie this is from, but it looks like the term in the question's excerpt is being used intentionally against the above meaning as a sarcastic effect.

I remember first hearing this on rap radio stations in the early 90's, but everyone says it now.

Improve this answer

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .