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who said is that a pickle in your pocket ?

Is That a Pickle in Your Pocket? Tracing Mae West’s Sauciest One-Liner

If you’ve ever been caught off-guard by someone asking, “Is that a pickle in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?”—congratulations, you’ve just stepped into one of pop-culture’s most mischievous word games. But where did this salty double-entendre come from, and how did a humble brined cucumber sneak into the punch-line? Let’s crunch the facts.

The Real-Deal Origin: Mae West, 1936

Contrary to the meme-ified versions floating around today, the line first slid into the spotlight courtesy of Hollywood’s original bombshell, Mae West. In 1936, while being escorted home by a Los Angeles police officer, West reportedly sized up the officer’s holstered weapon and quipped,
“Is that a pistol in your pocket, or are you just glad to see me?”
The remark was so quintessentially West—equal parts flirtation and social commentary—that it stuck. Over the decades, the “pistol” got swapped out for everything from bananas to, yes, pickles, but the spirit of the line remained: a playful jab at concealed… enthusiasm.

Pickle Power: How the Briny Substitution Happened

The jump from pistol to pickle wasn’t random. Comedy writers in the 1950s loved alliteration almost as much as they loved innuendo. “Pickle” keeps the plosive punch of the original “pistol,” while dialing the suggestiveness up to cartoon levels. Add the fact that a pickle is, well, shaped like the implication, and you’ve got a linguistic win-win. By the 1970s, stand-up clubs and sitcoms were using the pickle variant as a wink-wink alternative safe enough for prime time but naughty enough for late-night giggles.

Pop-Culture Pickle Sightings

• 1980s Late Night: Johnny Carson slipped the line into a monologue about airport security—he got a full 20-second laugh break.
• 1990s Sitcoms: Seinfeld’s writers wanted Elaine to use the phrase in “The Pickle Gambit” episode, but Standards & Practices balked. The compromise? “Is that a breadstick in your pocket…”
• 2000s Memes: Urban Dictionary immortalized the phrase in 2004, defining it as “the universal way to ask if someone’s smuggling produce—or feelings.”
• 2020s Revival: TikTok creators now pair the line with cucumbers and strategically placed jars for comedic thirst-traps.

From Pickle to Politics—Yes, Really

Mae West’s original quip was more than a dirty joke; it was a power move, flipping the script on who gets to do the looking and who gets looked at. That same subversive energy shows up in other famous “pocket” quotes. Lyndon B. Johnson once remarked, “If you can convince the lowest white man he’s better than the best colored man, he won’t notice you’re picking his pocket.” Here, the pocket becomes a metaphor for manipulation, reminding us that what’s hidden can be weaponized—whether it’s desire, prejudice, or actual loose change.

How to Deploy the Line in 2024 Without Getting Slapped

1. Know Your Audience. Best reserved for friends who appreciate vintage raunch.
2. Pick Your Prop. A phone, a banana, or an actual pickle—commit to the bit.
3. Deliver with a Mae West Drawl. Shoulders back, eyebrow arched, timing slower than a Southern summer.
4. Exit Gracefully. If the laugh doesn’t land, pivot: “Just checking if you’re as excited about lunch as I am.”

Takeaway

Next time someone asks if there’s a pickle in your pocket, tip your hat to Mae West—the woman who turned a loaded question into a century-spanning wink. Because whether it’s pistols, politics, or produce, what we hide in our pockets says a lot about what we’re packing.

Now go forth and relish the moment.