Thread: How 'Texas' became Norwegian for 'crazy'

The flag of Texas. (State of Texas)

-In Norway, when a party goes wild, when a soccer match gets heated, when a rare swordfish shoots out of a fjord with a loud noise and a massive splash, there is only one appropriate response: "Det var helt Texas!"

In English, "That is totally texas!"

Yes, it is a reference to America's second most populous state, and no, it's not really a compliment. Possibly unbeknownst in the Lone Star state, Norwegians have been using the term "texas" (always lower case, often accompanied by an exclamation point) to mean "exciting," "crazy" or "out of control" for roughly half a century.

Americans — perhaps because we were too busy being "Texas" to notice — only found out a few days ago, when a reporter for Texas Monthly stumbled across a conversation about the term on Tumblr.

"Y'all," the headline informed readers, partly amused, partly indignant, "Norwegians use the word 'Texas' as slang to mean 'crazy.' The things you learn on the Internet."

The etymology of the phrase is fairly straightforward, if something of a stereotype.

"This historically goes back to Norwegians watching cowboy movies and reading literature about the wild West, you know?" Anne Ekern, a senior adviser at the Norwegian consulate in Houston, told NPR. "And the wild West held, I think with most Norwegians, held a strong Texas association. So when we use the expression 'Texas,' we think about — you know, most of us think about a lot of action, a lot fun and a lot of things going on..."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/m...azy/?tid=sm_fb

Crazy or chaotic. It's an old expression used mostly by a generation before me who watched American Western movies in the 60s-70s. I think it is quite rare today.

As big as Texas! Interesting trivia..I didn't know this..