Lampin’
Forget idling. The new word for taking it easy is “lampin’.”
It comes from J. B. Smoove’s character on the always-brilliant Curb Your Enthusiasm.
As part of a singular explanation of how “lampin'” made it onto the show (and in which he gives us the additional treasures of “cold lampin'” and “Lamptons” almost inadvertently), Smoove explains:
I told him the difference between chillin’ and lampin. If you’re chillin’, you could be standing up chillin’; if you’re lampin, you’re laying the fuck back.
So now you know.
Oddly enough, Curb is responsible for another pro-doing-nothing phrase: “I’m in my sweats!”
It’s yet to take off in the way of lampin’ but it’s almost as good. Larry blows into Jeff’s house, insisting that he help with a crisis, but Jeff is already in his pajamas. “I’M IN MY SWEATS!” he shouts, and will not be moved. It’s an immutable law. Once you’re you’re in your sweats, you’re done for the day.
Some days, I never even get out of my sweats to begin with.
About Robert Wringham
Robert Wringham is the editor of New Escapologist. He also writes books and articles. Read more at wringham.co.uk
I just happened across the article attributing the term “lampin'” to J.B. Smoove’s character on Curb Your Enthusiasm. The expression was common in African American Vernacular English (AAVE) decades before CYE. The earliest indisputable example I could find is “Cold Lampin’ with Flavor” which was released in 1988. The term had been in use several years prior to the release of the It Takes a Nation of Millions album. Checking the online Urban Dictionary shows entries for “Lampin'” would have revealed entries from 2002. I like J.B. Smoove as much as the next guy, but give credit where it is due.