Rock Climbing Safety

Nationality: American
Age: 21
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Language: English

Text:

“Dude on rock?”

“Rock on dude.”

Context:

The informant, TG, is originally from San Jose and grew up rock climbing at summer camp as a teenager. He explained that rock climbers must go through a safety procedure before they begin climbing. After all of the gear is properly equipped, the climber has a verbal exchange with person belaying them (this person controls the rope slack and tension to ensure the climber does not fall) that typically goes like this:

Climber: “On belay?”

Belayer: “Belay on.”

Climber: “Climbing.”

Belayer: “Climb on.”

[Climber begins climbing.]

TG said that this exchange is important because it signals that both people are ready and actively engaged to ensure proper safety. “Dude on rock?” / “Rock on dude” is a playful variation of this, and would take place immediately after “On belay?” / “Belay on.”

Analysis:

Rock climbing is an activity that comes with the inherent risk of serious injury. TG suggested that fun riffs on these safety procedures help the climbers to feel more casual and relaxed. The phrase is also a play on words, with rock’s double meanings as a solid mineral and as a music genre. Furthermore, TG grew up in close proximity to San Francisco, which was notable for its psychedelic rock and hippie culture during the 1960’s and 1970’s — hence the influence of the phrase “Rock on!”

“Fake it till you make it”

Age: 20

Participant first heard the phrase during childhood, stating that it was a common phrase “thrown around”. In childhood, an example situation to use it would be “pretend to be popular” and other kids will naturally like you. As they grew older, they started to connect to it more. They used it as a way to combat insecurities and labels, stating, “If I’m not feeling ok, I used to it kinda push through during the moment until I have the time to unpack what I’m dealing with. I prevent unhealthy thinking patterns”. 


Analysis: I think that this goes to show how proverbs can grow with us, and how their meaning can change depending on the context one needs it for. “Fake it till you make it” is particularly interesting, as I think it’s most commonly used as a way to ignore minor issues to tackle the situation at hand. It’s also used in a more reassuring sense, like “You may be having issues/doubts now, but enough prevalence will allow you to make it”.

“Better to have gone out trying”

Age: 20

Participant first heard this phrase during their first year of college. They found it particularly useful during this time to reflect on their own past choices from childhood, and their regrets of not trying things. They have stated that “Better to have gone out trying” is “like trying something and failing at it is better than not trying at all.”. They continue to use it to step out of their comfort zone, like trying new things or meeting new people.

Analysis: The participant has summed up the meaning of this phrase pretty well. “Better to have gone out trying” is a phrase I think useful to people experiencing a transition in life or before making a huge decision. This is a motivational saying, looking to convince someone to “just go for it!”, as it’s better to try than regret it later.

“Not my monkeys not my circus” 

Age: 20

Participant heard this from a co-worker in 2022, who said it because a customer was upset at them for something they didn’t do. The participant now uses it for similar reasons, like not getting in between 2 friends fighting, or their siblings arguing over something small. 

Analysis: I see this phrase commonly online, mostly used as a response to something happening, mostly as a way to say “This isn’t my business, nor do I care” Similarly to the instance with the participant’s coworker, it’s also used deflect responsibility or remind oneself that they don’t need to help resolve every problem that comes their way.

“Them’s the Breaks”

Age: 24

Participant first heard this phrase in 2024 from a friend who had heard it in a youtube video. They use it as a way to say “it is what it is”, and to move on from smaller problems or hardships. It has also been used as an inside joke, in the situation that something goes wrong when both of them are present.

Analysis: “Them’s the breaks” definitely has an origin from outside the internet, but its internet-origin is important to the meaning for these 2 friends. This is because this phrase has 2 purposes: to remind oneself to accept that mistakes can happen, and also of a shared joke. I think it also goes to show how quickly references can go from one-off jokes to longer-term shared speech.