The phrase "tickled" becoming more mainstream at the moment

[shytickler]

Hello Forum,

Has anyone else noticed the word "tickled" being used more in mainstream media? As in "that tickled me" if something is funny.

I can think of two examples lately that made me stop and furrow my eyebrows, wondering if I really just heard that. It seems like the phrase is becoming more common amongst comedians.

I listen to The Stephanie Miller Show, which is an AM talk radio show in the mornings, and at times, she says "that tickled me" if something is funny. I've also heard Samantha Bee say the same phrase several times during an NPR interview on Fresh Air.

I know, I know, that's only two examples...but I've been around long enough to know that any mention of the word "tickled", on the radio or TV, is quite rare, and I seem to be hearing it more often lately. Sometimes phrases become popular in society, like "disruptive" is popular right now in the business world. Or it could just be wishful thinking.

 

[chicago]

Nah

 

[teamtickleguy]

I haven't noticed an increase in the word 'tickled' being used in general conversation unless referring to a brand or product or something where it's just unavoidable for whoever is speaking ... for example Tickled Pink (Cancer charity), Tickled (documentary), both fairly recent 'things'.

I know you what you mean about trendy words and soundbites though...we've heard it all with the Election here in UK.... "Strong & Stable".

Language is a fascinating, fast moving thing. Currently in the UK everyone is obsessed with "That moment when...." (often accompanied by a photo), which can be funny, but sometimes you just think... "well, yeah, that's a great moment, but what about it.. please expand?!".

Another phrase of the moment is "...I'm not gonna lie, but..." (usually said alongside a dramatic hand gesture and before saying something really obvious that you would never lie about in the first place anyway!)

I often wonder how they come about... sometimes it's from media, specific characters in TV shows etc... but other times it's literally just another craze... someone says it once, makes a group of people laugh... couple of them repeat it somewhere else... someone puts it on facebook... someone shares it... it goes viral on a lesser scale and gradually infiltrates itself into the human conscious and the next thing we know we're all saying it!

Just imagine if something like " OMG... tickle me!" suddenly became a 'thing'.

Sorry I've meandered away from your question, but I fancied a rant.

Cheers,
TTG

 

[Comfort Eagle]

... did you think it was a hidden codeword or something?

Little old ladies in the south have been saying it forever.

 

[Hemmen]

... did you think it was a hidden codeword or something?

Little old ladies in the south have been saying it forever.

Yep, and in parts of the Midwest too.

 

[matt62]

For as long as I can remember, every so often someone will use the phrase "I was tickled to death" or "tickled pink" or just plain "tickled", meaning they were delighted or amused by something. I hear it on the radio or TV occasionally. It is always uttered really casually, without any apparent awareness that the picture that it paints can be so powerful and significant for some of us.

Personally I nearly jump through the ceiling whenever they come out with it.

 

[Philip_2006]

You've got a great taste in comedy!
Afraid that you'll have long odds of stumbling upon anything kinky with that hyperbole.
I've done a rudimentary keyword search and came up with something a bit more relevant with the ticklish keyword.
Sundance review of a teen romcon on Chicago Tribune (ticklish partners make better lovers...or something to that effect).
http://www.chicagotribune.com/redeye/redeye-movie-review-the-art-of-getting-by-20110614-story.html
Boston Globe forwarded a question to a psychologist about her fiance's recently revealed tickle fetish.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/2013/10/10/tickle-fetish-doesn-strike-her-funny/ugcxCpVaidnCzG04uPpRZJ/story.html
Mainstream outlets tend to have a vigilant impression.