Comments on: (going to) X like I’ve never Xed before

By: BD2412

BD2412 — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 20:39:45 +0000

The earliest I could find is from Harold M. Sherman, “Dinnie’s Weak Backhand”, Boys’ Life (Aug 1929), p. 52:

“You fellows go out there and play like you’ve never played before!”

By: Throbert McGee

Throbert McGee — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 05:05:20 +0000

From the Flashdance soundtrack:

“She’s a maniac, maniac on the floor,
And she’s dancing like she’s never danced before.”

(Note the ambiguity of the phrase. The intended meaning is usually something like “with unprecedented energy and enthusiasm,” but it can be taken literally to mean “in an awkward, inexperienced manner.”

By: Michael Grant Smith

Michael Grant Smith — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 16:37:25 +0000

I’ve been thinking about this one lately:

I’m going to whore myself on the Internet like I’ve never whored myself on the Internet before.

By: mara

mara — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 23:13:39 +0000

I remember a joke from Rocky and Bullwinkle, I think — “Row like you’ve never rowed before.” “That’ll be easy, I’ve never rowed before.”

By: zhoen

zhoen — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 17:38:26 +0000

“And she’s dancing like she’s never danced before.”
Thanks, now I have Maniac going through my head.

By: John Cowan

John Cowan — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 02:28:47 +0000

However, “X you like you’ve never been Xed before” has about 119 kghits (some of them false positives), and I’d guess that the original X here is F, if you understand me.

By: seamus

seamus — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 00:04:04 +0000

The song “Maniac” from the Flashdance soundtrack comes to mind:

“She’s a maniac, maniac on the floor/
And she’s dancing like she’s never danced before”