As I know it, "My bad" springs from the school playground games of my youth: Lost Angeles, SoCal, USA 1960's. It was an admitted error, usually causing a "do-over." For example, in handball, the server was allowed one "bad" before having to surrender the serve. Thus, if the server would hit the ball directly into the handball wall, he or she could declare "my bad" and get a "do-over." [On a related subject, does anyone remember "tapping" for exceptions and limitations to the games: "I tap no slicers!"?]
It carried over to other sports, particularly basketball, where a player would confess an error in judgment or execution to his teammates such as one leading to silly turnover of the ball. Its like saying my fault, but slightly less pejorative or serious. I think it is used in this latter sense, meaning "I screwed up, but it aint all that big of a deal." A wonderful notion, as admitting error should be encouraged; it liberates the soul. Ron Los Angeles | OK, I've heard so many people saying "My bad." What is | up with that? Where did it come from? The first time I | saw it in writing, I figured the person who wrote it | didn't speak English as a first language. But I've | heard it or read it countless times since then. Where | does it come from and why is everybody saying it? This | is driving me crazy - really! |
