When did the insult “up yours” come into existence?

The movie Blazing Saddles used everything and anything to get a laugh. When the African American sheriff, newly assigned to a rural town, patrolled the main thoroughfare he happened upon an elderly lady and greeted her kindly. She gave him a deadpan look then said, “Up yours, nigger!”. The racial slur, having long lost most of its punch at the point in the movie wasn’t nearly as funny as the “up yours” portion. Without speculating on the what of “yours” the speaker is referring too, when did saying “up yours” start being used?

Green’s Dictionary of Slang cites usage examples from early ‘30s:

up yours! [euphemistic abbreviation of up your arse! excl.]

1. (orig. US) an excl. of contempt.

1933 [US] J.T. Farrell Gas-House McGinty 157: Yeah and up yours too.

Up Yours: The Universal Greeting of Mild Discontent

Ah, "up yours." A timeless phrase, a verbal middle finger, and quite possibly the most polite way to tell someone to go directly to hell without passing Go or collecting $200.

It’s got just the right amount of old-school charm, like something your cranky uncle might mutter when his lawn mower won’t start, or what a British gentleman might say when someone cuts in front of him at the pub. "I say, old chap, up yours!"—delivered with a raised eyebrow and a sip of warm ale.

"Up yours" is versatile. It can be playful, aggressive, sarcastic, or even affectionate if used among friends. "Hey, Steve, I got you a coffee!" "Oh wow, thanks! Up yours, buddy!"—a true sign of camaraderie.

Now, let's talk origins. Some say it comes from military slang, others believe it sprouted from the deep well of creative insults that humanity has been refining since cavemen first grunted at each other over who had the better rock. Regardless, it remains a classic, surviving generations of linguistic evolution like a stubborn old goat refusing to leave the front porch.

In the modern world, "up yours" is tragically underused. With today’s flair for overcomplicated insults, we’ve forgotten the beauty of this simple, two-word shutdown. So, let’s bring it back! Next time someone cuts you off in traffic or sends you a “k” reply to a long text, just smile and whisper a dignified "up yours" to the universe.

Remember, in a world full of complex problems, sometimes the simplest phrases say it best. And if anyone takes offense, well… up yours.