General
cruisin for a bruisin
What does cruisin for a bruisin mean?
A warning issued to someone pushing their luck.
"Watch it, pal — you're cruisin for a bruisin."
Origin
Quintessential 1950s American teen slang, tied to car culture where 'cruising' the strip was the social pastime; the rhyme turned a literal drive into a warning about coming to blows. Popularized in greaser and hot-rod circles.
Frequently asked questions
What does cruisin for a bruisin mean?
It means someone is asking for trouble and is about to get hurt or punished because of their reckless or provoking behavior.
Where did cruisin for a bruisin come from?
It comes from 1950s American teen car culture, riffing on 'cruising' the strip and rhyming it with 'bruising' to warn someone they're headed for a fight.
Is it a threat?
It can be — it's often a half-joking warning, but in greaser circles it could be a genuine heads-up that a beating was coming.
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