go ham
verb/ɡoʊ ˈhæm/
Etymology
Uncertain; the earliest use of the term in the idiomatic sense appears to be in the 2007 song "Go Ham on 'Em" by Soulja Boy (see quotation below), although isolated usage goes back earlier. "Ham" is often thought to be an acronym of "hard as a motherfucker" (with go ham then parsing as go hard as a motherfucker), although this may be a backronym. Alternatively, it could be a phonetic clipping of mayhem. The term was popularized by the 2011 song "H.A.M." by Jay-Z and Kanye West. The fact that go the whole hog and go ham have senses that are synonymous at least raises the question of whether the pig-portions connection is wholly coincidental or not.
- If you use her fabric scissors, she's going to go ham on you.
- Go ham on em Soulja, go ham on 'em2007, “Go Ham on 'Em” (0:12 from the start)performed by Soulja Boy:
3 more examples
- I'm about to go HAM / Hard as a muthafucker, let these niggas know who I am2011 August, Jay-Z and Kanye West, “H•A•M”, Watch the Throne, deluxe edition, Roc-A-Fella Records
- “Clover went in. And she's so calm and gentle normally! I didn't expect her to go ham like that. Will Patricia's arm mend?” “Not for a while.” “Serves her right. She went ham on me for no reason.” Angelo shrugged a shoulder. “She blames you for Marissa's state.”2014, Makala Thomas, Count Angelo, page 157:
- In between the guys in the crowd having to be told what was really good and now Ty acting like he owned her and her hustle, she went ham. “Main girl?” Kenya finally had enough of his ass. “Nigga, what? Please don't coach mines. You got me all fucked up in the game. Fall back and don't play yourself!”2014, Ms. Michel Moore, Coldhearted & Crazy: Say U Promise I:
- My costume last Halloween was pretty lame, but this time I'm really going to go ham.
- I ordered a couple burgers and just went ham on them.
3 more examples
- My necklace represent the fact I go ham2009 May 16, “Say Damn” (0:42 from the start), in Murder Was the Case, performed by Gucci Mane:
- Nigga I'm the man, I'm the same with the whips / Your baby mama love me, she go ham on the dick2009 June 16, “My Niggaz” (1:52 from the start), in Hustle Till I Die, performed by Juicy J:
- My flats called Harlem darling Coz the place full of cats Feds go ham2016 September 14, “Splash & Cash”, MizorMac (lyrics), performed by 67 (R6 x ST) & Harlem (Bis x MizzorMac):
3
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see go, ham.
- Don't go ham on me. Don't go ham. I'm the whole works, and you know it. I'm just carrying you.1933, Ben Hecht, Gene Fowler, The Great Magoo: A Love-sick Charade in Three Acts and Something Like Eight Scenes, Recounting the Didoes of Two Young and Amorous Souls, who Nigh Perished when They Weren't in the Hay Together:
- One of the best reasons to go ham is the quiet hi-fi sound of radios used in the two-meter ham band.1977 06, Popular Mechanics, page 109:
1 more example
- Go ham for the holidays! Serve Cure 81® for a special dinner, then try these delicious ways to stretch the extra ham and feed a bunch for brunch, lunch or dinner.1996, The Reader's Digest: