Skip to main content

Whatever lifts your luggage

A phrase meaning "whatever gives you sexual pleasure" or "whatever sexual activity you enjoy." It's used similarly to "whatever floats your boat," but specifically carries a knowing, often ironic, reference to sexual preferences and activities.

Originates from the excuse used by anti-gay activist George Rekers in 2010 when caught traveling with a male escort ("rent boy"). Rekers absurdly claimed he only hired the young man to literally lift his luggage.

Popularized by sex columnist Dan Savage and comedians like Stephen Colbert, who seized on the flimsy excuse. "Lifting someone's luggage" became a euphemism for providing sexual pleasure, often (but not exclusively) in a same-sex context.

The phrase "Whatever lifts your luggage" extends this to a general, sexually-tinged statement of acceptance for someone's preferences or kinks.
As a general statement of acceptance (like "whatever floats your boat," but sexual):

Person A: "I don't understand their particular fetish."

Person B: "Hey, whatever lifts your luggage, right? Live and let live."

As a euphemism for the sexual act itself (often using the verb form "lift luggage"):

"He claimed he was just going over to 'study', but judging by the sounds, I think they were lifting some luggage."

"After Rekers got caught, everyone joked about whether he found someone else to lift his luggage."
With direct ironic reference to the origin:

"He spends all day condemning 'the lifestyle' online, but you just know he's secretly looking for someone to help lift his luggage."
by C41n March 25, 2025
mugGet the Whatever lifts your luggage mug.

Your Well Being Does Not Matter To Me

Your Well Being Does Not Matter To Me
Your Well Being Does Not Matter To Me
by Angel234IsTheDarkSeraphim March 27, 2025
mugGet the Your Well Being Does Not Matter To Me mug.
You Are Not Supposed To Process Horizontally Widthurulouri Your Left Eye And This Is Only For Rolling 20s Crip
You Are Not Supposed To Process Horizontally Widthurulouri Your Left Eye And This Is Only For Rolling 20s Crip
mugGet the You Are Not Supposed To Process Horizontally Widthurulouri Your Left Eye And This Is Only For Rolling 20s Crip mug.
The Fastest Joke Ever Drawn Out Altogether Is Needing Cocaine To Stabilize Your Own Sensuality
The Fastest Joke Ever Drawn Out Altogether Is Needing Cocaine To Stabilize Your Own Sensuality
mugGet the The Fastest Joke Ever Drawn Out Altogether Is Needing Cocaine To Stabilize Your Own Sensuality mug.

Share this definition

Sign in to vote

We'll email you a link to sign in instantly.

Or

Check your email

We sent a link to

Open your email