grebow
dont be a grebow
Grabowski
Regional to Chicagoland, references the large ethnic Polish-American population, usually blue collar and first generation born. Not often used as an insult, but usually out of affection and ethnic differentiation, as Chicago is both a large melting pot, as well as home to the largest Polish population outside of Warsaw. A more derogatory term is Pollock.
Most well known stereotype exhibiting a Grabowski is the Saturday Night Live skit, "Da Superfans," which makes fun of the Chicago accent, love of "Da Bears," "Da Coach," "Ditka" and love of Maxwell Street Polish Sausage, all of which a proper Grabowski is known to love.
Possible etymology might reference Jim Grabowski, the star running back who played at Taft High school on the Northwest side of Chicago, then starred as running back at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He played professionally for the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears in his final season, from 1966-1971. He then went on as a radio color analyst for the Illini, until the 2007 season. It is unlikely he had the accent on radio.
Most well known stereotype exhibiting a Grabowski is the Saturday Night Live skit, "Da Superfans," which makes fun of the Chicago accent, love of "Da Bears," "Da Coach," "Ditka" and love of Maxwell Street Polish Sausage, all of which a proper Grabowski is known to love.
Possible etymology might reference Jim Grabowski, the star running back who played at Taft High school on the Northwest side of Chicago, then starred as running back at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He played professionally for the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears in his final season, from 1966-1971. He then went on as a radio color analyst for the Illini, until the 2007 season. It is unlikely he had the accent on radio.
Oh man, last night, I went to this party on the Northwest side, and there were just tons of Grabowskis. Fun times.
Grabowski by MistahMeätface November 21, 2009
Related Words
grebow • Grebos • grabowski • Grybowski • gebow • Geebow • Grabowski Special • Grebophile • Grebor • Greborious
grebo
West Midlands slang word for rockers, bikers, greasers etc. In the late 1980s it was used by the UK music press to refer to a specific scene centered around the bands Pop Will Eat Itself and Crazyhead. The term never found favour with readers of 'the inkies' (Sounds, Melody Maker and the still extant NME) and was soon dropped. Now often used in predominantly working-class areas of the midlands and the north to mean someone who listens to rock-derived music and/or dresses in a manner that suggests they affiliate themselves with rock music of some kind.
Grebos
A grebo is a commonly used term for people who follow an 'anti-pop' culture. The grebo's archenemy is the townie; grebos generally prefer to wear baggy, darker clothing as well as simple metal jewelry to reflect their darker, anti-pop lifestyle. Most grebos will listen to Slipknot or any other number of popular nümetal bands such as Disturbed.
The contradiction of the Grebo is that through their anti-pop mantra they have effectively created a subculture much like the one that they have rebelled against; it is one that exists to defy the opposite of what pop culture is, and still has its own subcultural standards in wardrobe, music, speech, etc., making the Grebo subculture somewhat pretentious, yet more open to social outcasts or socially unaccepted / otherwise politically incorrect schools of thought or action.
The contradiction of the Grebo is that through their anti-pop mantra they have effectively created a subculture much like the one that they have rebelled against; it is one that exists to defy the opposite of what pop culture is, and still has its own subcultural standards in wardrobe, music, speech, etc., making the Grebo subculture somewhat pretentious, yet more open to social outcasts or socially unaccepted / otherwise politically incorrect schools of thought or action.
grebo
I myself was classed as a a GREBO in the late 70's onwards (even more so when another UK youth sub-culture The MOD'S movement began (again) who hated Rockers/Bikers).
My favorite bands of the time included Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin etc.
Long hair, leather jackets and raggy jeans (biker look) being the uniform of the day.
I understood that the term GREBO was a derogative name (abbreviation of- GREASE BOY, meaning dirty),given by so called straight boring idiots with no sense of musical taste and thought processes!
This term derived from the old Rock and Roll Teddy Boy bikers (GREASERS-meaning covered in bike oil and/or Brylcreamed hairstyle!).
In the late 80's early 90's- UK Midlands Bands took up the GREBO banner- bands such as- POP WILL EAT ITSELF, GAYE BYKERS ON ACID, CRAZYHEAD, THE BOMB PARTY,BOMB DISNEYLAND, BOMB EVERYTHING.
My favorite bands of the time included Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin etc.
Long hair, leather jackets and raggy jeans (biker look) being the uniform of the day.
I understood that the term GREBO was a derogative name (abbreviation of- GREASE BOY, meaning dirty),given by so called straight boring idiots with no sense of musical taste and thought processes!
This term derived from the old Rock and Roll Teddy Boy bikers (GREASERS-meaning covered in bike oil and/or Brylcreamed hairstyle!).
In the late 80's early 90's- UK Midlands Bands took up the GREBO banner- bands such as- POP WILL EAT ITSELF, GAYE BYKERS ON ACID, CRAZYHEAD, THE BOMB PARTY,BOMB DISNEYLAND, BOMB EVERYTHING.
grebo by Greg Claassen April 27, 2008