What is the origin of the phrase screw you strong letter to follow?

Answer 1

Oh, dude, the phrase "screw you, strong letter to follow" originates from the practice of sending a strongly worded letter after expressing anger or frustration verbally. It's like saying, "I'm so mad I'll write a letter about it... eventually." So, basically, it's a way to threaten to complain in a more formal manner.

Answer 2

The phrase "screw you, strong letter to follow" is believed to have originated in the mid-20th century in the United States. It is a sarcastic and dismissive remark used to indicate that a more formal or strongly worded response will be provided later. The phrase is typically used in a humorous or ironic context to convey frustration or annoyance.

Answer 3

Well, honey, back in the day when people actually wrote letters instead of texting, "screw you strong letter to follow" was a polite way of saying "I'm about to give you a piece of my mind in writing." It's like a warning shot before the real verbal smackdown. So, if someone hit you with that line, you better brace yourself for some serious sass in the next letter.

Answer 4

It certainly predates email, as this terse phrasing is typical of telegrams where each word costs you extra, above a minimum of 6 or 10 words. I have found references as early as 1978 by Googling for "strong letter to follow". The starting phrase varies. It is usually about as "tough" as current mores will allow. Recently it is "F*** You". I am certain that I saw it in a book of OLD jokes (old then) in the 1950s or 1960s, so you can see that it probably dates back to the early days of the telegraph - 1850s or so.

These days it indicates "I want to send you an immediate negative response, and will follow up with a reasoned exposition of my position." It used to mean "Here is my strong negative response (costing several hours pay); I will send you the details in a letter (which I can send for a penny or two)."