what the heck does "my bad" mean?

[Binky]

I gave up TV in 1985. I found myself falling asleep every night in front of Letterman, who I thought was an idiot. So why did I watch? I asked myself the same thing and gave my TV away. I've been out of touch with TV culture for two decades and, believe me, it's been a liberation.

Often (too often) TV things ooze out into the real world (or realer world, anyway). I never know what they are and mostly I don't care. But occasionally my curiosity is piqued. (I only discovered The Simpsons this year, thanks to Limewire, so I finally get all those references.) Lately I've been seeing "My bad" everywhere and before it starts to get on my nerves (it may be too late, actually) can someone tell me what it's from and what it's supposed to mean?

--
Ignorance is bliss, sometimes.

[TVB]

I first heard "my bad" used by the 13 year old daughter of a long ago former boss in what I think may have been around 1994 give or take a year. If my math is correct, she is now a recent college graduate or entering her senior year of college.

It basically means "woops...my mistake"

Beyond that, I don't know the etymology of the phrase. It did make the American Heritage Dictionary in 2000
http://www.bartleby.com/61/7/B0020700.html

Betsy

[Binky]

1994??? And it's in the dictionary? Yikes! I'm worse off than I thought! By the way, is George Bush really the President? I may have to chuck my radio, too.

[Randall]

Well, now I don't feel so bad about putting my TV in the basement last week. If it's possible to survive without a TV for 19 years and still end up on FutureQuest, then there's hope for us all.

But even I knew what "my bad" means.

Randall

[Jason]

Well, I remember using "my bad" when I was in high school (maybe as long ago as junior high). I'd say it's been pretty common for 12 or 15 years or so. In fact, I *still* use it from time to time when the situation warrants it.

Basically it just means "my mistake" and, at least around here, is usually prefaced by "sorry" (as in "sorry, my bad!")

Where it comes from, however, I have absolutely no idea (sorry).

[Randall]

This would seem to agree with you on the timeline:

http://www.word-detective.com/121597.html

I've only been aware of it in the last three years, maybe.

Randall

[Randall]

More research:

http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/inde...?date=20000111

Obviously I never got around to seeing Clueless, or I would have picked up on it earlier.

Randall

[Snarpy]

Randall said:

If it's possible to survive without a TV for 19 years and still end up on FutureQuest, then there's hope for us all.

Our household has lived without TV since August of 1985, so that establishes it. The kids have grown up without one in the house. Now that I think about it, maybe we should have a celebration next year, in honor of our 20th anniversary.

Snarpy

[LightGuide]

TV?

What's TV?

Did I miss something?

etLux

[dank]

My impression was it originated somewhere in the basketball/hip hop scene.

I say it all the time...

Dan