Ryan Lochte says he NEVER has one-night-stands after mother said he does...

UK Daily Mail ^ | August 5, 2012 | Laura Pullman

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"Hook-up" is kind of a confusing term. I think a lot depends on context or tone of voice. Given a choice between "dates" and "hook-ups" it's pretty clear what the distinction is, though.

"One night stand" has been around for at least about half a century -- maybe longer. But you know it was originally a metaphor taken from show business. Somewhere there may still be an old vaudevillian who doesn't get it -- who still takes it literally and wonders what the problem is.

I don't think Ryan Lochte's mother is that old, but slang goes in and out of fashion. If she hadn't heard the phrase used in years, maybe she lost track of what it meant.

[Bigg Red]

I did not know that the term “one-night stand” went back to vaudeville. Thanks for that info. I doubt there are too many of the old vaudevillians left with us these days, though.

Yes, I know what you mean about slang terms changing so much. I am 65, and I can remember when “one-night stand” meant what this woman thought it still meant. Of course, that was back when women of easy virtue were not so commonly found.