What's the origin of "You suck?"
 

Since the phrase implies incompetence, I refuse to believe it has anything to do with oral sex. There must be another origin.

Years ago, when I ran track, we used to say that somebody who was hurting and giving out was "Sucking wind." Then, it was shortened to "Sucking." So, somebody who "sucked" was somebody who was incompetent.

I've always considered that to be the answer, although all of you couldn't have been on my track team.

I can't find it but I did find these....

cliches and expressions origins
origins and meanings of cliches, expressions and words
Cliches and expressions give us many wonderful figures of speech and words in the English language, as they evolve via use and mis-use alike. Most have fascinating and surprising origins, particularly as many popular assumptions about meanings and derivations are mistaken. Use these great origins and derivations to illustrate the ever-changing complexity of language and communications, for a fun team-building quiz, or simply to amuse your friends over a pint at the pub.

cliche origins...

from one of my favorite sites, http://www.etymonline.com/s13etym.htm


suck - O.E. sucan, corresponding to L. sugere "to suck," from PIE root *sug-/*suk-, of imitative origin. Meaning "do felatio" is first recorded 1928. Slang sense of "be contemptible" first attested 1971 (the underlying notion is of fellatio). Suck eggs is from 1906. Suckling is early 13c.

Hmmm, 1971. That's when I was on the track team.

I don't see how you refuse to accept oral sex as the origin of the phrase.

Saying something "sucks" doesn't imply incompetence either. Depends on the context it's being used.

How many times have you told someone something that was bad about your day and they reply "Aw man, that sucks!"

I agree, what he said!

I think lots of times, the person using the phrase would define exactly what the subject sucked. Like, this sandwich sucks shit, the Mets suck ass, that movie sucks big buffalo dick (my favorite) but over time, people just got lazy and left it at "you suck."

-Mikey

i actually have never used that word in any mean way .. ..

it's usually nice to add "Big Cock" after that..

I had an advisor in high school who explained it to us. He was adamant about the fact that there was nothing pornographic about the phrase. He said it comes from dogs who "suck" i.e. eat eggs. If you are on a farm and you have a dog and the dog starts breaking into the hen house and eating the eggs he was said to, "suck eggs." If the dog sucks eggs he's worthless and has to be shot. Therefore th expression, "suck eggs" was born. Later it was shortened to "suck." which I posit had remained popular because of its similarity to a different kind of sucking. Case closed!

eyeronic,

I have, in fact, often referred to my two dogs as "egg-sucking mutants," so I prefer your explanation.