Benny (slang)

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Benny is a derogatory term used by residents of Jersey Shore towns for tourists that visit each summer.

In England, the term is used as a pejorative slang term to describe anyone of apparent mental slowness, especially by children (derived from the character of the same name, played by Paul Henry in the soap opera Crossroads). It is also used to describe a person in a fit of rage or having a tantrum as in "He's having a benny".

Contents

[edit] History

Locals say that the term stands for the names of the cities that these seasonal visitors hail from: Bayonne, Elizabeth, Newark, and New York, although this may be a backronym. It has also been said that it stands for "Bastards Exiting Newark and New York", a more derogatory version referring to the commute to the shore of the two local large cities during the hot months of the summer. Another theory is that the tourists would withdraw money before traveling down and then pay with large bills at the local restaurants and shops, earning the name "benny" since Ben Franklin is on the $100 bill. Another local theory is that the term comes from a local man named Benny who used to sell umbrellas to tourists. One last theory is that a Benny might cross the Ben Franklin Bridge from Philadelphia in order to get to the Shore.

[edit] Stereotypical Behavior

  • Asking for directions back to the Parkway
  • Driving carelessly or recklessly, with little regard for local traffic regulations
  • Boorish, loud conduct in public areas (such as speaking loudly on cell phones and playing loud music)
  • Going through the exact change lane at the toll bridges - without possessing exact change
  • Wearing sneakers or socks with sandals on the beach
  • Wearing no shirt in local restaurants and stores
  • Quickly acquiring a full-body sunburn
  • Blocking the driveways of houses on the beach
  • Littering on the beach
  • Crowding the stores and restaurants and generally making life difficult for year-round residents.
  • Asking for change for a dollar in quarters and dimes for use on the parkway tolls.
  • Having a "farmer's tan" or "t-shirt tan"
  • Getting in the way of surfers or body boarders in the ocean.
  • Getting into arguments and sometimes even fights with locals
  • Talking with a strong/forced New York or North(east) Jersey accent
  • Walking their dog(s) without a leash
  • Calling the beach "the shore"
  • Degrading area shops & restuarants as not being like the ones "back home", yet they keep coming down every summer/weekend.
  • All though looked down upon, they typically tip better than the locals.


There are a number of anti-Benny phrases around the shore, with the most popular one being "Benny Go Home!"[1]

[edit] Areas that use the term

[edit] Sources

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