The phrase “winner winner chicken dinner” has become a popular saying to express excitement and celebration over winning something. But where did this quirky saying come from and how did it become so widespread in modern culture? Let’s take a closer look at the possible origins and history behind this catchy expression.
What Does “Winner Winner Chicken Dinner” Mean?
“Winner winner chicken dinner” is an exclamation used when someone wins something or has a successful outcome in a game, contest, or other competition. It’s a playful way to emphasize and celebrate a win while rubbing it in for the opponents or losers. The saying suggests the winner will be eating a tasty chicken dinner as their reward.
So in essence, saying “winner winner chicken dinner” is like saying: “I won and therefore I earned the right to enjoy a chicken dinner!” It’s boastful and expresses pride in one’s achievement or victory.
Possible Origins
The exact origins of the saying are unclear, but there are a few theories about where it came from:
1. Gambling and Lotteries
One belief is it originated from lottery winners being treated to a chicken dinner after hitting it big. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, chicken dinners were considered one of the best meal rewards you could get. So people likely started using the phrase when congratulating lottery or gambling winners on their lucky windfall.
2. Carnival Games
Another theory points to carnivals and amusement park game booths as giving out live chickens as prizes in early 20th century America. If you won a game, you earned yourself a chicken dinner. Saying “winner winner chicken dinner” was a natural response when winning one of these coveted live bird prizes.
3. Military Mess Halls
Some sources believe the term emerged later in the 1920s or 1930s from U.S. military mess halls. Chicken was served on Sunday nights and considered one of the best meals in the mess halls. So service members would happily exclaim “winner winner chicken dinner!” on Sundays in anticipation of their evening meal.
4. Las Vegas Casinos
One Las Vegas legend credits Benny Binion, founder of Binion’s Horseshoe Casino, with originating the phrase in the 1950s. As the story goes, whenever someone won big at his casino, Binion would congratulate them and promise a chicken dinner would be served shortly. However, there’s no documented evidence Binion actually used the saying.
When Did This Saying Become Popular?
While the exact starting point of the phrase is nebulous, we can trace its growing popularity over the 20th century:
- The saying appeared in some early 20th century newspapers, suggesting it was already established in spoken vernacular at the time.
- In the 1947 Humphrey Bogart film Dead Reckoning, his character twice exclaims “winner winner, chicken dinner!” after shooting bad guys.
- The phrase appeared in the 1967 film Cool Hand Luke starring Paul Newman.
- It was used in the 1990s on the Nickelodeon game show Double Dare and on TV ads for the New Jersey State Lottery.
- Online gamers started using it extensively in the 2000s.
So while its exact origin is unknown, “winner winner chicken dinner” became deeply rooted in American culture during the 1900s, used across gaming, gambling, military contexts and pop culture. Today it remains a quirky, lighthearted way to celebrate victories and successes in many settings.
Modern Usage
In recent decades, “winner winner chicken dinner” has taken on some new applications thanks to video games, online casinos and meme culture:
Video Games
It’s especially common in online multiplayer games. Players exclaim it when they win matches or beat other teams, such as in Fortnite, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds and Overwatch.
Online Gambling
The phrase is used in online slots, poker, and other casino games when players win big. Online bingo rooms also call out “Winner, winner chicken dinner!” when a player scores a jackpot.
Internet Culture
The saying has inspired memes, gifs and jokes across social media, often using chicken images. It’s become a funny way to brag or celebrate even minor accomplishments online.
Regional Variations
Interestingly, the saying has inspired spinoff versions and regional variations including:
- “Winner winner tofu dinner” – used by vegans/vegetarians
- “Winner winner turkey dinner” – used by Canadians on Thanksgiving
- “Winner winner steak dinner” – an alternative version
- “Winner winner lasagne dinner” – Italian twist
So while “chicken dinner” remains the standard, people adapt the phrase to fit other preferred foods or cultural traditions.
Why Do People Like This Odd Saying?
What makes “winner winner chicken dinner” so appealing and memorable? A few reasons it resonates:
- Rhyme – The rhyme makes it fun and catchy.
- Food reward – Everyone understands a meal as a prize.
- Boast factor – It lets people boast playfully about winning.
- Upbeat mood – The saying has a cheerful, upbeat vibe.
In the end, this quirky phrase endures because it allows us to celebrate victories in a lighthearted, rhyming way while looking forward to a tasty imaginary feast!
Conclusion
While the precise origin of “winner winner chicken dinner” is uncertain, it emerged in the early 20th century as a catchy way to celebrate gambling or game wins. The saying became popularized through military mess halls, casinos, film, TV, and eventually video game culture and online memes. This offbeat phrase persists because of its playful rhyme, boastful tone about winning, and the universally appealing idea of savoring a chicken dinner as one’s just rewards. So next time you succeed at something, feel free to exclaim “winner winner chicken dinner” – and bon appetit!