Dictionary

go ham en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ɡoʊ ˈhæm/

Etymology

Uncertain; the earliest use of the term in the idiomatic sense appears to be in the 2007 song "Go Ham on 'Em" by Soulja Boy (see quotation below), although isolated usage goes back earlier. "Ham" is often thought to be an acronym of "hard as a motherfucker" (with go ham then parsing as go hard as a motherfucker), although this may be a backronym. Alternatively, it could be a phonetic clipping of mayhem. The term was popularized by the 2011 song "H.A.M." by Jay-Z and Kanye West. The fact that go the whole hog and go ham have senses that are synonymous at least raises the question of whether the pig-portions connection is wholly coincidental or not.

Meanings

1. (intransitive, often, slang, with-on) To enter an enraged and uncontrollable state; to go berserk.
   • If you use her fabric scissors, she's going to go ham on you.
   • “Clover went in. And she's so calm and gentle normally! I didn't expect her to go ham like that. Will Patricia's arm mend?” “Not for a while.” “Serves her right. She went ham on me for no reason.” Angelo shrugged a shoulder. “She blames you for Marissa's state.” 2014, Makala Thomas, Count Angelo, page 157:
   • I'm about to go HAM / Hard as a muthafucker, let these niggas know who I am 2011 August, Jay-Z and Kanye West, “H•A•M”, Watch the Throne, deluxe edition, Roc-A-Fella Records
   • In between the guys in the crowd having to be told what was really good and now Ty acting like he owned her and her hustle, she went ham. “Main girl?” Kenya finally had enough of his ass. “Nigga, what? Please don't coach mines. You got me all fucked up in the game. Fall back and don't play yourself!” 2014, Ms. Michel Moore, Coldhearted & Crazy: Say U Promise I:
   • Go ham on em Soulja, go ham on 'em 2007, “Go Ham on 'Em” (0:12 from the start)performed by Soulja Boy:
2. (intransitive, often, slang, with-on) To do something with the maximum possible effort; to go all out.
   • My costume last Halloween was pretty lame, but this time I'm really going to go ham.
   • Nigga I'm the man, I'm the same with the whips / Your baby mama love me, she go ham on the dick 2009 June 16, “My Niggaz” (1:52 from the start), in Hustle Till I Die, performed by Juicy J:
   • I ordered a couple burgers and just went ham on them.
   • My flats called Harlem darling Coz the place full of cats Feds go ham 2016 September 14, “Splash & Cash”, MizorMac (lyrics), performed by 67 (R6 x ST) & Harlem (Bis x MizzorMac):
   • My necklace represent the fact I go ham 2009 May 16, “Say Damn” (0:42 from the start), in Murder Was the Case, performed by Gucci Mane:
3. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see go, ham.
   • One of the best reasons to go ham is the quiet hi-fi sound of radios used in the two-meter ham band. 1977 06, Popular Mechanics, page 109:
   • Don't go ham on me. Don't go ham. I'm the whole works, and you know it. I'm just carrying you. 1933, Ben Hecht, Gene Fowler, The Great Magoo: A Love-sick Charade in Three Acts and Something Like Eight Scenes, Recounting the Didoes of Two Young and Amorous Souls, who Nigh Perished when They Weren't in the Hay Together:
   • Go ham for the holidays! Serve Cure 81® for a special dinner, then try these delicious ways to stretch the extra ham and feed a bunch for brunch, lunch or dinner. 1996, The Reader's Digest:

Forms

Relateds

hog-wild · ham wild

Synonyms

pitch a fit · go bonkers · throw one's toys out of the pram · go bitchcakes · lower the boom · go spare · blow one's stack · hit the ceiling · do one's nut · steam · flip out · get one's freak on · go nuts · have kittens · go ballistic · vent one's gall · have a cow · go bananas · teen · go HAM · lose one's mind · lose one's temper · go ham · cut up rough · Note: All terms are idiomatic unless stated otherwise. · run amok · flip out · go HAM · go the whole hog · go H.A.M. · take leave of one's senses · go ham · go crazy · go berserk · get one's dander up · lose one's rag · go ape · go off · forget oneself · go wild · freak out · shit a brick · go crazy · full send · lose one's mind · lose one's marbles · lose one's marbles · get one's Irish up · go postal · put one's whole pussy into · have a fit · go bananas · lose it · hit the roof · crash out · go apeshit · wax wode · fly into a rage · throw a fit · do one's block · fly off the handle · go H.A.M. · flip one's wig · blow one's top · blow a gasket · go potty · flip one's wig · get one's shirt out · get one's back up · see red · go ballistic · lose it · get bent out of shape · blow a fuse · go mad · lose one's cool · cut up nasty · pop one's cork · flip one's lid

wikipedia: Kanye West · wikipedia: Jay-Z · wikipedia: H.A.M. · wikipedia: Soulja Boy