The Whimsical Expressions: 'Out the Wazoo' and 'Out the Kazoo'

The English language is rich with colorful expressions that bring a touch of humor and creativity to everyday communication. Among these are the whimsical expressions 'out the wazoo' and 'out the kazoo'. While it's challenging to trace the origins of these terms precisely, they reflect a broader trend in American slang of using playful language to describe various situations and experiences.

The Term 'Out the Wazoo'

The expression 'out the wazoo' is another whimsical way to convey an abundance or excess. It often implies an overwhelming quantity, as if something is spilling out of a person's posterior (wazoo).

Though the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) does not definitively know the origin of 'wazoo', it suggests that it might have originated from the French word 'oiseau' or 'bird' through a Louisiana Creole term 'razoo' for raspberry. Despite its explicit nature, 'wazoo' is almost exclusively an American term.

The Term 'Wazoo'

The term 'wazoo' is another reference to one's posterior. Its usage in slang and playful language is quite common. For instance, one can say, 'That stomachache is a real pain in the wazoo.'

Two early citations from the OED provide interesting context. The first citation in 1961 comes from a University of California Berkeley publication: 'Run it up yer ol' wazoo! ' The second citation in 1971 is from The Wall Street Journal, which is not typically known for its use of slang: 'Golf itself is quite safe the greatest risk being the possibility of a long drive plunking some poor fellow in the wazoo.'

The Term 'Out the Kazoo'

While I haven't previously heard the term 'out the wazoo', I am familiar with the term 'kazoo', a toy musical instrument that adds a timbre to a person's voice to produce notes. Due to the humming sensation produced by a kazoo, it often reminds people of passing gas. This association led to the term 'kazoo' being used as slang for one's anus.

Therefore, the expression 'out of the kazoo' means that a person produced something out of nowhere, implying an unexpected or unaccountable occurrence.

For example, if someone says, 'He got out of the kazoo' during a performance, it suggests that the performance lacked sophistication or professionalism.