on like Donkey Kong

English

WOTD – 9 July 2017

Etymology

From the Nintendo video game gorilla character Donkey Kong, which is used in the phrase because of the character’s stereotypical strength and for the near-rhyme between on and Kong.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɒn laɪk ˈdɒŋki kɒŋ/
• IPA^(key): /ˈɑn laɪk ˈdɑŋki kɑŋ/, /ˈɑn laɪk ˈdɔŋki kɑŋ/

• Audio (AU):

  (file)

• Hyphenation: on like Don‧key Kong

Phrase

on like Donkey Kong

1. (chiefly US) An intensifier used in the same contexts as it's on, go on, and other expressions using the word on, but to express greater emphasis.
   • 1992 November 17, “Now I Gotta Wet ’Cha”, in The Predator, performed by Ice Cube:

     It's on like Donkey Kong / You wanted that fast buck / Now I gotta light that ass up

   • 1993 February 16, John Wilder, “Gangs put L.A. on edge”, in USA Today:

     If those four white police don't get hung, it's on again. It's on like Donkey Kong!

   • 2005 October 3, Dallas Davidson, Randy Houser, and Jamey Johnson (lyrics and music), “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk”, in Songs About Me, performed by Trace Adkins:

     Got it going on like Donkey Kong, and whoo-wee, shut my mouth, slap your grandma, there oughta be a law.

   • 2007 August 1, “Food Network Star Guy Fieri to visit the 2007 State Fair!: Kids can vie for the chance to cook with Guy!”, in Business Wire‎^[1], archived from the original on 1 September 2016:

     It's going to be "on like Donkey Kong" when Food Network Star and local restaurant owner Guy Fieri comes to the 2007 California State Fair!

   • 2011 January 4, Chris Daly, San Francisco Board of Supervisors meeting:

     I will politically haunt you for the biggest fumble in the history of San Francisco politics. It's on like Donkey Kong.

References

• Peter Hartlaub (2011 January 6) “‘It’s on like Donkey Kong’: A comprehensive history”, in San Francisco Chronicle‎^[2].

Further reading

• Donkey Kong on Wikipedia.Wikipedia