phrase General Slang

Cruisin For A Bruisin

/ˈkruːzɪn fər ə ˈbruːzɪn/ · phrase · slang

Asking for trouble — headed straight toward a beating or serious consequences.

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Definitions

1

A warning issued to someone pushing their luck.

“Watch it, pal — you're cruisin for a bruisin.”
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2

To be behaving in a way that is clearly going to get you hurt or punished.

“Keep mouthing off to those guys and you're cruisin for a bruisin.”
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3

Describing a reckless course of action bound to end badly.

“Drag racing on Main with the cops around is cruisin for a bruisin.”
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Cruisin For A Bruisin In A Sentence

He kept teasing the toughest greaser in school, just cruisin for a bruisin.
Sassing the principal like that? You're cruisin for a bruisin, kid.
Flirting with his girl right in front of him — talk about cruisin for a bruisin.

Origin & Usage

Quintessential 1950s American teen slang, tied to car culture where 'cruising' the strip was the social pastime; the rhyme turned a literal drive into a warning about coming to blows. Popularized in greaser and hot-rod circles.

Variants cruising for a bruisingcruisin' for a bruisin'
Tags #1950s#greaser#rockabilly#vintage#warning#trouble

People Also Ask

What does cruisin for a bruisin mean?

It means someone is asking for trouble and is about to get hurt or punished because of their reckless or provoking behavior.

Where did cruisin for a bruisin come from?

It comes from 1950s American teen car culture, riffing on 'cruising' the strip and rhyming it with 'bruising' to warn someone they're headed for a fight.

Is it a threat?

It can be — it's often a half-joking warning, but in greaser circles it could be a genuine heads-up that a beating was coming.

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