Origins of "send it"?

[John Dalbey]

I'm curious about the origins of the phrase "send it" that
has appeared in recent postings, such "Mr. Hotshot sends A Real
Tough Climb." I gather that this means a successful ascent. Where
did this phrase come from? It seems not a very appropriate term to
describe climbing. I can imagine it might apply in football, where
one player "sends" the ball to his teammate, or in basketball, one
"sends" the ball through the hoop, or in baseball one could "send"
the ball over the fence. But rock climbs seem singularly resistent
to being "sent" anywhere - they are quite immobile.

Other colloquialisms such as "fire" or "flash" seem more obviously
descriptive of a fast or speedy ascent. But I just
don't get what "sending" has to do with climbing. Would someone
please explain this to me?

--jd

[Tom Kelley]

In article <3ouuob$5d...@cymbal.aix.calpoly.edu> jda...@cymbal.aix.calpoly.edu (John Dalbey) writes:
>
>I'm curious about the origins of the phrase "send it" that
>has appeared in recent postings, such "Mr. Hotshot sends A Real
>Tough Climb." I gather that this means a successful ascent. Where
>did this phrase come from? It seems not a very appropriate term to
>describe climbing. I can imagine it might apply in football, where
>one player "sends" the ball to his teammate, or in basketball, one
>"sends" the ball through the hoop, or in baseball one could "send"

>the ball over the fence. But rock climbs seem singularly resistent ...

Actually, this annoying term is not new and has been around for four
or five years now. When I first heard the expression, it was said
to have come about by shortening the phrase "ascend it", but this is
completely unverifiable as far as I know.

Then again, what do I know? Why not make up your own explanation. It
seems that since its inception, this expression has been used mainly by
those who spend inordinate amounts of time trying to be trendy. I
rank it right up there (read that DOWN THERE) with the gym phrase
"stick it". You shan't catch me using either of them. Back in my day
if you heard someone telling another to "stick it", you could rest
assured that a fisticuff was soon to erupt.

What ever happened to the expression "Tuning", short for "Tuning the
Cello", which was some strange Southern Californian slang for falling
of repeatedly, thus making the rope go tight as a guitar
string. Perhaps it died because its application to modern climbing
styles/tactics is cumbersome and redundant. I think it's safe to say
that the average Cello these days is in very fine tune.

-Squish

[Rawdomg]

I always figured it came from "ascend".

[ScoPi]

Perhaps the origin of the term "send it" stems from the term to "send it
packing " meaning to be done with something, usually something of an
unpleasant nature. Purely comjecture.
Scott

[Michele A. Cleveland]

Maybe it's an abbreviation of 'ascend it'? Even purer conjecture!

Michele