How do I understand when to use the phrase 'mad props'?












1















In Legally Blond the musical they use the phrase:




MARGOT: Dear Elle, He's a lucky guy. I'm like gonna cry, I got tears coming out of my nose!



Mad Props! He's the campus catch, You're a perfect match,
Cause you both got such great taste in clothes, Of course he will propose!




I see it used in a congratulatory sense, "mad props to you for doing X".



My intuition tells me that this is about "giving someone their propers" - but that makes no sense in this context to me. (As in, I don't have enough information to categorise that.) I'd never heard that used in a sentence before - and it smells of a social obligation.



My question is: How do I understand when to use the phrase 'mad props'?










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  • I have a few times seen "props" used in a sense that implies a meaning of "praise" or "congratulations". I'm thinking it's been mostly in the show business realm. Urban Dictionary calls it "proper recognition", "proper respect", or "propers". (Note that "propers" is not idiomatic in the US, though apparently it is used in rap circles.)

    – Hot Licks
    Jan 31 '16 at 3:44











  • You're almost there: "Mad props to you for making the perfect match with the campus catch."

    – deadrat
    Jan 31 '16 at 3:56











  • whenever you feel X is praiseworthy, you can use it.

    – CDM
    Jan 31 '16 at 5:01
















1















In Legally Blond the musical they use the phrase:




MARGOT: Dear Elle, He's a lucky guy. I'm like gonna cry, I got tears coming out of my nose!



Mad Props! He's the campus catch, You're a perfect match,
Cause you both got such great taste in clothes, Of course he will propose!




I see it used in a congratulatory sense, "mad props to you for doing X".



My intuition tells me that this is about "giving someone their propers" - but that makes no sense in this context to me. (As in, I don't have enough information to categorise that.) I'd never heard that used in a sentence before - and it smells of a social obligation.



My question is: How do I understand when to use the phrase 'mad props'?










share|improve this question























  • I have a few times seen "props" used in a sense that implies a meaning of "praise" or "congratulations". I'm thinking it's been mostly in the show business realm. Urban Dictionary calls it "proper recognition", "proper respect", or "propers". (Note that "propers" is not idiomatic in the US, though apparently it is used in rap circles.)

    – Hot Licks
    Jan 31 '16 at 3:44











  • You're almost there: "Mad props to you for making the perfect match with the campus catch."

    – deadrat
    Jan 31 '16 at 3:56











  • whenever you feel X is praiseworthy, you can use it.

    – CDM
    Jan 31 '16 at 5:01














1












1








1








In Legally Blond the musical they use the phrase:




MARGOT: Dear Elle, He's a lucky guy. I'm like gonna cry, I got tears coming out of my nose!



Mad Props! He's the campus catch, You're a perfect match,
Cause you both got such great taste in clothes, Of course he will propose!




I see it used in a congratulatory sense, "mad props to you for doing X".



My intuition tells me that this is about "giving someone their propers" - but that makes no sense in this context to me. (As in, I don't have enough information to categorise that.) I'd never heard that used in a sentence before - and it smells of a social obligation.



My question is: How do I understand when to use the phrase 'mad props'?










share|improve this question














In Legally Blond the musical they use the phrase:




MARGOT: Dear Elle, He's a lucky guy. I'm like gonna cry, I got tears coming out of my nose!



Mad Props! He's the campus catch, You're a perfect match,
Cause you both got such great taste in clothes, Of course he will propose!




I see it used in a congratulatory sense, "mad props to you for doing X".



My intuition tells me that this is about "giving someone their propers" - but that makes no sense in this context to me. (As in, I don't have enough information to categorise that.) I'd never heard that used in a sentence before - and it smells of a social obligation.



My question is: How do I understand when to use the phrase 'mad props'?







idioms usage phrase-usage context






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asked Jan 31 '16 at 3:27









hawkeyehawkeye

1,29352432




1,29352432













  • I have a few times seen "props" used in a sense that implies a meaning of "praise" or "congratulations". I'm thinking it's been mostly in the show business realm. Urban Dictionary calls it "proper recognition", "proper respect", or "propers". (Note that "propers" is not idiomatic in the US, though apparently it is used in rap circles.)

    – Hot Licks
    Jan 31 '16 at 3:44











  • You're almost there: "Mad props to you for making the perfect match with the campus catch."

    – deadrat
    Jan 31 '16 at 3:56











  • whenever you feel X is praiseworthy, you can use it.

    – CDM
    Jan 31 '16 at 5:01



















  • I have a few times seen "props" used in a sense that implies a meaning of "praise" or "congratulations". I'm thinking it's been mostly in the show business realm. Urban Dictionary calls it "proper recognition", "proper respect", or "propers". (Note that "propers" is not idiomatic in the US, though apparently it is used in rap circles.)

    – Hot Licks
    Jan 31 '16 at 3:44











  • You're almost there: "Mad props to you for making the perfect match with the campus catch."

    – deadrat
    Jan 31 '16 at 3:56











  • whenever you feel X is praiseworthy, you can use it.

    – CDM
    Jan 31 '16 at 5:01

















I have a few times seen "props" used in a sense that implies a meaning of "praise" or "congratulations". I'm thinking it's been mostly in the show business realm. Urban Dictionary calls it "proper recognition", "proper respect", or "propers". (Note that "propers" is not idiomatic in the US, though apparently it is used in rap circles.)

– Hot Licks
Jan 31 '16 at 3:44





I have a few times seen "props" used in a sense that implies a meaning of "praise" or "congratulations". I'm thinking it's been mostly in the show business realm. Urban Dictionary calls it "proper recognition", "proper respect", or "propers". (Note that "propers" is not idiomatic in the US, though apparently it is used in rap circles.)

– Hot Licks
Jan 31 '16 at 3:44













You're almost there: "Mad props to you for making the perfect match with the campus catch."

– deadrat
Jan 31 '16 at 3:56





You're almost there: "Mad props to you for making the perfect match with the campus catch."

– deadrat
Jan 31 '16 at 3:56













whenever you feel X is praiseworthy, you can use it.

– CDM
Jan 31 '16 at 5:01





whenever you feel X is praiseworthy, you can use it.

– CDM
Jan 31 '16 at 5:01










2 Answers
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My advice is don't use it. I think people who use this phrase come across as "try hards". To me they sound like they are trying hard to look cool by imitating a culture they are not part of.



If you insist on using it, you could consider softening it by dropping the "mad" prefix. E.g.



"Props to Andy for winning the hack-a-thon"






share|improve this answer































    0














    It's more colorful than "Mighty Good Show". I'm 56 years old and I never tried hard at all! But, I think what you're trying to say is that some people try too hard, and it makes them appear desperate, and that they're oblivious to that fact.






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      2 Answers
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      2 Answers
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      active

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      1














      My advice is don't use it. I think people who use this phrase come across as "try hards". To me they sound like they are trying hard to look cool by imitating a culture they are not part of.



      If you insist on using it, you could consider softening it by dropping the "mad" prefix. E.g.



      "Props to Andy for winning the hack-a-thon"






      share|improve this answer




























        1














        My advice is don't use it. I think people who use this phrase come across as "try hards". To me they sound like they are trying hard to look cool by imitating a culture they are not part of.



        If you insist on using it, you could consider softening it by dropping the "mad" prefix. E.g.



        "Props to Andy for winning the hack-a-thon"






        share|improve this answer


























          1












          1








          1







          My advice is don't use it. I think people who use this phrase come across as "try hards". To me they sound like they are trying hard to look cool by imitating a culture they are not part of.



          If you insist on using it, you could consider softening it by dropping the "mad" prefix. E.g.



          "Props to Andy for winning the hack-a-thon"






          share|improve this answer













          My advice is don't use it. I think people who use this phrase come across as "try hards". To me they sound like they are trying hard to look cool by imitating a culture they are not part of.



          If you insist on using it, you could consider softening it by dropping the "mad" prefix. E.g.



          "Props to Andy for winning the hack-a-thon"







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered Jan 31 '16 at 9:39









          WesWes

          343




          343

























              0














              It's more colorful than "Mighty Good Show". I'm 56 years old and I never tried hard at all! But, I think what you're trying to say is that some people try too hard, and it makes them appear desperate, and that they're oblivious to that fact.






              share|improve this answer








              New contributor




              David Kuhn is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
              Check out our Code of Conduct.

























                0














                It's more colorful than "Mighty Good Show". I'm 56 years old and I never tried hard at all! But, I think what you're trying to say is that some people try too hard, and it makes them appear desperate, and that they're oblivious to that fact.






                share|improve this answer








                New contributor




                David Kuhn is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.























                  0












                  0








                  0







                  It's more colorful than "Mighty Good Show". I'm 56 years old and I never tried hard at all! But, I think what you're trying to say is that some people try too hard, and it makes them appear desperate, and that they're oblivious to that fact.






                  share|improve this answer








                  New contributor




                  David Kuhn is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.










                  It's more colorful than "Mighty Good Show". I'm 56 years old and I never tried hard at all! But, I think what you're trying to say is that some people try too hard, and it makes them appear desperate, and that they're oblivious to that fact.







                  share|improve this answer








                  New contributor




                  David Kuhn is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.









                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer






                  New contributor




                  David Kuhn is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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                  answered 17 mins ago









                  David KuhnDavid Kuhn

                  1




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                  New contributor




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                  New contributor





                  David Kuhn is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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                  David Kuhn is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.






























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