| Revision as of 06:34, 1 February 2014 edit76.184.89.238 (talk) →Examples← Previous edit | Revision as of 06:35, 1 February 2014 edit undo76.184.89.238 (talk) →ExamplesNext edit → | ||
| Line 18: | Line 18: | ||
| * Two games on '']'' offer a booby prize-of-sorts for a losing contestant: | * Two games on '']'' offer a booby prize-of-sorts for a losing contestant: | ||
| ** A cash prize of less than $10 for revealing the three numbers in the piggy bank prize's blanks in Any Number (before completing the price of either one of the two more desirable prizes). | ** A cash prize of less than $10 for revealing the three numbers in the piggy bank prize's blanks in Any Number (before completing the price of either one of the two more desirable prizes). | ||
| ** A cash prize of $1, $10, or $100 for picking the grocery item higher than the target price in Grand Game on the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd pick, respectively (before finding all 4 items to win the grand prize of $10,000). | ** A cash prize of $1, $10, or $100 for picking the grocery item higher than the target price in Grand Game on the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd pick, respectively (before finding all 4 items to win the grand prize of $10,000; finding the 4th item meant risking $1,000). | ||
| * Traditionally, the cadet graduating ] with the lowest academic record was known as the "goat" and was given a silver dollar by each of his classmates.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://failuremag.com/feature/article/the_goats_of_west_point/ |title=The Goats of West Point |author=Jason Zasky |date= |work=History |publisher=Failure Magazine LLC |accessdate=31 December 2013}}</ref> | * Traditionally, the cadet graduating ] with the lowest academic record was known as the "goat" and was given a silver dollar by each of his classmates.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://failuremag.com/feature/article/the_goats_of_west_point/ |title=The Goats of West Point |author=Jason Zasky |date= |work=History |publisher=Failure Magazine LLC |accessdate=31 December 2013}}</ref> | ||
| * On the ] Quiz show '']'' losing contestants were famously presented with a Blankety Blank Cheque Book and Pen | * On the ] Quiz show '']'' losing contestants were famously presented with a Blankety Blank Cheque Book and Pen | ||
Revision as of 06:35, 1 February 2014
For the game show that had booby prizes called "zonks", see Let's Make a Deal. For the game show with "klunks", see Treasure Hunt (U.S. game show).A booby prize is a joke prize usually given in recognition of a terrible performance or last-place finish. A person who finishes last, for example, may get a booby prize such as a worthless coin. Booby prizes are sometimes humorously and jokingly coveted as an object of pride.
Booby prizes, however, may not be given just to those who just have a terrible performance. At times, the term "booby prize" is used for a consolation prize given to all non-placing participants of a competition.
Origin
The word "boob" stems from the Spanish bobo meaning stupid, which in turn came from the Latin balbus meaning stammering; the word booby to mean dunce appeared in 1599.
Booby prize literally means "idiot's prize". The OED dates this usage to 1893. Booby trap and "booby hatch" are related terms.
Examples
- An award is given annually for Mr. Irrelevant, the professional American football player each year who is selected last in the NFL draft; the award includes a trophy mimicking the Heisman Trophy depicting the player from the Heisman fumbling.
- A Red Lantern is given to the cyclist who finishes last in the Tour de France and the last musher in the Iditarod.
- A wooden spoon is a common booby prize which is awarded in such sports as Rugby Union, Rowing and in particular to the bottom team on the ladder in Australian Football League (AFL).
- The last boat to come into harbor in the Port Huron to Mackinac Race is called the pickle boat.
- The anthropomorphic Dusty Bin was given as a booby prize in the TV game show 3-2-1.
- A number of game shows have used their own terminology to describe booby prizes, won by contestants who had made either a poor decision or an unlucky choice. On Let's Make a Deal, booby prizes are called "zonks," while the Chuck Barris-produced The New Treasure Hunt called these items "klunks."
- Two games on The Price Is Right offer a booby prize-of-sorts for a losing contestant:
- A cash prize of less than $10 for revealing the three numbers in the piggy bank prize's blanks in Any Number (before completing the price of either one of the two more desirable prizes).
- A cash prize of $1, $10, or $100 for picking the grocery item higher than the target price in Grand Game on the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd pick, respectively (before finding all 4 items to win the grand prize of $10,000; finding the 4th item meant risking $1,000).
- Traditionally, the cadet graduating West Point with the lowest academic record was known as the "goat" and was given a silver dollar by each of his classmates.
- On the BBC Quiz show Blankety Blank losing contestants were famously presented with a Blankety Blank Cheque Book and Pen
- On the New Zealand game show It's in the Bag, three of the game bags have booby prizes in them, ranging from rubber ducks to boxes of washing powder.
- An older example of a booby prize was the Wooden Spoon (award), which was given to the lowest performing Cambridge Mathematics student who still gained honours (a third) until 1909. The last holder was Cuthbert Lempriere Holthouse.
See also
References
- Straightdope.com
- Jason Zasky. "The Goats of West Point". History. Failure Magazine LLC. Retrieved 31 December 2013.