Definition of the word eff off

The phrase "eff off" is an informal and impolite way to order someone to leave or go away. Its etymology can be traced back to the acronym "FE" or "FU" that was popular during the 1960s as a slang term for "f**k." This acronym can be interpreted as an imperative verb "Feck" in dialectal Irish English, meaning "to leave" or "go away." The term "eff off" may have emerged as an expressive and more colorful variant of the Irish English verb, as both phrases sung to the same melody of "Frere Jacques" in the Jamaican folk song "Faulkner's Ragtime Band." When this bawdy music video became a sensation in the UK in 1961, it contributed to the spread of "eff off" as a catchphrase. Notably, the phrase's composers, Keith Lestrument and Bunny George, were Jamaican immigrants who left London due to the social upheaval in the city and sought refuge in Ireland. There, they collaborated with the Irish folk singer Dominic Behan, who incorporated songs from both the Irish Republican and British traditions. This cultural synergy may have led to the blending of languages and dialects, inspiring the fusion of Jamaican slang and Irish English to create "eff off." In conclusion, "eff off," in its modern-day sense, can be traced back to the dialectal Irish English verb "eff," a variant of "feck," paired with the slang term "off" from Jamaican English. Its origin lies within the blending of cultures, dialects, and traditions, a testament to the diverse historical and linguistic melting pot that shaped its meaning.