Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

when the looting starts, the shooting starts

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.40 in modern English

Syllables: when the loot-ing s-tart-s, the shoot-ing s-tarts
IPA

54

Scrabble Score

37

Letters

6

Syllables

12

Unique Chars

Meaning

proverb

Lethal force is justified against rioters and looters.

American usage

Etymology

Originally used by Walter E. Headley, the police chief of Miami, Florida, in response to an outbreak of violent crime during the 1967 Christmas holiday season. He accused "young hoodlums, from 15 to 21", of "taking advantage of the civil rights campaign" that was then sweeping the United States.

Usage

American usage

Questions

What does when the looting starts, the shooting starts mean?: Lethal force is justified against rioters and looters.
Where does when the looting starts, the shooting starts come from?: Originally used by Walter E. Headley, the police chief of Miami, Florida, in response to an outbreak of violent crime during the 1967 Christmas holiday season. He accused "young hoodlums, from 15 to 21", of "taking advantage of the civil rights campaign" that was then sweeping the United States.

How to pronounce when the looting starts, the shooting starts

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