Eurotrash (term)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Eurotrash is a term used in American English, referring to certain young, relatively wealthy Europeans traveling around the world on their parents' money, who have a general disdain for hard work, personal initiative, Americans, and entrepreneurship.[1] The term is also often used to describe a subgroup of European party goers who stereotypically practice recreational party drug use, listen to techno music/dance style music, and have a general disdain for more traditional lifestyles and hardwork.
[edit] Use of the term
Among the earliest printed use of the term was in the early 1980s, when Taki Theodoracopulos, a wealthy Greek man living in New York, wrote the "Eurotrash" column in The East Side Express.[1]
The term Eurotrash was also popularized in the 1994 Seinfeld episode "The Pie". Elaine confronts the saleswoman of a women's clothing store because a mannequin bears a striking resemblance to Elaine.
| “ | Saleswoman: I think you may be flattering yourself. That mannequin is wearing a $1200 dress.
Elaine: What are you saying, that I'm not good enough for this hideous dress? (looking at saleswoman's name tag) Listen Natasha, I wouldn't be caught dead wearing your crummy little Eurotrash rags. (to George) I'll meet you outside.[2] |
” |
Maggie Smith also used the term in the movie The First Wives' Club. In a scene where an auction is taking place, Smith's character refers to another bidder as "probably Eurotrash" in an attempt to convince a character to bid on an item so as to keep it from "leav[ing] the country."
In the 2008 movie 27 Dresses the term Eurotrash is used when Jane and Tess get into an argument after Jane finds out that Tess has cut up their mother's wedding dress. When this argument comes to an end Jane shouts at her sister: "He's not one of your Eurotrash boyfriends, Tess! He's a good person and you cannot start a relationship based on lies."
Yet another reference is found in the "Sex in the City" episode "The Power of Female Sex" when the show's narrator, Carrie, addresses the camera, remarking of a flashy female accquaintance, "most people would classify Amalita as eurotrash - I thought she was fun". Amalita, a woman who has a residence in New York City yet is staying at the Four Seasons hotel with her Argetinian boyfriend, proclaims herself a "citizen of the world" and takes pleasure in using said boyfriend's money to buy expensive shoes for Carrie, whom she declares "practically a sister", though they have only met a few times.
