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What's A 'Cleveland Steamer'? The Gross Slang Term Popularized By 'Family Guy' Explained
Don't Google trends and their consequences have had untold impacts on how the younger generation learns about gross slang terms, and the so-called "Cleveland Steamer" is a prime example of this fact.
What began as a Usenet anecdote from 1995 was eventually adopted as a running gag by the popular adult sitcom Family Guy in which suggestive jokes about the fetish became so commonplace that adults in the 2000s became well acclimated to a hereby niche (and nasty) sex act.
For the newer generation, however, learning about the "Cleveland Steamer" is still a right of passage. For those brave enough, here's a brief internet history of the slang term and its usage in memes over the years.
What's A 'Cleveland Steamer, and Where Did The Term Come From?
To put it simply, a "Cleveland Steamer" is when you defecate on a person's chest, bear down, and then wiggle back and forth. The name possibly serves to evoke some gross imagery about steamrollers.
A string of internet anecdotes points to a long-lost Usenet thread from 1995 as the correct origin of the term "Cleveland Steamer," including an Urban Dictionary post, a thread on The Straight Dope message boards, Reddit and an archived Wikipedia discussion.
However, the term was only popularized in the early seasons of Family Guy when it became a running gag. An early reference to the "Cleveland Steamer" slang term about the sexual act appeared in a scene featured on season 2, episode 11 of Family Guy, titled "A Picture Is Worth 1,000 Bucks," which first aired on April 18th, 2000.
The scene shows photographer Robert Maplethorpe drawing a kid named Tim's picture with baseball hall of famer Reggie Jackson defecating upon the child.
Another early usage of the term comes from season 3 episode 9 in which Peter Griffin dresses up like a sex worker and asks Lois, "Whaddaya want, a Cleveland Steamer?" The scene, which aired on September 5th, 2001, is shown below.
How Did Jokes About The 'Cleveland Steamer' Spread Online?
Jokes about the Cleveland Steamer continued to make sporadic appearances online in the 2010s, as seen in a post by RuPaul from April 2013.
In June 2016, a Redditor posted a picture of a machine officially called a Cleveland Steamer. Some internet users have claimed that this machine was actually mentioned in the 1995 Usenet thread as well.
On December 22nd, 2019, YouTuber Definition of the Day posted a video about the slang term, gathering over 300,000 views in five years.
How Did The 'Cleveland Steamer' Gain Traction In 2024?
TikTok users began posting jokes about what outfit they would wear to get or give a Cleveland Steamer, which led to a spike in searches for the meaning of the term.
It's safe to say that the slang term may rear its head once more when a newer cohort of internet users come across it — much like we've seen with other ancient (and gross) slang such as "iglooing," "pearl necklace" and "Alabama Hot Pocket."
@tayevon1996edition freeballin #fitcheck #outfit #hawktuah ♬ ik what you did last summer – gloinpce
@69hats #ootd #y2k #bop #archive #fit #hawktuah #fashion ♬ RIP – LUCKI
For the full history of the Cleveland Steamer, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.
