zipper problem, n.

zipper-problem
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zipper-problem_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
First published 2021

# zipper problemnoun

## Factsheet

### What does the noun zipper problem mean?

There is one meaning in OED's entry for the noun zipper problem. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.

### How common is the noun zipper problem?

Fewer than 0.01occurrences per million words in modern written English

1980 | 0.0009
1990 | 0.0009
2000 | 0.0009
2010 | 0.0009

### Where does the noun zipper problem come from?

Earliest known use

1980s

The earliest known use of the noun zipper problem is in the 1980s.

OED's earliest evidence for zipper problem is from 1985, in New York Amsterdam News.

### Nearby entries

1. zip lining, n.?1983–
2. zip-lipped, adj. 1943–
3. ziplock, n. 1928–
4. zipped, adj. 1931–
5. zippeite, n. 1850–
6. zipper, n. 1923–
7. zipper, v. 1927–
8. zippered, adj. 1926–
9. zipper foot, n. 1938–
10. zipperhead, n. 1967–
11. zipper problem, n.1985–
12. Zippie, n.¹ 1968–
13. zippie, n.² 1986–
14. zippily, adv. 1924–
15. zippiness, n. 1907–
16. zipping, n. 1868–
17. Zippo, n.¹ 1944–
18. zippo, n.² 1973–
19. zippy, adj. 1889–
20. zip tie, n. 1969–
21. zip-tie, v. 1985–

## Etymology

With reference to the zipper on the flies of a pair of trousers.

## Meaning & use

euphemistic (originally U.S.).

1. 1985–
   (With reference to a man) a habit of sexual promiscuity or infidelity.
   The expression is often used in the context of (alleged) sexual misconduct by male public figures, gaining prominence in the 1990s in relation to accusations against Bill Clinton, U.S. President 1993–2001 (cf. quot. 1999).
   1. 1985

      > [He] had gotten the boot from Koch for alleged incompetence, excessive debauchery and an alleged ‘zipper problem’.

      New York Amsterdam News 31 August 3/1
   2. 1999

      > How did a president's zipper problem become a constitutional crisis?

      Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) 4 February 2a/1
   3. 2010

      > Matt was an up-and-coming political journalist who everyone..knew had a major zipper problem.

      J. Collins, Poor Little Bitch Girl ii. 11
   U.S. English euphemistic
   1. whoredom Old English–
      Fornication, adultery; prostitution, sexual activity with prostitutes; sexual promiscuity.
   2. whoring 1530–
      The action or an act of whore, v.; fornication, sexual promiscuity. Also figurative. In early use spec. in biblical context, chiefly in to go a wh…
   3. whoremastery 1618–
      Fornication, lechery, sexual promiscuity.
   4. promiscuousness 1676–
      The quality or state of being promiscuous; promiscuity.
   5. promiscuity 1847–
      Promiscuous sexual behaviour; the frequent, casual changing of sexual partners. Also figurative.
   6. bed-hopping 1951–
      The action of moving from bed to bed or changing beds frequently; (usually) the activity or practice of engaging in successive casual sexual affairs…
   7. swinging 1964–
      slang. The action of engaging in group sex or the exchanging of sexual partners.
   8. tomming 1981–
      British slang. Chiefly English regional (northern). Chiefly with reference to a man: the action of being promiscuous or sexually adventurous…
   9. zipper problem 1985–
      (With reference to a man) a habit of sexual promiscuity or infidelity.
   View in Historical Thesaurus
   1. unfaithfulness 1848–
      spec. (Cf. unfaithful, adj. 2d.)
   2. two-timing 1927–
   3. zipper problem 1985–
      (With reference to a man) a habit of sexual promiscuity or infidelity.
   View in Historical Thesaurus

## Frequency

zipper problem typically occurs fewer than 0.01 times per million words in modern written English.

zipper problem is in frequency band 1, which contains words occurring fewer than 0.001 times per million words in modern written English. More about OED's frequency bands

Frequency data is computed programmatically, and should be regarded as an estimate.

### Frequency of zipper problem, n., 1980–2010

* Occurrences per million words in written English

Historical frequency series are derived from Google Books Ngrams (version 2), a data set based on the Google Books corpus of several million books printed in English between 1500 and 2010.

The overall frequency for a given word is calculated by summing frequencies for the main form of the word, any plural or inflected forms, and any major spelling variations.

For sets of homographs (distinct entries that share the same word-form, e.g. mole, n.¹, mole, n.², mole, n.³, etc.), we have estimated the frequency of each homograph entry as a fraction of the total Ngrams frequency for the word-form. This may result in inaccuracies.

Smoothing has been applied to series for lower-frequency words, using a moving-average algorithm. This reduces short-term fluctuations, which may be produced by variability in the content of the Google Books corpus.

Decade | Frequency per million words
--- | ---
1980 | 0.0009
1990 | 0.0009
2000 | 0.0009
2010 | 0.0009

Originally published as part of the entry for zipper, n.

zipper problem, n. was first published in 2021.