Going HAM – Meaning, Origin and Usage

ByRichard Barker Updated:

Have you ever seen a meme featuring a gym buff with a staggering number of weights with the caption ‘going HAM’? It actually has nothing to do with meat. This article is going to explain exactly what the expression means, and how the phrase came into the English vernacular.

I’ll also explain how and when to use the phrase and give you a selection of alternative phrases that you can use in its place.

And without further ado let’s get straight to it.

What is the meaning of the phrase ‘going HAM’?

In the phrase ‘going HAM’, the ‘HAM’ is a sort of acronym and it stands for ‘Hard as a Motherf**ker’. It’s a way of saying to people that you’re going to apply maximum effort with no hesitation and holding nothing back whatsoever.

For example, someone might use the phrase to express how they’re going to apply maximum effort in their gym session, perhaps by doing as many repetitions of weight lifting that they can, or using the heaviest weights they can manage, or both.

However, the phrase is not limited to gym-speak, and you can use it for any situation that you’re going to apply maximum effort. This could include, for instance, a hobby, project, getting drunk, studies and passing exams and tests, sports matches, board games, and much more.

What is the origin of the phrase ‘going HAM’?

The precise origin of the phrase ‘going HAM’ is not yet determined, but we can easily trace when the phrase became popularised, which was relatively recently in 2011.

The phrase ‘going HAM’ comes from hip-hop culture, and the popularisation of the term can be attributed to two of the most successful and richest rappers around the world. More specifically from a joint rap hit called ‘HAM’ which was released by Jay Z and Kanye West in the year 2011.

In this track, the rappers explain what the acronym HAM means. And through the influence of these rappers into mainstream culture, this phrase from hip-hop culture became popular to the general public as well.

How and when can you say ‘going HAM’?

As mentioned earlier, you can use the phrase ‘going HAM’ to express applying maximum effort to a task or venture. You can use it in casual everyday conversation, or apply it to business projects. You can also use the phrase in memes on social media and when chatting in chat rooms.

Here are some examples of the phrase in use:

  • I’m going to go HAM at the gym. I’m really going to push myself.
  • I’m going to go HAM at the all-you-can-eat buffet later, I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.
  • Let’s go HAM on the booze on the weekend – I can’t get on the dance floor otherwise.
  • She’s going HAM on the dating websites at the moment, I’m afraid she may seem a little too desperate.
  • I’m going to gor HAM on my run tonight, I really want to earn a new personal best time for it.

What can you say in replace of ‘going HAM’?

While the phrase ‘going HAM’ has entered mainstream culture at this point, the term is still more well known by fans of hip-hop and rap, so if you find yourself around people who may suspect may not be familiar with the term, don’t worry. There are several alternative expressions that you can use in its place.

Here are some example alternative phrases that you can use in its place if you so wish:

  • I/he/she/they am/is/are going for gold
  • I/he/she/they am/is/are going for maximum effort
  • I/he/she/they am/is/are giving it my all
  • I/he/she/they am/is/are going Hard as a Motherf**ker
  • I/he/she/they am/is/are going to make every effort
  • I/he/she/they am/is/are going to pull out all the stops

Final word

So, to sum up, the phrase ‘going HAM’ is slang for ‘going hard as a motherf**ker’, or in other words applying maximum effort to a task or project. It’s often used by gym fanatics and bodybuilders to express how they are going to put maximum effort to their workout. That said, you can use the phrase to express your intent to put maximum effort into any task whatsoever, including hobbies, sports matches, dance-offs and much more.

The phrase became popularised when two of the worlds biggest hip hop rappers, Jay Z and Kanye West, released a track called HAM in 2011, which explained what the acronym meant, thus bringing it into mainstream culture.

If you’re concerned that your audience won’t be familiar with the phrase there are several other phrases that you can use in its place.

Richard is an English teacher with over 25 years of experience. He has dedicated his life and career to his passion for English, literature, and pedagogy, guiding multiple generations of students on their journey to discovery.