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Saying that someone or something is "85" is a colloquial way of implying paranoia. The phrase [originated] in Detroit, where gang members would tag houses to be burgled with the number 80, the [jersey] number of famed football hall-of-famer Jack Butler, a nod to the Steelers cornerback's ability to break through any defense. Over time, the phrase was generalized to refer to anything that was going to be hit: a snitch, a rival gang, or a deserting member of the crew. Around the same time, the phrase "five by five" became a common way of expressing well-being. Some started using that phrase sardonically, and referring to oneself as "five by five" was [eventually] [understood] to mean that the person wasn't doing well. In the 90s, the idea of being "an 80" and the sarcastic "five by five" merged; people began referring to people who were afraid of being targeted by gang violence as "85."
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