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by Encyclopedia_John on August 4th, 2005
There are all kinds of explanations for it, but the most obvious one is that somebody threw them up there for fun. Here is an article about it:
http://www.snopes.com/crime/gangs/sneakers.htm
Some explanations: It's gang activity, bullies, crack dealers advertising, a memorial to a murdered kid, something a kid does when he moves away, etc. There's no definitive answer.
by Mike Doucette on August 14th, 2005
Actually, when you see a pair of shoes hanging over power lines it means "School is out for Summer". As kids we always kept a pair of tennis shoes, sneakers or whatever we are calling them these days in our school locker for gym class or we would switch into them from our winter boots. Anyways, at the end of the school year we felt that we didnt need them anymore so we tied the laces together and threw them over the power lines. I dont know who or how this got started but i started school in 1965 in the Boston, MA. area and its been going for atleast that long.
by The0Rising on November 19th, 2009
Years of tight rope walking that went wrong.....
by Elaine on November 20th, 2008
I bet it means someone took someone elses sneakers and threw them on the power line, just to be mean.
by SoothSeeker on November 21st, 2006
We throw our combat boots onto power lines as we get out of the service. Kind of like we don't need these anymore.
by RedJohn on March 11th, 2006
It usually means that some poor kid's shoes have been pinched and tossed over the wires to put them out of his or her reach. Other reasons include throwing away old footwear and alcohol-fueled challenges to throw something accurately while the ground is spinning round.
by Holly3 on February 2nd, 2008
Ummm, my question is this: How do they get them UP there?!?? I have noticed a pair of shoes on power lines above a main highway, and the lines are veerrrry high. I can't picture anyone just randomly tossing a pair of shoes up there and actually make it. So, how do they do that over a main highway!? Inquiring minds want to know...LOL!
by Account Closed on November 1st, 2007
originally that was a sign to show that you could buy drugs on that street. It was done as a code. I know police now know what it meant so why they still do it from time to time, I am sure has a different meaning.
by Anonymous on November 21st, 2006
That the owner was too lazy to throw them in a dumpster.
by Davesp on August 13th, 2005
Shoes, tied together are uniquely configured to hook themselves around power lines or any other wire in the sky. This is immediately obvious to any young person who maybe carrying shoes to trainning or school. So the challenge is greater than any consiquence like having to buy a new pair. It is also an obvious choice for any bully to inflict loss and humiliation on someone less poweerfull than themselves.
by buttkisses on November 19th, 2009
In our town it's a signal it's a "drug hot spot". A place you can buy or sell.
by Schroeder on November 20th, 2008
Children steal somebodies shoes, tie the laces together and throw them to dangle over the power lines to the kid they took them from can't get them back and he has to tell his parent is lost his shoes.
by The Account Formerly Known As Peyton on November 1st, 2007
I always thought some kids did it with other kids' shoes just to be mean. But I've heard that it can represent that a young man has just lost his virginity, or that it can represent a place to buy drugs.
by anonymous on December 14th, 2006
that someone needs to get a new pair of shoes
by anonymous on November 21st, 2006
Perhaps God feels you need a new pair of shoes?
by rigby on November 20th, 2009
here it means that a gang has taken over or somebody died - it means we gotta keep moving before it gets dark
by Mountain Momma on November 20th, 2009
Now that's a good time!=D
by Ghost Racer on November 20th, 2008
I thought it was marking gang territory.
by Trouser Snake on November 20th, 2008
i heard in the ghetto...it actually means somebody has passed away.
by Kewl Guy - has gone 360 on November 20th, 2008
I heard about this recently and they said that it meant that there is someplace close where drugs are sold! Hence, the othere answer that it begins a seedy place
by -O-uknow on November 20th, 2008
"GHETTO"
by LashTyphoon on July 23rd, 2008
I always thought that it ment that some asshole kids live there and if you cant kick their asses you lose your shoes lol. Sry. I seriously thought that.
But the drug selling concept is interesting. Makes sense.
by Cookie on February 2nd, 2008
i always thaught that it ment that there was a drug seller near by...??
by tripwire on November 30th, 2006
They are put their by aliens when they're taking a break from crop circles, and that's a fact!!
by PcopT2145 on November 28th, 2006
The shoes are there to attract insects. love bugs, mosquitoes etc....because of the bacteria left over by a fungi foot, it keeps the insects away from the house. It's true...
by Anonymous on November 8th, 2005
Actually, this occurs in lower neighborhoods, where dumpster are not readaily available. after the shoes have run their course, its time for them to be pitched away........and where do they land? on the power lines, of course!! its just lazy begots lazy. end
by mellow on August 20th, 2005
i heard that it is a drug selling location - a cop once told me the police would look for shoes on wires for drug locations and then wait till dark , usually 11:00- 21:00 and see the drugs sold and then bust the people. but he sais some are just diversions so they dont know where the real drug locations are..
by TheHuis on August 13th, 2005
It is often a sign of a tinny or drugs house but people do just throw up shoes for fun.
by me_too on November 8th, 2010
It's what you did with your old gym shoes when you graduated. After all, what could you possibly want with dirty old gym shoes? They wouldn't fit next year and it's not as though they were some sort of status symbol.
by Anonymous P Witterspoon III on November 8th, 2010
by stinkeous maneous on November 22nd, 2009
in cincinnati it means that a drug house has been compromised, and it is a warning to the buyers to stay away from the drug house. And also to the supplier that the house was raided.
by the guy behind the bushes on November 20th, 2009
they sale drugs there
by CosmicWunderkind on November 20th, 2009
Gang territory..Beware
by jin jang on November 19th, 2009
Kids used to,and I guess still carry their running shoes home with them.Years ago they brought a pair of running shoes for gym class.The easy way to carry them was to tie them together.As a joke bullies or friends would grab them and through them over power lines.So now you would have to buy another pair.
by Beany on June 7th, 2009
Some people claim it means a drug dealer is living nearby, I think it's just because people have spare shoes and it's not possible to get them down again so it's a laugh
by a.c.i.d on November 20th, 2008
Rather old prank.
by skyshroud on November 20th, 2008
I've been noticing, they seem to mark certain entrances to..rather seedy places. Was wondering if anyone else noticed this.
by HeadAlpha on November 6th, 2008
I heard it meant somebody got jumped, or initiated into a gang.
by LashTyphoon on July 24th, 2008
Oh And in the movie BIG FISH they did that so you would stay in the town. If you havent seen it watch it. If you have, then you know what im talking about. lol
by Williamstown on March 16th, 2008
Basically a gang member has marked his site. I had alot of fun testing the alingment of my rifle scopes on those.
by Midgardsormr on February 2nd, 2008
It means someone wants Willie "The Old Shoe" Schumann brought home from the war in Albania.
(If you've never seen Wag the Dog, you should.)
by Esteban-- Smartest Pumpkin on November 20th, 2007
The last day of school.
by notmrjohn on November 20th, 2007
I agree with the folks who basically said " It means some threw them up there." But I am intrigued by the mismatched pairs I sometimes see.
by ChelseaMark on November 1st, 2007
Nike are testing their new Shox trainers.
by 60s Rock on November 1st, 2007
I see that around colleges. Must be a thing thats done by the highly educated. Must have some profound meaning.
by Worzel on November 1st, 2007
Have a look below them next time you may see a crispy body with its toes sticking out :o)
by Nelson - Jetpacking from bed on November 1st, 2007
In the military, you hang your boots to signify that you are leaving the military.
by doeboyfresh on October 12th, 2007
it means that there are drug dealers in the house or drugs in the house
by SillySassyCassie on September 30th, 2007
I think it is so we ALL ASK "WHY ARE THERE SHOES HANGING OVER THAT WIRE"
by Turtlegurl on August 14th, 2005
well I remember asking this in dare class but the local police around here say its to mark diffrent gang territories also it can advertise a crack house or a drug dealers house. I've neaver heard of any of the other things thats new to me. But thats just what the police in my neighbor hood say thats what the shoes mean.
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Comments
Too short
by tekfrank on August 12th, 2005
Perfect explanation
by KAPTAIN on August 12th, 2005
Geat answer, here's a cookie!
by Answers101 on March 3rd, 2006
"somebody threw them up there" just because they wanted to. Yup.perfect, worth 3 points.
by notmrjohn on November 20th, 2007