Where Did the Name ‘Slug Bug’ Come From?
Jane Lu
· 4 min read
Volkswagen has become an iconic
car brand
over the years. The company may not make the flashiest or best vehicles on the market, but it makes some of the most unique and memorable. One of the classic examples of unique Volkswagen design is the VW Bus
, a cult favorite that the company has recently brought back with new models.Volkswagen's most popular model of all, however, is the Beetle, which the company discontinued following the 2019 model year. Nicknamed the Bug, the Beetle had an iconic design that was recognizable as soon as you saw it.
Because of that, a game developed for people on long road trips, where they would hit a fellow passenger whenever they saw a Beetle on the road. Here's the story of how the "slug bug" got its name.
The history of slug bug
Pest control company
Slug-A-Bug
shares a look at the history of how the slug bug game got its name. The exact origin is unclear, but it would have been around the middle of the 20th century, as Beetles were introduced in America in 1949. The model got its name due to its similarity in shape to the insect known as the beetle. Along those lines, that’s how the Beetle became known as the Bug.From that nickname came the rhyming phrase slug bug, associated with a game young people would play to pass the time in the car. Some people may also know it by the more descriptive but less playful name, punch bug. Whatever you call it, chances are you've played the game at some point in your life when you got bored in the backseat of your family's car.
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How to play slug bug
Most people know how to play slug bug, but for those who don't, here's a rundown of what you do. You pay attention to the other vehicles you're driving by on the road, and when you spot a Beetle is when you jump into action. You yell out "slug bug," along with the color of the car you spotted, then ball up your hand into a fist and slug the person next to you with a punch to their shoulder. Be sure you're quick so you're the first in the car to "claim" a bug.
It's a fun way for people to pass the time on a long car ride, and it's not dangerous because you just playfully punch your traveling companion; you don't hit them hard enough that it hurts. And it's a more entertaining game than other games that people tend to play on road trips, such as paying attention to license plates to spot cars from other states or countries.
What do people call the Beetle in other languages?
MORE: The 1997 Volkswagen Beetle Craze—and the Future of the Brand
In the U.S., the Bug has become the most common slang term for the iconic Volkswagen model. Folks in other countries have similar terms they use for the car in their own language. In France, it's known as “la Coccinella” or ladybug; for Italians, it's “Maggiolino” or May bug; and in Volkswagen's native Germany, the Beetle translates to “Der Kafer.”
In its heyday, the Beetle was among the most-produced cars in the world, so there's no shortage of them on the road. But since Volkswagen has stopped production on them, you can't get new ones anymore. So if you have a Bug, you want to make sure it remains in good condition. Having a good car insurance policy can help with that.
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will help you find the right insurance for your Beetle without having to spend a lot of money on high premiums. The app gathers competitive rates from 50-plus name-brand companies to get you the best deal on the coverage you need. This way, you can insure your beloved Beetle without having to break the bank.
