In Tombstone what is the meaning of the line spoken by Doc Holiday?
In the movie Tombstone, Val Kilmer gives a brilliant delivery of the line
I'll be your huckleberry.
I cannot remember any dialogue leading up to it that explained this retort. Was there any or is it a symbolic phrase?
Best Answer
The Dictionary of American Slang defines this, and supplies just this line from Val Kilmer in Tombstone as an example of its usage.
"I'm your huckleberry" means "I'm just the man you're looking for!"
"I'm your huckleberry..." Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday in Tombstone
Also, the podcast A Way With Words from Public Radio, is a call-in show about linguistics, and answered this question this way:
What it means is easy enough. To be one’s huckleberry — usually as the phrase I’m your huckleberry — is to be just the right person for a given job, or a willing executor of some commission. Where it comes from needs a bit more explaining...
Pictures about "In Tombstone what is the meaning of the line spoken by Doc Holiday?"
What did Doc Holliday say to Johnny Ringo in Tombstone?
Holliday says, \u201cI'm your huckleberry\u201d at two points in the film, both when speaking to Johnny Ringo. The first time he says the phrase is when Ringo confronts Wyatt Earp in the street. Holliday gets involved, getting up out of his barber chair and saying the fabled line \u201cI'm your huckleberry.\u201dWhy does Ringo Call holiday Lunger?
Ringo: Age quod agis. Doc: Credat Judaeus Apella, non ego.Tombstone Latin Translation - Curious To Know
More answers regarding in Tombstone what is the meaning of the line spoken by Doc Holiday?
Answer 2
The accepted answer explains the phrase very well. As to the other part of your question - what dialogue leads up to Doc Holiday/Val Kilmer uttering that phrase:
What leads up to it is Ringo, a very deadly guy, is drunk and itching for a fight.... a potentially lethal one. Others, of course, are not interested, and, I believe, Wyatt Earp is doing all he can to de-escalate the situation at the tables, which only infuriates Ringo more, since he has no outlet for his desire to fight and/or kill.
He then says -
Wretched slugs, don't any of you have the guts to play for blood?
To which Holiday replies that he's willing to play that deadly game with the phrase you are asking about.
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