"F**k b**ches, get money!" If you're like me, you've always assumed that this phrase refers to having sex with women, and making money; two of a stereotypical player's favorite past times. But the phrase can have a different meaning, depending on your interpretation of the F word.

Attempting to uncover the proper definition, Redditor u/FlightlessFallen posed this question to r/NoStupidQuestions. "Is the word "f**k" in "f**k b**ches, get money" supposed to mean "ignore" or "have sex with"?

The answer is not as simple as you might think, and both versions are widely accepted in different forms. You may have seen this classical art meme for example, which takes the phrase and amends its language to cleaner, and more formal terms. You can read more about the meme here.

Many Redditors responding to FlightlessFallen's question partook in this meme, sharing their increasingly elaborate versions of the phrase. "Ignore women accumulate currency," "Disregard the local harlotry, acquire legal tender," and "Disassociate yourself from the resident ladies of the night, accrue fiscal asset classes," are some of the highlights. This meme exercise can go on indefinitely, but all versions imply the F word to mean "ignore" in some form. 

In more popular culture, both versions feature in different spheres. Hyper-masculine online personalities certainly favor the "have sex with definition," often to the detriment of women and human decency. Hip-hop artists also influence the expression's perception. The 2008 Lil Wayne hit Money on My Mind uses the phrase verbatim as its hook, but as its title suggests, focuses mostly on the "get money" part. One comment points out, "In a more recent example, Future instructed us to “chase a check, never chase a b**ch.” Neither artist can take credit for coining the phrase, however, as that honor goes to the one and only Notorious B.I.G in his 1995 hit Get Money.

A since-deleted Reddit account answers FlightlessFallen's question with a spectacularly in-depth analysis of Biggy's lyrics. "It is almost certainly purposefully vague both because they're both intertwined," the comment says. "The song is about being betrayed by a woman, but also how he enjoys women in much the same way... Some of the lines are about him f**king b**ches, others about getting money, others about being betrayed by women." The commenter finishes their thoughts with the verdict: "Neither one is the right answer. Thus, the genius of Christopher George Latore Wallace aka Notorious B.I.G."

As its creator intended, the phrase is not a one size fits all hill to die on, and you are free to use it however you see fit. So the next time you're feeling angry, broke, and horny, you have permission to f**k b**ches, get money... whatever that means to you.