“Ready, Freddy” (“Ready, Freddie”)
“Ready, Freddie/Freddy” is to be very ready. It is a response to “Are you ready?” asked by someone who is sometimes—but usually not—named “Freddy” or “Freddie.”
A “Ready Freddy” doll was advertised in August 1923.
The saying was popular in the teen slang of the 1940s and 1950s. “We’re ready-Freddy with the smoothie styles that rates ‘tops’ with all the lads” was cited in 1945. A syndicated “Teen Talk” newspaper column in April 1952 defined the term: “‘Ready Freddy’ is being pretty ready.”
“Until I’m ready (Ready Freddie)” is in the lyrics of the song “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” written by Freddie Mercury of the rock band Queen in 1979.
“Ready, Freddy” has been informally used in business to show readiness.
Newspapers.com
9 August 1923, Decatur (IL) Herald, Junior Herald sec., pg. 2, col. 3:
Ready Freddy
(A doll.—ed.)
19 August 1923, Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, WI), “The Boys’ and Girls’ State Journal,” pg. 31, col. 5:
READY FREDDY
(A doll.—ed.)
1 March 1945, Lima (OH) News, pg. 3, col. 5 ad:
We’re ready-Freddy with the smoothie styles that rates “tops” with all the lads, and quality and price that rates with Mother and Dad.
(The Leader department store.—ed.)
11 May 1947, Oakland (CA) Tribune, “Li’l Abner” by Al Capp, comic sec.:
“THEY IS READY FO’ FREDDY!!”
“READY FOR FREDDY?”
18 May 1947, Richmond (VA) Times-Dispatch, “Li’l Abner” by Al Capp, comic sec.:
“THEY IS READY FO’ FREDDY!”
25 April 1952, Lock Haven (PA) Express, “Teen Talk” by AP Newsfeatures, pg. 11, col. 4:
“Ready Freddy” is being pretty ready.
11 May 1952, Dallas (TX) Morning News, “Shopping the town” with Jane Davis, sec. 5, pg. 10, col. 3:
Always a lot more than I mention…although one man whom I knew rather intimately would be a ready Freddie if I just said chicken and Lady Baltimore Cake.
OCLC WorldCat record
Are you ready Freddy?
Author: S Tepper; R C Bennett
Publisher: ©1958.
Edition/Format: Musical score : English
OCLC WorldCat record
Ready for Freddie
Author: Hubbard, Freddie.; Shorter, Wayne.; MacKinney, Bernard.; Tyner, McCoy.; Davis, Art.; All authors
Publisher: [S.l. : s.n], 1961.
Edition/Format: Music
Google Books
7 August 1965, Billboard, “New Products,” pg. 51, col. 2:
KARL GUGGENHEIM
DANCE BANDS. K.G. A Go-Go plastic strips (20 inches long), bearing such legends as “Watch Me Frug,” “I’m Ready Freddie,” “Go-Go,” “I’m a Surf- in’ Fool,’ “Heard the Bird?,” “Let’s Swim,” “Let’s Jerk, Jerk,” “Cool It” and “Wah Wah Watusi.”
Genius
Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Queen
Produced by Reinhold Mack, Josh MacRae & Queen
Album The Game (1980)
(...)
[Verse 3]
Yeah
I gotta be cool, relax, get hip
And get on my tracks
Take a back seat, hitch-hike (Ah hum, ah hum)
And take a long ride on my motorbike
Until I’m ready (Ready Freddie)
Crazy little thing called love
OCLC Worldcat record
Ready Freddy : a conflict-resolution program of skits and activities for dealing with bullies (grades 2-5)
Author: Kathy Cooper, M.S.W.; Walt Lardner
Publisher: Warminster, PA : Mar-co products, Inc., 2000.
Edition/Format: Print book : English
Database: WorldCat
Summary:
Program includes three puppet plays or skits and nine active games designed to teach conflict-resolution skills to elementary students.