UPSTREAMING: The act of positioning oneself slightly north of another person on a north-south avenue (or south on a south-north avenue) in an attempt, usually successful, to hail a taxi cab ahead of that other person.
If Larry David indeed coined this phrase (as seen in this promo for the upcoming season premiere of Curb Your Enthusiasm), then it’s just the latest example of his brilliance.
Larry David’s a bit late to the party with this one. In my household we call it Leap Frogging and we abide by certain rules.
1. You must walk by the person as if you don’t see him or her, and are not a cab seeker but merely a pedestrian.
2. You must get at least a half a block away, so you don’t run the risk of a confrontation while you enter the cab.
3. You should not do it to anyone who is very old, burdened by excessive baggage, or otherwise unable to move easily.
4. If you are in a huge hurry, rule #3 may be ignored, along with #1 & #2 at your own discretion, but it can be a bad idea to make an able bodied person aware that you are Leap Frogging him or her, as he or she may decide to engage you in a Leap Frogging war.
5. Never forget, it’s kind of a dick move.
