Original artwork, not a still
Not up to no good are you? ‘Cause if you are there’s a fifty cent “Up to No Good” tax.
— Popeye ‧ 1980
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
The question turns a suspicion of mischief into an opportunity to charge a fee. Naming an 'Up to No Good' tax treats wrongdoing as another routine category for collection. The absurd combination of moral disapproval and a precise small price gives the exchange its joke.
Context reviewed
