The Merriam-Webster dictionary traces “86” to “1930s soda-counter slang meaning that an item was sold out. There is varying anecdotal evidence about why the term eighty-six was used, but the most common theory is that it is rhyming slang for nix.”

James Comey’s controversial, now-deleted Instagram photo of seashells spelling out the numbers “86 47” only adds to a long list of social media posts from the former FBI director that have sparked a mix of both anger and — more often — a heavy dose of eye rolls.

Trump administration officials claim former FBI chief James Comey called for violence against the president — which Comey has pushed back on.

Trump and top officials in his administration are suggesting Comey should be imprisoned for a phrase that has frequently been used innocuously in politics in recent years.

FBI head James Comey is getting lambasted online after he shared a post on social media that many are taking as a "hit" on President Donald Trump's life.

So, when former FBI director James Comey — a crime novelist these days — posted a photo on social media of shells spelling out “86 47” on a beach, he apparently was directing a message to “86″ the 47th president of the United States — Donald Trump.