Comments on: Meh

Meh

swift — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:32:59 -0800

Meh. (Previously).

By: gman

gman — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:35:37 -0800

Movin' on up.

By: Potomac Avenue

Potomac Avenue — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:36:09 -0800

This is relevant to my interests.

By: robocop is bleeding

robocop is bleeding — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:41:24 -0800

By: cjorgensen

cjorgensen — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:45:15 -0800

Huh, I figured it's always been a word. Like biblical even. Jesus: Peter, before the cock crows thrice you will betray me. Peter: Meh. And Old Testament: God: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. *Gives 10 Commandments* People: Meh. At least that's how I remember it.

By: mullingitover

mullingitover — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:48:45 -0800

I wish there was a word that encapsulated my ambivalence about this development.

By: unSane

unSane — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:50:37 -0800

By: tkolar

tkolar — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:52:24 -0800

Also, previously on Metatalk.

By: butterstick

butterstick — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:55:26 -0800

By: Horace Rumpole

Horace Rumpole — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:59:21 -0800

Collins' publicity department must be very pleased about the regularity with which we post about their press releases.

By: srboisvert

srboisvert — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:10:17 -0800

I am ok with that word being included in the dictionary but only if the definition mentions that it is used by mehtards.

By: dsword

dsword — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:17:10 -0800

WOOHOO!

By: filthy light thief

filthy light thief — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:17:28 -0800

I had a friend in High School who used the term. He was a slacker, so that was his reply to many things. He was also an avid Simpsons fan, and I know it came up before 2001. The Guardian and Wiktionary.org cite Lisa's Wedding as the (popular) birth of the term.

By: Astro Zombie

Astro Zombie — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:17:47 -0800

Meh.

By: filthy light thief

filthy light thief — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:18:06 -0800

Oh, and it first aired on March 19, 1995.

By: Ron Thanagar

Ron Thanagar — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:18:48 -0800

*makes expression of indifference or boredom* -

By: nosila

nosila — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:25:11 -0800

origin: Upper West Side

By: cogneuro

cogneuro — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:29:50 -0800

"word x added to dictionary" posts: meh.

By: GavinR

GavinR — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:33:49 -0800

Someone didn't research an article properly.

By: Beautiful Screaming Lady

Beautiful Screaming Lady — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:37:00 -0800

huggles, a hybrid of hugs and snuggles Anyone who uses that word, that h word, whether in jest, ironically or overcome by genuine mild affection, wants hanging. I'm even tempted to go so far as to suggest that anyone who uses the s word above might, while not exactly desperate to be hanged, hold their hand up at the gallows and say yes, on reflection, this is for the best. I had a few minor things I was hoping to accomplish over the coming years, and I suppose I do regret not living to see my children grow up, but you're right, it is an abominable word, so let's get on with it shall we. I feel filthy even just having cut and paste them from the article.

By: never used baby shoes

never used baby shoes — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:37:58 -0800

My ambivalence to this knows no bounds.

By: filthy light thief

filthy light thief — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:39:25 -0800

Someone didn't research an article properly. Whatev. That word annoys me more than most - it's not just dismissive, it's more defeated than most simple replies. I'll try to replace it with the dismissive, yet cheeky "Whateva," because it will then make me think of Treva Whateva, and I will smile.

By: quin

quin — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:41:33 -0800

It's the mehpocalypse.

By: jpburns

jpburns — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:51:01 -0800

Apparently it was used 3687 times in MetaFilter comments. Meh. Make that 3688.

By: kozad

kozad — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:53:19 -0800

Well, this insular American discovered something new: there is something called the Collins Dictionary of the English language. I suppose lifts, lorries, boots, biscuits and chips abound, as well as humour and cheque. Will have to look for it in my American library.

By: DU

DU — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:54:50 -0800

I AM SAYING MEH TO THIS POST IN AN IRONIC WAY GEDDIT

By: sixswitch

sixswitch — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:00:18 -0800

I AM SAYING MEH TO THIS POST IN AN IRONIC WAY GEDDIT Meh.

By: Eekacat

Eekacat — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:05:45 -0800

Meh Tah Filter

By: lalochezia

lalochezia — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:08:05 -0800

I say Feh! to your Meh! What? I got bupkis here boychick. Work wid me.

By: gman

gman — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:08:35 -0800

Apparently it was used 3687 times in MetaFilter comments. I don't know where you're getting your stats, but they're outdated.

By: Gary

Gary — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:21:19 -0800

I'm disappointed that empath already embiggened our website with the necessary cromulent joke.

By: sambosambo

sambosambo — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:29:41 -0800

Guh.

By: designbot

designbot — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:33:32 -0800

(Annoyed grunt)

By: DU

DU — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:50:36 -0800

Spluh

By: l33tpolicywonk

l33tpolicywonk — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:55:41 -0800

*Considers writing a multi-paragraph long comment about how an old girlfriend used to use the word "Meh" to express general teenage angst and pretend to eschew traditional norms while really essentially aspiring to be a part of the very system she pretended to be indifferent towards.* *Realizes most MeFites will respond with ironic indifference rather than faves* *Decides against it*

By: The Whelk

The Whelk — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:57:19 -0800

Oh blargh

By: pompomtom

pompomtom — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:03:41 -0800

Pffft.

By: 445supermag

445supermag — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:08:00 -0800

Ironically, that episode predicted that "Smell ya later" would be the catch phrase that would we would all be using. I gues we still have a couple years.

By: Smedleyman

Smedleyman — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:23:13 -0800

Meh: nakh! (it'd be funnier if one could flourish 'meh' like, say D'artangan) Aha! meh. So there! (see 'cause nakh is yiddish for 'there!' I just don't know how to spell it. Ok, so maybe one guy (other than lalochezia)...who just got out of a steam room... in the Catskills...in the 50's... got it.) *considers ironically fav'ing l33tpolicywonk comment on ironic indifference to further iterate self-referential meme* *Decides against it, goes for Jewish themed linguistic alliterative riff instead* *Fails* *meh* "Anyone who uses that word (huggles) whether in jest, ironically or overcome by genuine mild affection, wants hanging." So...blowggles, out of line? Tounggles?

By: Beautiful Screaming Lady

Beautiful Screaming Lady — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:30:21 -0800

So...blowggles, out of line? Tounggles? I'm willing to accept hugjob.

By: evilcolonel

evilcolonel — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:35:57 -0800

Snuh?

By: Tube

Tube — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:40:26 -0800

Collins' publicity department must be very pleased about the regularity with which we post about their press releases. I'd have to agree. If the OED adds a word, I consider it legitimate news. Anyone else, it's most likely a publicity stunt. As a child I had a concept that there was an entity called "the dictionary". By the time I was in college, I was proud that our family owned a copy of Webster's Second International, as I realized there were numerous dictionaries out there. Today I own a copy of Webster's Third, but rarely use it, as I'm almost always able to find a definition on the 'net. I'm no etymologist, but I'm betting that everyone except the OED is threatened by the Internet, much like Encyclopedia Britannica. I suspect minor dictionaries adding words like "meh" is a sign of the END TIMES, as they will eventually go the way of slide rules, 8 tracks, Polaroid instant film, and AOL floppy disks...

By: ryoshu

ryoshu — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:58:11 -0800

By: weezy

weezy — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:04:40 -0800

The dictionary defines "meh" as an expression of indifference or boredom, or an adjective meaning mediocre or boring. Examples given by the dictionary include "the Canadian election was so meh." Who says "so meh"? Meh should stand alone in its own sentence. then again... meh.

By: Effigy2000

Effigy2000 — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:05:14 -0800

The origins of "meh" are murky, but the term grew in popularity after being used in a 2001 episode of "The Simpsons" in which Homer suggests a day trip to his children Bart and Lisa. Hmmmm. I thought that the episode of The Simpsons that popularised the word meh was 'Homer's Triple Bypass'. Bart: Nothing you say can upset us. We're the MTV generation. Lisa: We feel neither highs or lows. Homer: Really? What's it like? Lisa: Meh Even if it wasn't, I guess it was certainly the first time I'd ever heard it, anyway.

By: Ron Thanagar

Ron Thanagar — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:05:21 -0800

At least it replaced "whatever"...

By: davejay

davejay — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:06:18 -0800

Ungh.

By: ZenMasterThis

ZenMasterThis — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:09:24 -0800

Meep-meep!

By: blue_beetle

blue_beetle — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:09:54 -0800

meh is old school, all the kids today are using nargh.

By: gman

gman — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:13:03 -0800

Mehtafilter.

By: bitteroldman

bitteroldman — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:21:47 -0800

Anyone who uses that word, that h word, whether in jest, ironically or overcome by genuine mild affection, wants hanging. I'm even tempted to go so far as to suggest that anyone who uses the s word above might, while not exactly desperate to be hanged, hold their hand up at the gallows and say yes, on reflection, this is for the best. I had a few minor things I was hoping to accomplish over the coming years, and I suppose I do regret not living to see my children grow up, but you're right, it is an abominable word, so let's get on with it shall we. I feel filthy even just having cut and paste them from the article Looks like someone needs a huggle! Come here you!

By: ZenMasterThis

ZenMasterThis — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:51:12 -0800

Meh is hella good.

By: Brodiggitty

Brodiggitty — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:58:36 -0800

"Examples given by the dictionary include 'the Canadian election was so meh.'" So this means when you look up "meh" in the dictionary you'll literally find the Canadian election. Brilliant!

By: mediareport

mediareport — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:22:13 -0800

Oh, and [the Simpsons episode "Lisa's Wedding"] first aired on March 19, 1995. In the 2005 AskMe about the origins of "meh" dhartung linked a usage from 1992 in the gay Usenet group soc.motss (scroll down a bit; it's there). I cut my internet teeth on soc.motss, so it seems worth pointing out the earlier queer culture usage. Simpsons, my ass.

By: hattifattener

hattifattener — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:23:40 -0800

note: Everyone needs a huggle.

By: applemeat

applemeat — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 21:11:36 -0800

I hate the term. I absolutely hate it.

By: Citizen Premier

Citizen Premier — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 22:51:08 -0800

Everyone knows what "meh" means. If I said "I huggled with my jargonaut fenemy " people wouldn't think I was speaking english.

By: thoughtless

thoughtless — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 03:46:18 -0800

What would a huggle be, anyway? Aren't hugs and snuggles terms that distinguish two different actions involving 2+ people having their arms around each other? I'm a big fan of both, but can't picture a blend of the two. (The dictionary in question should have pictures.)

By: mandal

mandal — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 06:13:12 -0800

disclaimer: years back I used to work on the Collins English Dictionary; I've also done work on dictionaries for Oxford. However, I haven't done any work on either for years. Most people tend to buy a dictionary and use it for years. Clearly, the publishers would like to encourage more frequent purchasing. During the 1990s there was a little 'new word' war being waged in the press releases for updated editions. There is almost no press coverage for a dictionary release without this kind of story as dictionaries tend to be dull news. Generally this means that the publishers push out the most contentious or amusing new words in the press releases, which is almost a disservice to how the new word monitoring actually works. Collins monitors a vast amount of media to track new word usage, it's actually quite a fascinating area, but that invariably fails to be covered by the press who tend to focus on one or two words from the list.

By: owtytrof

owtytrof — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 08:31:27 -0800

Meh is hella good. Just keep on dancing.

By: BozoBurgerBonanza

BozoBurgerBonanza — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:40:10 -0800

Examples given by the dictionary include "the Canadian election was so meh." As a Canadian, I am insulted by the implicatio....HOLY CRAP! An American newspaper mentioned CANADA!!! Any mention of Canada anywhere in the US media will create the anti-meh reaction(among Canadians anyway).

By: BozoBurgerBonanza

BozoBurgerBonanza — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:57:31 -0800

I BET YOU THOUGHT I WAS KIDDING!