# BTW and other Acronyms. What do they all mean? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 3, 1999, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/btw-and-other-acronyms-what-do-they-all-mean/10538 "1999-11-03T13:58:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MLAW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@MLAW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLAW)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 1999, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/btw-and-other-acronyms-what-do-they-all-mean/10538/1 "1999-11-03T13:58:00Z")
BTW = by the way. I’m new to this message board and have come across many acronyms in the messages. Some I know, some I do not. I’m sure there are a few others like me who are not familiar with them all. How about a list of the one’s you know and use? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Donj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Donj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donj)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 1999, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/btw-and-other-acronyms-what-do-they-all-mean/10538/2 "1999-11-03T14:13:00Z")
wtf = What the F\*\*\* ty = Thank you ttyl = Talk to ya Later ttys = Talk to ya Soon wb = welcome back lol = laughing out loud rofl = rolling on floor laughing roflmao = rolling on floor laughing my ass off These are a few I use, I dont want to hog all of them. –Donj ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 1999, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/btw-and-other-acronyms-what-do-they-all-mean/10538/3 "1999-11-03T14:28:00Z")
IIRC - If I recall correctly IRL - In real life IMO - in my opinion IMVOHFO - in my very own humble f\*\*king opinion (sorry, couldn’t resist) 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 1999, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/btw-and-other-acronyms-what-do-they-all-mean/10538/4 "1999-11-03T14:29:00Z")
Just plug “TLA” or “emoticon” into your search engine, and you’ll come up with lots of links showing you all sorts of emoticons and TLA’s (three-letter abbreviations, although, some are longer). ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 1999, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/btw-and-other-acronyms-what-do-they-all-mean/10538/5 "1999-11-03T14:50:00Z")
GIDRKWTS,FOFY! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![CanadianSue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@CanadianSue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanadianSue)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 1999, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/btw-and-other-acronyms-what-do-they-all-mean/10538/6 "1999-11-03T14:51:00Z")
ncto = now cut that out * * * We are, each of us angels with only one wing; and we can only fly by embracing one another ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 1999, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/btw-and-other-acronyms-what-do-they-all-mean/10538/7 "1999-11-03T15:27:00Z")
Here’s a link to a thread in the “About this Message Board” forum. [http://www.straightdope.com/ubb/Forum2/HTML/000096.html](http://www.straightdope.com/ubb/Forum2/HTML/000096.html) * * * **Dopeler effect:** The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 1999, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/btw-and-other-acronyms-what-do-they-all-mean/10538/8 "1999-11-03T15:31:00Z")
Did anyone interpret my thingie? ---
**Author:** ![Moonshine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5e9695/32.png) [@Moonshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonshine)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 1999, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/btw-and-other-acronyms-what-do-they-all-mean/10538/9 "1999-11-03T15:48:00Z")
Am i the only one that always thought “ttys” was just a rude typo? ---
**Author:** ![Mullinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@Mullinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mullinator)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 1999, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/btw-and-other-acronyms-what-do-they-all-mean/10538/10 "1999-11-03T15:53:00Z")
Interpreting that could be a thread of its own, Orangecakes. * * * Well, shut my mouth. It’s also illegal to put squirrels down your pants for the purposes of gambling. ---
**Author:** ![Sealemon88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Sealemon88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sealemon88)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 1999, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/btw-and-other-acronyms-what-do-they-all-mean/10538/11 "1999-11-04T06:53:00Z")
> [@](#): > > GIDRKWTS,FOFY OK, I think the part before the comma was God I Don’t Really Know What To Say. I think the part after the comma means For Often Felchers Yak. OK, I have _no_ idea what the part after the comma means. * * * You say “cheesy” like that’s a **BAD** thing. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 1999, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/btw-and-other-acronyms-what-do-they-all-mean/10538/12 "1999-11-04T06:56:00Z")
Seale, Right,except the first word was Gee. fofy is find out for yourself! st! ---
**Author:** ![Sylence](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b19c9b/32.png) [@Sylence](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylence)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 1999, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/btw-and-other-acronyms-what-do-they-all-mean/10538/13 "1999-11-03T19:56:00Z")
For often felchers. . . FOCLMAO!\* - Falling off chair laughing my ass off. – Sylence * * * And now, for my next trick, I will talk in spooky half-references. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 1999, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/btw-and-other-acronyms-what-do-they-all-mean/10538/14 "1999-11-04T03:16:00Z")
[Click here for Acronyms](http://fathom.org/teemingmillions/acronyms.html) * * * Your Official Cat Goddess since 10/20/99. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 1999, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/btw-and-other-acronyms-what-do-they-all-mean/10538/15 "1999-11-04T19:21:00Z")
I’m still trying to figure out YMMV, though? “Yak Milk Makes Vitamins”? “You Make Me Vomit”? “Yodel Me Many Verses”? ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 1999, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/btw-and-other-acronyms-what-do-they-all-mean/10538/16 "1999-11-04T21:51:00Z")
The proper designation for TLA’s that are longer than three letters is ETLA, or Extended Three Letter Acronym. See also: ALPOA: Another Long Pointlessly Obscure Acronym. \

**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 1999, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/btw-and-other-acronyms-what-do-they-all-mean/10538/17 "1999-11-04T21:59:00Z") Your Mileage May Vary ---

**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 1999, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/btw-and-other-acronyms-what-do-they-all-mean/10538/18 "1999-11-04T22:15:00Z")
I kind of like, “You Make Me Vomit.” Who do we talk to about getting it changed? * * * **Dopeler effect:** The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly. ---
**Author:** ![Sycorax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@Sycorax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sycorax)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 1999, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/btw-and-other-acronyms-what-do-they-all-mean/10538/19 "1999-11-05T03:53:00Z")
This thread has been useful – I’ve had trouble with some of the ABBREVIATIONS too. BTW, as a writer and editor, I feel compelled to point out that most of these are not acronyms. An acronym can be (and usually is) used as a word - e.g., KISS (keep it simple stupid). When you say BTW, you say B-T-W.