# Do what? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 24, 2006, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-what/361985 "2006-06-24T15:22:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2006, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-what/361985/1 "2006-06-24T15:22:00Z")
When somebody has said something you didn’t quite hear or didn’t really understand, are you more likely to say: 1. Huh? 2. Excuse me? 3. Say again? 4. I’m sorry? 5. What was that? 6. Beg pardon? 7. Would you mind repeating that? 8. \ (please specify) ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2006, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-what/361985/2 "2006-06-24T15:22:48Z")
1. Come again, please? ---
**Author:** ![Dusty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@Dusty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dusty)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2006, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-what/361985/3 "2006-06-24T15:29:04Z")
Combination of 4 and 5: I’m sorry, what was that? ---
**Author:** ![mrald](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3da27b/32.png) [@mrald](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrald)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2006, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-what/361985/4 "2006-06-24T15:38:03Z")
1. What was that? Or my annoying fave, 8. DO HUH? ---
**Author:** ![Khan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3ab097/32.png) [@Khan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khan)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2006, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-what/361985/5 "2006-06-24T15:44:41Z")
8.) What? ---
**Author:** ![Nic2004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4491bb/32.png) [@Nic2004](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nic2004)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2006, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-what/361985/6 "2006-06-24T15:45:32Z")
1. Huh? If I feel they are being condescending. 2. Excuse me? If I’m politely asking to repeat 3. Say again? If I feel it was a slur 4. I’m sorry? If I’m being difficult 5. What was that? If I suspect it was a hostile statement 6. Beg pardon? If I’m likely to take umbrage. 7. Would you mind repeating that? Read: Say that to my face, MF So, all in all, it kinda depends. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2006, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-what/361985/7 "2006-06-24T15:51:53Z")
> [@Nic2004](#): > > 1. Huh? If I feel they are being condescending. > 2. Excuse me? If I’m politely asking to repeat > 3. Say again? If I feel it was a slur > 4. I’m sorry? If I’m being difficult > 5. What was that? If I suspect it was a hostile statement > 6. Beg pardon? If I’m likely to take umbrage. > 7. Would you mind repeating that? Read: Say that to my face, MF > > So, all in all, it kinda depends. Excellent reply. I agree that it varies depending on circumstance and perceived intention(s) of the other person’s utterance. ADDITIONAL QUERY TO OP: Is there something you hear others use that you almost never use yourself in the “I didn’t hear that” or “I don’t understand you” situation? ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2006, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-what/361985/8 "2006-06-24T15:55:12Z")
“what” or “huh?” if informal (say, husband and I talking) “I’m sorry…?” or “sorry, didn’t catch that” if more formal, like work ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2006, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-what/361985/9 "2006-06-24T16:04:01Z")
One of my faves is “Who shot who in the what now?” Usually, though, I just say, “Sorry, what was that?” ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2006, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-what/361985/10 "2006-06-24T16:07:10Z")
> [@Podkayne](#): > > One of my faves is “Who shot who in the what now?” > > Usually, though, I just say, “Sorry, what was that?” Excellent. I had an uncle who always said, “Shot who the razor?” ---
**Author:** ![nivlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@nivlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nivlac)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2006, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-what/361985/11 "2006-06-24T16:36:39Z")
Actually this happens all the time since I work with a lot of colleagues whose first language is not English. Usually I would politely say: (1) “I’m sorry. Can you say that again?”, or (2) “I didn’t catch that. Can you repeat?” ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2006, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-what/361985/12 "2006-06-24T16:40:10Z")
Do what? Doot doo ditty Talkin bout the boy from New York City ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2006, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-what/361985/13 "2006-06-24T16:43:02Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > Do what? > > Doot doo ditty > > Talkin bout the boy from New York City That had better be a rap. If not, make it one. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2006, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-what/361985/14 "2006-06-24T16:49:02Z")
I have one of those brains that tend to make sense even when there is none to make. So, when I mishear my fiancé, I repeat what I _think_ I heard, with a little weirdness added on purpose. **He** : mumble mumble I saw Doreen and she said their mortgage came through **Me** : Eh? Dory mourns canine does? ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Bruin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Queen\_Bruin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Bruin)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2006, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-what/361985/15 "2006-06-24T16:50:53Z")
“You did what to who for how many marshmallows?” An old middle school standard. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2006, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-what/361985/16 "2006-06-24T16:55:07Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > That had better be a rap. If not, make it one. It’s Manhattan Transfer’s old song. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2006, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-what/361985/17 "2006-06-24T16:57:47Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > That had better be a rap. If not, make it one. [Lyrics](http://www.lyricstime.com/manhattan-transfer-boy-from-new-york-city-lyrics.html) Sometimes I feel so damn old. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2006, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-what/361985/18 "2006-06-24T16:59:32Z")
“Were you talking to me? 'Cause I didn’t hear it.” “I must have mis-heard you. You didn’t offer to sell me a 'possum, did you?” ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2006, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-what/361985/19 "2006-06-24T17:13:54Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > [Lyrics](http://www.lyricstime.com/manhattan-transfer-boy-from-new-york-city-lyrics.html) > > Sometimes I feel so damn old. Righteous. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2006, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-what/361985/20 "2006-06-24T17:20:38Z")
"Who shot who in the what now? or “The what what?” with friends. Usually it’s “I’m sorry” or “I didn’t catch that” at work. I’m excessively polite/apologetic sometimes. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-what/361985.md?page=2)