# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![HelloKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecccb3/32.png) [@HelloKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelloKitty)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2006, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-what/361985/21 "2006-06-24T17:59:13Z")
I always say “What was that…?” or “Say what…?” I’m trying to stop though because I think it’s kinda rude. I think it would be better for me to say the more dignified “Sorry, what did you say?” Seems more polite. But habits are hard to break!! ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2006, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-what/361985/22 "2006-06-25T02:35:34Z")
> [@Kythereia](#): > > 1. Come again, please? Easier said than done, buddy. Seriously though, I say “Sorry?” Happens a lot on the phone, I don’t know why. ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2006, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-what/361985/23 "2006-06-25T02:47:22Z")
A couple of years ago, all the kids were saying “Wha’ happened?” I think that’s pretty much over now. Good thing, because it was stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Roland\_Orzabal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@Roland\_Orzabal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roland_Orzabal)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2006, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-what/361985/24 "2006-06-25T06:58:55Z")
The title of the thread is the answer to the question. Now that I think about it, though, if I’m incredulous about what the person said – as opposed to having trouble understanding the words themselves – I’ll append a “now” to the phrase. Thus: “Do what?” 😕 “Do what now?” :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![AngelicGemma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2006, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-what/361985/25 "2006-06-25T09:41:30Z")
I just say - pardon? ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2006, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-what/361985/26 "2006-06-25T10:37:22Z")
> [@AngelicGemma](#): > > I just say - > > pardon? Me too. If I’m not wretchedly tired. If I am, it’s “WHAT??” ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2006, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-what/361985/27 "2006-06-25T11:08:23Z")
To my patients: “I’m sorry, I didn’t quite catch that, would you mind saying it again, please?” To my friends-" Sorry, I missed that, what were you saying?" To my husband-“Say it again Sam!” It’s a “bit” we do because I space out so often. ---
**Author:** ![blinkingblinking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@blinkingblinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blinkingblinking)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2006, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-what/361985/28 "2006-06-25T11:41:58Z")
People who say "Beg yours’. I think this is an ‘Australianism’. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2006, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-what/361985/29 "2006-06-25T11:46:59Z")
1. ---
**Author:** ![Stillwell\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/96bed5/32.png) [@Stillwell\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stillwell_Angel)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2006, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-what/361985/30 "2006-06-25T11:50:50Z")
You did what to who’s cat? (must give credit for that to my co-worker, had never heard it until I met her) ---
**Author:** ![Campion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@Campion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Campion)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2006, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-what/361985/31 "2006-06-25T16:17:14Z")
The informal is, “do what?” The formal is, “pardon me (or excuse me), I didn’t catch that.” To my secretary, it’s “what was that again? I CAN’T HEAR YOU!!!” Bellowed, because for some reason we both refuse to use the intercom on our desks and prefer instead simply to yell at each other. I am told that my coworkers _love_ that about us. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2006, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-what/361985/32 "2006-06-25T16:25:20Z")
8a) Howzat? 8a.1) Howzat again? 8b) Run that by me again? (usually pron. “Runnatbymegin?”) ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2006, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-what/361985/33 "2006-06-25T16:27:22Z")
Oh yeah…Cincinnatians say, “Please?” ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2006, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-what/361985/34 "2006-06-26T02:15:51Z")
1. Excuse me? **If I think they’re being jerks** 2. Say **that \*\* again?** when I truly didn’t hear them\*\* 3. I’m sorry? **I use this the most.** ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2006, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-what/361985/35 "2006-06-26T03:40:14Z")
Sorry? or Excuse me? Occasionally, if I’m annoyed, it’s…Could you please repeat yourself, you were mumbling ---
**Author:** ![Ensign\_Edison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ab992/32.png) [@Ensign\_Edison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ensign_Edison)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2006, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-what/361985/36 "2006-06-26T03:45:02Z")
I can’t abide “huh?” and cringe to hear myself ever saying it. “I’m sorry, what was that?” (Or either half of this) “Could you repeat that, please?” Sometimes I won’t say anything, just indicate by expression and gesturing at my ear. If I know damn well what you said and I’m not happy about it, it’s “What did you just say?” ---
**Author:** ![MizGrand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cdc98d/32.png) [@MizGrand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MizGrand)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2006, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-what/361985/37 "2006-06-26T13:26:13Z")
If I’m not understanding when people talk I usually point out that I’m a bit hard-of-hearing. This usually helps vastly. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2006, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-what/361985/38 "2006-06-26T13:42:33Z")
If I’m with the family, “¿Mandeloqué?” which would be something like the country-bumpkin, run-together version of “sorry, what did you say?” With English-speaking friends, “mindsa’in’atagain?” And in polite company, either “sorry, I didn’t understand that, could you repeat please?” or its Spanish equivalent. If they were talking too fast I’ll specify “… repeat more slowly…” I’ve been told I can “pass” as American so long as I’m not overtired. I didn’t quite believe it until that run-in with a server at my company’s cafeteria, who wouldn’t believe I didn’t know what “Okrah” was and needed her to point it for me. Sometimes I do understand the sounds, I just have no idea what they _mean_. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2006, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-what/361985/39 "2006-06-26T13:43:02Z")
Do what? At work. Shot who? At home. Que? Everywhere else. ---
**Author:** ![theunfounddoor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@theunfounddoor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/theunfounddoor)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2006, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-what/361985/40 "2006-06-27T13:04:12Z")
“Your what hurts?” or simply “What?” with friends “I’m sorry?” or “Could you repeat that?” when at work. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-what/361985.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-what/361985.md?page=3)