# First usage of "...so THAT just happenned"?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-usage-of-so-that-just-happenned/960791>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 10, 2022, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-usage-of-so-that-just-happenned/960791 "2022-03-10T04:34:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![moses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/278dde/32.png) [@moses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moses)\
**Post date:** [March 10, 2022, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-usage-of-so-that-just-happenned/960791/1 "2022-03-10T04:34:39Z")

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What the title says; first documented use of the expression. Please.

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**Author:** ![superwombat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superwombat/32/16616_2.png) [@superwombat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/superwombat)\
**Post date:** [March 10, 2022, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-usage-of-so-that-just-happenned/960791/2 "2022-03-10T05:48:48Z")

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> The expression “yeah, that just happened” has also been employed as a nonplussed reaction to an unbelievable or absurd experience. According to a post on Metafilter,[[2]](https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/that-happened#fn2) the earliest known use of the phrase in this context comes from the 2000 comedy film _State and Main_ .

From:  
[That Happened | Know Your Meme](https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/that-happened)

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**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2022, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-usage-of-so-that-just-happenned/960791/3 "2022-03-11T04:25:14Z")

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I would have thought it was a Chadlerism.

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**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\
**Post date:** [March 13, 2022, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-usage-of-so-that-just-happenned/960791/4 "2022-03-13T02:53:47Z")

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> [@superwombat](#):
>
> nonplussed reaction

They mean the opposite of a nonplussed reaction.

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**Author:** ![Hatchie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hatchie/32/3983_2.png) [@Hatchie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatchie)\
**Post date:** [March 13, 2022, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-usage-of-so-that-just-happenned/960791/5 "2022-03-13T06:20:26Z")

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I would think nonplussed is right, if the word means what I think it means. And I don’t know what a Chadlerism is. Google turns up zilcho.

What I really wanted to say was, if it’s true that State and Main was the source of “that happened” as a deadpan reaction to some huge occurrence, I worked as a projectionist at a cinema where David Mamet had a preview screening for his friends of his latest film, State and Main, so you might say I started the whole thing, you’re welcome.

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**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\
**Post date:** [March 13, 2022, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-usage-of-so-that-just-happenned/960791/6 "2022-03-13T06:25:02Z")

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> [@Hatchie](#):
>
> And I don’t know what a Chadlerism is.

Chandler. From _Friends_.