# Meh **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 22, 2003, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meh/176836 "2003-05-22T16:14:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meh/176836/1 "2003-05-22T16:14:38Z")
I despise that fuckin’ onomatopoeia word. I can’t explain why but the condescending, dismissive tone just grates my nerves and elicits an irrational fury from me. I can feel the murderous rage building inside whenever I read it. For some reason, though, the similarly used “bah” doesn’t affect me the same. That is all. ---
**Author:** ![Pollo\_Boyo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a4c791/32.png) [@Pollo\_Boyo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pollo_Boyo)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meh/176836/2 "2003-05-22T16:22:19Z")
heh. 😃 Hey, I can understand that. “Whatever” gets my underwear in a chafing knot. I mean, what kind of response is that? ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meh/176836/3 "2003-05-22T16:32:31Z")
Is “Meh” really onomatopoeia? Does it sound like the thing that it’s describing (which I guess is indifference?) I think onomatopoeia is pretty much limited to things that actually make a sound. I think I disagree that “bah” is used the same way. “Bah” is more of “I disagree with you and your view is wrong”, while “Meh” seems to be a recently arisen meta-syllable describing a state of having no opinion (and no interest) whatsoever. Perhaps this is the source of your dislike – maybe you take the lack of interest personally? Actually I like “Meh” because it’s quite useful because it’s less harsh than saying “This is boring” (which reflects on the speaker) or the somewhat similar “Whatever!” (which conveys impatience and attitude as well as indifference). ---
**Author:** ![sunfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/96bed5/32.png) [@sunfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunfish)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meh/176836/4 "2003-05-22T16:44:02Z")
Is this related to “feh” in terms of expressing the feeling that “I’m not impressed” or “I couldn’t care less”? I have to admit I haven’t heard “meh” before in conversation. On the positive side of things, I really like “oof!” or (for extra emphasis) “oofah!” Those words just have a versatile je-ne-sais-quoi about them that I adore. ---
**Author:** ![Gorgon\_Heap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f475e1/32.png) [@Gorgon\_Heap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorgon_Heap)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meh/176836/5 "2003-05-22T16:49:36Z")
I usually use ‘feh’, myself. That or an unspellable grunt. When I have to dismiss something I find really offensive, I use a ‘meh’ - ‘bah’ blend with extra Klingon-ish gutterals. That usually does the trick. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meh/176836/6 "2003-05-22T16:51:01Z")
Exactly, **sunfish**. I’ve not heard “meh” in conversation either. But it is being used increasingly online. And I HATE it. Admittedly it’s an irrational hatred; but it’s there nonetheless. ---
**Author:** ![Velma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/85e7bf/32.png) [@Velma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velma)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meh/176836/7 "2003-05-22T17:04:39Z")
‘Meh’ is used all the time in conversation on **The Simpsons**. ‘Bah’ and ‘Snuh’ have also been used. I always thought that’s where the expression came from, was it around before then? Marge: Please tell me you’ll think about it. Homer: Meh M: What was that ? Was that yes or no? H: Bah M: Homer those aren’t even words. H: …snuh ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meh/176836/8 "2003-05-22T17:28:26Z")
I feel exactly the same way about “Eh.” Never heard of “meh”. I guess I’ll try to avoid picking it up! ---
**Author:** ![auntie\_em](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@auntie\_em](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auntie_em)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meh/176836/9 "2003-05-22T17:34:32Z")
Oy. ---
**Author:** ![Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meh/176836/10 "2003-05-22T17:37:01Z")
Bah. ---
**Author:** ![Vixenation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/278dde/32.png) [@Vixenation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vixenation)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meh/176836/11 "2003-05-22T17:44:36Z")
I hate ‘meh’. It reminds me of pretentious Seinfeld-speak. But ranking No. 1 on my list of hated phrases is “umm, ok” or “oooooookaaaaaaaay”. It gets used all too frequently by people of lesser intelligence that can’t really grasp what someone more intelligent is saying, and it’s very condescending without reason. If someone says something quite strange, it’s acceptable to say. Not when someone says something you just don’t get. ---
**Author:** ![Horrifying\_Howler\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/df788c/32.png) [@Horrifying\_Howler\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horrifying_Howler_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meh/176836/12 "2003-05-22T18:00:55Z")
Buh. (My brother says that all the time. Hate it) ---
**Author:** ![Encinitas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Encinitas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Encinitas)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meh/176836/13 "2003-05-22T18:04:33Z")
Let us encourage posters to avoid these annoying words by promoting more colorful language. How about “pshaw” instead of “meh”? ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meh/176836/14 "2003-05-22T18:22:08Z")
Hate the “meh”. Love the “feh.” I don’t use it nearly enough. In my entire life, the “meh” has never once been used in conversation. It sounds like someone smothering in a vat of raisins. To me. ---
**Author:** ![Greywolf73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d9b06d/32.png) [@Greywolf73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greywolf73)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meh/176836/15 "2003-05-22T19:18:00Z")
I’m a “feh” fan myself. “Meh” just doesn’t convey my apathy nearly as well. While we are on the topic of hated words, I have to say I despise the word “anyhoo” It’s anyhow. AnyHOW. Not Hoo. Arggh. ---
**Author:** ![Velma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/85e7bf/32.png) [@Velma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velma)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meh/176836/16 "2003-05-22T19:32:59Z")
‘Feh’ sounds more like disgust to me than apathy. ‘Buh’ sounds like something went over your head. ‘Snuh’ is avoiding a question. ‘Meh’ is more apathetic, like ‘Eh.’ “You really were rude to that guy.” “Eh, I don’t care.” or, “Meh.” “You will apologize to him, right?” “Snuh.” ---
**Author:** ![cowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meh/176836/17 "2003-05-22T19:36:13Z")
I like “Snuh.” I may be remembering it improperly but as I recall it was used on the Simpsons to mean “I know the answer you want to hear, and I’d really like it if that _was_ the answer, but it’s not, and I don’t want to lie to you.” As in: Marge: “Homer, did you eat this entire pan of brownies?” Homer: “… snuh” Nice and non-commital, and unlike “meh” it’s a bit self-deprecating. ---
**Author:** ![Aglet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aca169/32.png) [@Aglet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aglet)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meh/176836/18 "2003-05-22T19:49:08Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by **Pollo Boyo** : “Whatever” gets my underwear in a chafing knot. I mean, what kind of response is that? Use of the word “whatever” in the context I am thinking of also gets my panties in a bunch. I have found the “Whatever” response to indicate: “Whatever else you say has no meaning to me because I choose not to listen to anything that will open my mind or make me think otherwise than I am currently thinking.” It is dismissive and rude, and usually elicits the reaction of an equally dismissive but much less rude mental snort on my part. “Meh” does seem apathetic to me, as if the topic at hand is of such little concern to the “Meh-er” that he/she can’t even be bothered to muster up the energy to use a more expressive phrase. This, to me, is sometimes appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meh/176836/19 "2003-05-22T20:09:29Z")
I prefer “pish-tosh” myself, but then I’m a big fuckin’ homo. 😃 I see it thusly: [ul][li]Meh - no opinion, or at least I don’t agree with yours[/li][li]Bah - your opinion is flawed[/li][li]Whatever (with accompanying :rolleyes: ) - your opinion is wrong, but I don’t feel like arguing with you[/li][li]Feh - I don’t care for you[/li][li]Eh - Your opinion is ok, even if I disagree with it[/ul][/li] And the correct term would be “onomatopoetic,” no? 😉 Esprix ---
**Author:** ![Vixenation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/278dde/32.png) [@Vixenation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vixenation)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meh/176836/20 "2003-05-22T20:35:23Z")
My ex-boyfriend used “bah” as a general word to say when he had nothing to contribute, heard something that displeased him, or didn’t want to answer a statement. Examples: 1. Me: So, yeah…it’s cloudy outside. BF: Bah. 2. Me: They canceled your favorite show. BF: Bah. 3. Me: _in front of his buddies_ I love you. BF: _slightly more softly_ Bah… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meh/176836.md?page=2)