# 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:** 2
**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:** [May 22, 2003, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meh/176836/21 "2003-05-22T21:08:26Z")
See people! That’s why we should vote for **Polycarp/Esprix** in 2004! Simply having a command of the English (Americanized) language puts them lightyears ahead of the competition! As for the OP, I make snffing noises in an offhand, bordering on impolite, manner. 🙂 ---
**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, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meh/176836/22 "2003-05-22T21:40:55Z")
“ **Polycarp** / **Esprix** 2004 - We’re All About Being Grammar Nazis.” I love it! Esprix ---
**Author:** ![Wilson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@Wilson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wilson)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meh/176836/23 "2003-05-22T21:41:29Z")
I prefer “What are you, a moron?” It leaves less room for interpretation. ---
**Author:** ![teleute12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@teleute12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teleute12)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meh/176836/24 "2003-05-23T01:23:03Z")
I use “ig” to convey general displeasement, boredom, and digust (usually in myself). Works for me. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meh/176836/25 "2003-05-23T03:05:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cowgirl \* > \*\*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.” \*\* Actually, “snuh” (or more properly “SNUH”) is an inside joke on _The Simpsons_. In the episode when Marge tried to get “Itchy and Scratchy” banned, SNUH was the name of her activist organization. It stands for [Springfieldians for Non-Violence, Helping and Understanding](http://www.snpp.com/guides/lisa-1.html#1.2). Ever since, the writers have [thrown in random “snuh” references](http://www.geocities.com/buhsnuh/snuhfaq.html) without mentioning the source. OK, I’m going to stop being such a Simpsons nerd now. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meh/176836/26 "2003-05-23T03:21:02Z")
Please, don’t take away the method of converse that we (husband, friends, and I) use! If you met us, you’d probably learn to interpret what we meant easily, we use tone of voice and expression. It’s a subtler form of communication, that takes sharper ears, and better listening skills to learn. We’ve “translated” until new friends got the hang of it before. Sometimes there just aren’t words intially, but tone of voice, expression, and sounds used convey worlds of meaning. We’ve conveyed almost an entire conversation with a few sounds. Sometimes we use this method to convey information we don’t want everyone to hear, but not usually. It’s a type of conversational “spice” or “garnish”. It’s possible to have a meaningful conversation without onomatopoeia, but IMO it would be boring to completely leave it out of all converse. No, I don’t use it when in a formal conversation. However, it can be used in a formal setting to let your spouse know not to tell something private quickly, efficiently, and with grace. If onomatopoeia is not a way you choose to express youself that’s fine. However, many people do choose to use it to some degree. To each their own. Here’s a glimpse at how we use it. My husband, our friends, and I use Gra, Grar, Bah, Buh, Ack, Ick, Argh, Eh, Neh, Eehhhhh, Nngnawng-gnawng, Gnawng, and Wha to name a few. 😃 Ish is our friend’s invention. Gra=slightly frustrated exclamation to do with unexpected/uncontrollable circumstances Grar=Really peeved at unexeptected very annoying circumstances Bah=annoyed disagreement, “You’re full of shit”, disgruntlement, hopeless frustration, disappointment, peevishness, exasperation Buh= I don’t really know or care Ack=This sucks, alarmed sympathy, alarmed frustration, can be a milder form of Bah Ick=This sucks, I sympathize Argh=frustration, annoyed resignation Eh=Not really, an expression of nuetraltity, I really don’t care enough to say one way or the other, sometimes leaning slightly towards the positive side, (As in do you want to go eat at McDonald’s?") Neh(More my phrase than his, revenge is sweet)=Not really, an expression of nuetrality, I really don’t care enough to say one way or the other, leaning towards the negative side (As in “Do you want to go see friends?”) Eehhhhh(said in a suprised upscaling tone)=disbelief, Is this really true?, I’m taken aback Nngnawng-gnawng (it sounds something like gnaw with an ng sound added at the end, say an “n” sound first)= mock severity, mock ferocity, playful threat to nibble (show your feline fangs as you say it) Gnawng(click your fangs to end this phrase)=Ok, I’m done playing, and am getting slightly annoyed now, a mock severe way of saying I really mean it, don’t argue with this one. (Both of these are my phrases, I’m a little thing, and he’s this tall, long, slender creature who likes to say things like “You poor little thing!” while reaching down to pat me on the head. I often reply with a “Gnawng” or a “Nnawng-gnawng” to show I’m just as fearsome as he is. I use these exclusively with my husband.) Wha=freaked out way of asking “Who, what, when, where, why, and how?” Ish=a playful way of reiterating what you just said, sometimes a way of arguing/scolding/trying to get your way: “Is not!” “Ish” “Is not!!” “Ish,ish,ish,ish,ish!” (Usually finger shaking goes along with this.) Sometimes this is used as a “hush” too. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meh/176836/27 "2003-05-23T03:30:06Z")
I like “meh” and use it in real life all the time. Other faves include the aforementioned “pshaw” and the vastly under-rated “poppycock.” ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meh/176836/28 "2003-05-23T03:54:42Z")
> [@](#): > > And the correct term would be “onomatopoetic,” no? Actually this thread is more interjectional than anything. But on the subject of onomatopoeia, I’ve never liked “Thwap!” Happy ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meh/176836/29 "2003-05-23T03:57:00Z")
LOL good one, Happy Lendervedder. Yeah, your right, it’s more about nonsensical interjections than onomatopoeia. 😛 ---
**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:** [May 23, 2003, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meh/176836/30 "2003-05-23T04:00:37Z")
_ **BAMF!** _ Now _that’s_ onomatopoeia! ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meh/176836/31 "2003-05-23T04:10:10Z")
I fucking HATE “erm.” Who the hell says _that_ in the real world?!?!?!?! “Ummm,” yes. “Ahhhhh,” yes. But “ERM”??? I’d like to “erm” someone right in the kisser if I ever heard it in the real world! _KAPOW!_ ---
**Author:** ![RexDart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b77776/32.png) [@RexDart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RexDart)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meh/176836/32 "2003-05-23T05:04:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Aglet \* > \*\* > “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. \*\* Exactly. That’s why I love “meh”. When somebody raises a stink about something, whines in the pit, and you think they’re blowing the problem out of proportion, “meh” says it all. It’s dismissive and arrogant, and belittles the original poster’s concerns. “Meh” is a great message board reply. That said, I would find it a little annoying in GD. And I can’t believe nobody went with the obligatory “meh” response to this OP. ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meh/176836/33 "2003-05-23T07:33:41Z")
Guh? ---
**Author:** ![bifar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@bifar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bifar)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meh/176836/34 "2003-05-23T10:46:20Z")
[quote] I fucking HATE “erm.” Who the hell says that in the real world?!?!?!?! / [quote] Never been to Liverpool, then? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![sajwalke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/edb3f5/32.png) [@sajwalke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sajwalke)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meh/176836/35 "2003-05-23T10:51:42Z")
Meh is a great word! It’s got me through a lot of exam stress. Whenever I start feeling “oh my god I’m gonna FAIL!” I just say “meh”, and feel apathy’s sweet embrace. Great to calm the nerves. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meh/176836/36 "2003-05-23T10:56:24Z")
You mean like MWAH hA hA? puting the mw sound before the laugh reeks of ridicule. (I could swear I just had the feeling that all my letters were going to fall over) fah? ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meh/176836/37 "2003-05-23T11:39:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bifar \* > \*\*Never been to Liverpool, then? 🙂 \*\* Erm…no. D’oh! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meh/176836/38 "2003-05-23T11:44:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LolaCocaCola \* > \*\*Erm…no. > > D’oh! > > :smack: \*\* It’s actually more widespread than liverpool. I am willing to bet it is all over Britain (at least) I use it to indicate that I am thinking (a bit like the clicking of the hard drive) The scousers pronounce it very differently though. they say “iiiem” (like saying ‘in’ but prolonging the ‘i’ and with a ‘m’ instead of a ‘n’) ---
**Author:** ![Mac\_Guffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Mac\_Guffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mac_Guffin)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meh/176836/39 "2003-05-23T11:47:22Z")
Gah. ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meh/176836/40 "2003-05-23T12:55:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Pollo Boyo \* > \*\*“Whatever” gets my underwear in a chafing knot. I mean, what kind of response is that? \*\* I despise that word. People say it a) when they know they’re wrong and don’t want to admit it and b) when they don’t have an intelligent argument or witty comeback. The word is, IMO, a cop-out. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meh/176836.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meh/176836.md?page=3)