# Phrase abbreviations in threads (Newbie alert!) **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [June 22, 2000, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrase-abbreviations-in-threads-newbie-alert/23195 "2000-06-22T15:20:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BigGiantHead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b4bc9f/32.png) [@BigGiantHead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigGiantHead)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2000, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrase-abbreviations-in-threads-newbie-alert/23195/1 "2000-06-22T15:20:12Z")
OK, so far I’ve got: [ul] [li]FWIW = For What It’s Worth[/li][li]IM(H)O = In My (Humble) Opinion[/li][li]OTOH = On The Other Hand[/li][li]IRL = In Real Life[/li][/ul] But I haven’t figured out **IIRC**. WTF 😃 is this? Any others we "New"s should know about? ---
**Author:** ![zut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zut/32/2875_2.png) [@zut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zut)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2000, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrase-abbreviations-in-threads-newbie-alert/23195/2 "2000-06-22T16:18:11Z")
**I** f **I** **R** ecall **C** orrectly, you should check out this thread: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=2528](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=2528) which lists a whole bunch of acronyms. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2000, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrase-abbreviations-in-threads-newbie-alert/23195/3 "2000-06-22T16:27:38Z")
You can also check [NetLingo.com - the Internet Language Dictionary :^)](http://www.netlingo.com/). [The Smileys page =:-0](http://www.netlingo.com/smiley.cfm) [Chat Acronyms & Shorthand!](http://www.netlingo.com/emailsh.cfm) ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2000, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrase-abbreviations-in-threads-newbie-alert/23195/4 "2000-06-23T04:02:07Z")
Although it hasn’t been used, I think UAFSE would be an a ppropriate acronym for times like this. 5 points to whoever guesses what it stands for. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2000, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrase-abbreviations-in-threads-newbie-alert/23195/5 "2000-06-23T04:42:12Z")
I give up, **waterj2**. URYY4M. ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2000, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrase-abbreviations-in-threads-newbie-alert/23195/6 "2000-06-23T05:59:11Z")
Arnold, how many times has the question of internet and/or SDMB abbreviations come up? Or perhaps what would be the best answer to someone posting a question “Hey does anyone know where I can get some information about Sublime?” ---
**Author:** ![zut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zut/32/2875_2.png) [@zut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zut)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2000, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrase-abbreviations-in-threads-newbie-alert/23195/7 "2000-06-23T13:41:03Z")
Arnold, I think “pottymouth” **waterj2** means **U** se **A** **F** our-letter-word **S** earch **E** ngine. What are my five points good toward? ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2000, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrase-abbreviations-in-threads-newbie-alert/23195/8 "2000-06-23T15:51:20Z")
Use A F\*\*\*ing Search Engine? Or the results of that. U Always Find Something Else. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2000, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrase-abbreviations-in-threads-newbie-alert/23195/9 "2000-06-23T16:48:18Z")
I prefer to think **waterj2** meant “Use a fine search engine.” ---
**Author:** ![John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ccd318/32.png) [@John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Kentzel-Griffin)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2000, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrase-abbreviations-in-threads-newbie-alert/23195/10 "2000-06-27T17:38:12Z")
**Arnold Winkelried** said: > [@](#): > > I prefer to think **waterj2** meant “Use a fine search engine.” I’d love to use a **fine** search engine. Does this message board plan on getting one? ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2000, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrase-abbreviations-in-threads-newbie-alert/23195/11 "2000-06-27T19:18:08Z")
Actually, the “pottymouth” version is correct. Zut gets the five points. These points are redeemable at all stores for five dollars. Just explain to the cashier that you earned them, and they will automatically take five dollars off what you owe. Try it. Or, you can always simply put it in your sig for bragging rights, but that might make others jealous. Also, we will probably get a fine search engine here when the Straight Dope has enough income to hire some database programmers and stuff. When we upgrade to the next version of vBulletin, we will probably get some of the bugs in it fixed, though. ---
**Author:** ![\_slythe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/da6949/32.png) [@\_slythe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_slythe)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2000, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrase-abbreviations-in-threads-newbie-alert/23195/12 "2000-06-28T02:37:36Z")
FYN = F You Newbie. My favorite. ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2000, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrase-abbreviations-in-threads-newbie-alert/23195/13 "2000-06-28T03:46:39Z")
Wow, OBVIOUS IMPOSTER. That’s a new one. You mods never cease to amuse and impress me. ---
**Author:** ![\_dpr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/b9e5f3/32.png) [@\_dpr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_dpr)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2000, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrase-abbreviations-in-threads-newbie-alert/23195/14 "2000-06-28T07:16:19Z")
Face it waterj2, stupid people impress easily. ---
**Author:** ![zut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zut/32/2875_2.png) [@zut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zut)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2000, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrase-abbreviations-in-threads-newbie-alert/23195/15 "2000-06-28T13:57:06Z")
> [@](#): > > Actually, the “pottymouth” version is correct. Zut gets the five points. These points are redeemable at all stores for five dollars. Yay! Strawberry Squishies all 'round! ---
**Author:** ![zut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zut/32/2875_2.png) [@zut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zut)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2000, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrase-abbreviations-in-threads-newbie-alert/23195/16 "2000-06-28T13:58:42Z")
And here’s my new, on-topic sig: