# Please define "Snap" for the tragically unhip... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 30, 2006, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-define-snap-for-the-tragically-unhip/350507 "2006-03-30T04:31:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-define-snap-for-the-tragically-unhip/350507/1 "2006-03-30T04:31:44Z")
In recent months I’ve become aware of the phrase “ooooh! SNAP!” which seems to mean… something. I’m so pathetically unaware of current pop culture that it’s not surprising that I’m lost… but…help a girl out, please? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-define-snap-for-the-tragically-unhip/350507/2 "2006-03-30T04:33:10Z")
I don’t know where it came from, but it’s a nicer way of saying, “Aw, shit.” I guess, for when you’re with Gramma or something. ---
**Author:** ![Spatial\_Rift\_47](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@Spatial\_Rift\_47](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spatial_Rift_47)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-define-snap-for-the-tragically-unhip/350507/3 "2006-03-30T04:35:15Z")
It’s used to indicate a zinger, e.g.: “Man, this really sucks.” “Your _mom_ sucks! Ohhh, SNAP!” ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-define-snap-for-the-tragically-unhip/350507/4 "2006-03-30T04:35:19Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > I don’t know where it came from, but it’s a nicer way of saying, “Aw, shit.” Huh. That isn’t how it seemed to me… it seemed like it had more of an accusation/sting/burn kind of thing going? Dunno… Now I have to go reevaluate everything I’ve heard for months!!! ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-define-snap-for-the-tragically-unhip/350507/5 "2006-03-30T04:38:00Z")
It’s used in both contexts. Snap was my uncle’s nickname when he played high school and college ball. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-define-snap-for-the-tragically-unhip/350507/6 "2006-03-30T04:43:13Z")
Previous GQ thread: > **["Oh, Snap!" ?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=364765)** > > Where’s this phrase from? It seems to have snuck up on me; just suddenly many people are using it. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-define-snap-for-the-tragically-unhip/350507/7 "2006-03-30T04:52:29Z")
oooh thanks 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-define-snap-for-the-tragically-unhip/350507/8 "2006-03-30T05:30:48Z")
> [@OpalCat](#): > > In recent months I’ve become aware of the phrase “ooooh! SNAP!” which seems to mean… something. I’m so pathetically unaware of current pop culture that it’s not surprising that I’m lost… but…help a girl out, please? It means you just pwn3d someone. ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-define-snap-for-the-tragically-unhip/350507/9 "2006-03-30T05:46:07Z")
[The Urban Dictionary](http://www.urbandictionary.com/) is always usefull when you don’t know what [oh snap](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=oh+snap),[crunk](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=crunk), [skeet](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=skeet), or [pwn3d](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=pwn3d) means. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-define-snap-for-the-tragically-unhip/350507/10 "2006-03-30T05:58:02Z")
It’s the same as licking your finger and voicing _The Burn_, “SSSSSssssss(izzle)!”, ---
**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:** [March 30, 2006, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-define-snap-for-the-tragically-unhip/350507/11 "2006-03-30T17:28:22Z")
People still say that? I was under the impression it was out of favor nowadays, much like “phat” and “tight”. I’ve said it once or twice just because it sounds funny coming from a semi-geeky white guy, but it seems I may have come dangerously close to an acceptable use of vernacular. Oh, well. Back to my stack of Star Wars novels then. ---
**Author:** ![Cerowyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/82dd89/32.png) [@Cerowyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerowyn)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-define-snap-for-the-tragically-unhip/350507/12 "2006-03-30T18:03:32Z")
At a Boy Scout camp with my sons last weekend, I heard two of the kids agreeing that something was “sick” (as in “good”). How’s that for out of date? I guess some parts of society are a little slow getting the update sheets. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cerowyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/82dd89/32.png) [@Cerowyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerowyn)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-define-snap-for-the-tragically-unhip/350507/13 "2006-03-30T18:05:58Z")
Oh, and **Opal** , it’s [_Tragically_ Hip](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE4721CD249AC7F20C7972D4BDEAD7DD20ED342F38250234558C0E36219A13F5CF209E9DAD2B2FA6AB679AFF962A5500FD7C0EA50ECBC1B&sql=11:62o7gjurj6ip~T1). 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-define-snap-for-the-tragically-unhip/350507/14 "2006-03-30T19:05:20Z")
> [@OpalCat](#): > > Huh. That isn’t how it seemed to me… it seemed like it had more of an accusation/sting/burn kind of thing going? Dunno… > > Now I have to go reevaluate everything I’ve heard for months!!! Well, I think it can be used as both. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-define-snap-for-the-tragically-unhip/350507/15 "2006-03-30T19:39:07Z")
I think it’s resurgence may be credited to Joy from\* My Name is Earl\*. At least, that’s what’s made it popular in my house right now, much to the horror and embarrassment of my 13 year old son. ---
**Author:** ![shamrock227](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@shamrock227](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shamrock227)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-define-snap-for-the-tragically-unhip/350507/16 "2006-03-30T19:52:50Z")
Usually when I throw a zinger about a 3rd party, my one friend says “oh snap!”. To which I always reply “oh snap. I didn’t know we had been transported back to 1993!” (how this person remains my best friend is beyond me 😛 ) ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-define-snap-for-the-tragically-unhip/350507/17 "2006-03-30T20:38:05Z")
I know that it was in the Chicken Little movie last fall… ---
**Author:** ![Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runs_With_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-define-snap-for-the-tragically-unhip/350507/18 "2006-03-30T20:41:03Z")
> [@Cerowyn](#): > > At a Boy Scout camp with my sons last weekend, I heard two of the kids agreeing that something was “sick” (as in “good”). How’s that for out of date? I guess some parts of society are a little slow getting the update sheets. 😃 I’ve never heard it used negatively. I’ve only heard it used as “sick” or “awesome” or “cool.” Personally, I think it’s silly. I do, however, kinda like it as a replacement for shit (not that I mind that word, but snap seems funnier). ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-define-snap-for-the-tragically-unhip/350507/19 "2006-03-30T21:15:07Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > I think it’s resurgence may be credited to Joy from\* My Name is Earl\*. At least, that’s what’s made it popular in my house right now, much to the horror and embarrassment of my 13 year old son. Yes, that and the Volkswagen commercials with the German guy. “Time to un-pimp ze automobile. Oh, snap!” ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-define-snap-for-the-tragically-unhip/350507/20 "2006-03-30T21:34:08Z")
**Zoolander** _Matilda_: [Haven’t] done it in a while, yeah. _Hansel]_: OK, what’s a while, like eight days? (no answer) _Zoolander_ More? _Matilda_: (sighs) Try a couple of years. _Zoolander_: OH SNAP!!! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-define-snap-for-the-tragically-unhip/350507.md?page=2)