# Sayings, idioms, and acronyms which seem to indicate the OPPOSITE of what is intended

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sayings-idioms-and-acronyms-which-seem-to-indicate-the-opposite-of-what-is-intended/1024599>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [November 5, 2025, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sayings-idioms-and-acronyms-which-seem-to-indicate-the-opposite-of-what-is-intended/1024599 "2025-11-05T14:47:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 7

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**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 2025, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sayings-idioms-and-acronyms-which-seem-to-indicate-the-opposite-of-what-is-intended/1024599/121 "2025-12-14T23:45:47Z")

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> [@Author\_Balk](#):
>
> Why do people say “you don’t say” right after the person says something? Shouldn’t they say “you just said”?

I said that to my kid the other day and it really threw him for a loop. He enjoys learning about different expressions and what they mean, but I couldn’t tell him what this one meant. My grandma says it a lot.

I guess it’s something like, “Well, that’s obvious.”

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**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 2025, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sayings-idioms-and-acronyms-which-seem-to-indicate-the-opposite-of-what-is-intended/1024599/122 "2025-12-14T23:48:34Z")

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[Mr. Webster says](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/you%20don't%20say) it’s used to express surprise, or ironically to show little surprise.

So on the ironic side, “Well, that’s obvious” fits.

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