# "Snarky" has jumped the snark...er...shark **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 19, 2003, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snarky-has-jumped-the-snark-er-shark/156201 "2003-02-19T20:37:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snarky-has-jumped-the-snark-er-shark/156201/21 "2003-02-20T08:22:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kat \* > \*\*I would be perfectly happy to stop using “snarky” provided you supply me with another word to substitute that conveys the same meaning. \*\* Pick one: touchy testy jerky rude crotchety obnoxious cantankerous irritable angry huffy surly crabby Sleepy, Dopey, Doc…wait, what was I doing? ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snarky-has-jumped-the-snark-er-shark/156201/22 "2003-02-20T14:42:05Z")
It’s more like “bitingly sarcastic” in modern usage. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snarky-has-jumped-the-snark-er-shark/156201/23 "2003-02-20T14:47:37Z")
I used to be snarky, but then I got much worse. Now I’m boojumy, you see. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![FordPrefect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@FordPrefect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordPrefect)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snarky-has-jumped-the-snark-er-shark/156201/24 "2003-02-20T15:20:52Z")
What makes me snarky is the use of the word “veggies” Now that is fucking annoying. ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snarky-has-jumped-the-snark-er-shark/156201/25 "2003-02-20T18:00:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FordPrefect \* > \*\*What makes me snarky is the use of the word “veggies” > > Now that is fucking annoying. \*\* Or even worse, when they spell it wrong, i.e. “vegges”:rolleyes: I tell ya’, that really snarks my vegges. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snarky-has-jumped-the-snark-er-shark/156201/26 "2003-02-20T20:01:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FordPrefect \* > \*\*What makes me snarky is the use of the word “veggies” > > Now that is fucking annoying. \*\* Why? (asked in a curious, not snide way). ---
**Author:** ![FordPrefect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@FordPrefect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordPrefect)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snarky-has-jumped-the-snark-er-shark/156201/27 "2003-02-20T22:42:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by blowero \* > \*\*Or even worse, when they spell it wrong, i.e. “vegges”:rolleyes: > > I tell ya’, that really snarks my vegges. \*\* **blowero** according to the Cambridge online dictionary, you are [wrong](http://dictionary.cambridge.org/results.asp?searchword=veggies) Now I get to :rolleyes: back at you 🙂 **CanvasShoes** I don’t know why it bugs me, but it drives me completely bonkers. I am not a opposed to slang, or funny names for things. For example, my wife and I call crepes “creepies” just to be silly. The only reason I can think of is that my uncle, whom I cannot stand anymore since we worked together for 7 years, always used it. Maybe it was the smug, assholish-way he would roll that word about - almost as if he invented it - that ruined it for me. I dunno, but it is an instinctive reaction, just like how I salivate when I smell jalapeno (sp?) peppers. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snarky-has-jumped-the-snark-er-shark/156201/28 "2003-02-21T00:04:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FordPrefect \* > [ **CanvasShoes** I don’t know why it bugs me, but it drives me completely bonkers. I am not a opposed to slang, or funny names for things. For example, my wife and I call crepes “creepies” just to be silly. > > The only reason I can think of is that my uncle, whom I cannot stand anymore since we worked together for 7 years, always used it. Maybe it was the smug, assholish-way he would roll that word about - almost as if he invented it - that ruined it for me. > > I dunno, but it is an instinctive reaction, just like how I salivate when I smell jalapeno (sp?) peppers. \*\* That makes perfect (prefect?, lol) sense to me. I am the same way about certain words. Especially if they have an evil or unpleasant past association for me. ---
**Author:** ![Tygr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df788c/32.png) [@Tygr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tygr)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snarky-has-jumped-the-snark-er-shark/156201/29 "2003-02-21T07:10:56Z")
Waitaminnit, waitaminnit, waitaminnit. Let’s not do anything hasty here. Let’s look at the main reason this word has to stay as part of the national diatribe. If you get rid of it, you will have no word to describe **Craig Kilborn**. Every article I’ve ever read about him uses that word. I have NEVER seen it used anywhere else. If we get rid of it, journalists will have to come up with some other piece of jingo to foist upon us, and we really don’t want to tax their poor brains that much, do we? Later this evening, we can discuss whether ‘jingo’ and ‘foist’ have ‘jumped the snark’. - Tygr, off to see if he can find some good foisting videos to download… ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snarky-has-jumped-the-snark-er-shark/156201/30 "2003-02-21T08:44:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FordPrefect \* > **blowero** according to the Cambridge online dictionary, you are [wrong](http://dictionary.cambridge.org/results.asp?searchword=veggies) > Now I get to :rolleyes: back at you 🙂 Wrong, veggie breath. I entered “vegges” in YOUR link: > [@](#): > > vegges was not found in the Cambridge International Dictionary of English > > Did you spell it correctly? I said “vegges” is WRONG, which is confirmed by your link. Perhaps you don’t know what “i.e.” means? :rolleyes: right back at ya’. ---
**Author:** ![Scribble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scribble/32/3317_2.png) [@Scribble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scribble)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snarky-has-jumped-the-snark-er-shark/156201/31 "2003-02-21T09:08:27Z")
So…wait. Can you only jump the snark after you’re done hunting it? ---
**Author:** ![FordPrefect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@FordPrefect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordPrefect)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snarky-has-jumped-the-snark-er-shark/156201/32 "2003-02-21T18:17:04Z")
**blowero** thanks I needed a good whooshing :). Here I thought you were critiquing _my_ spelling… and yes I usually know what “i.e. means”, smartass. ---
**Author:** ![FordPrefect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@FordPrefect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordPrefect)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snarky-has-jumped-the-snark-er-shark/156201/33 "2003-02-21T18:18:31Z")
oops, forgot the :rolleyes: 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snarky-has-jumped-the-snark-er-shark/156201/34 "2003-02-21T20:45:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FordPrefect \* > **blowero** thanks I needed a good whooshing :). Here I thought you were critiquing _my_ spelling… Oh, NOW I see what happened. No, I was just agreeing with you about the “veggies” thing, and adding my comment that it’s doubly annoying when they spell it like: “vegges”. I see that a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snarky-has-jumped-the-snark-er-shark/156201/35 "2003-02-21T20:53:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Scribble \* > \*\*So…wait. > > Can you only jump the snark after you’re done hunting it? \*\* For anyone that doesn’t understand me or scribble, [search for answers here](http://www.literature.org/authors/carroll-lewis/the-hunting-of-the-snark/chapter-01.html) Daniel ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snarky-has-jumped-the-snark-er-shark/156201/36 "2003-02-21T21:16:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AcidKid \* > \*\*[All Your Base Belong To Us](http://www.planettribes.com/allyourbase/index.shtml) > [/hijack] \*\* Ah… thanks for the memories. ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2003, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snarky-has-jumped-the-snark-er-shark/156201/37 "2003-02-22T03:34:12Z")
## Would you prefer instead of snarky… _curt, churlish, estrogenic-devil-bitch-on-wheels-like,_ or, _crotchety_? Sourly. What we need is a :SNARK: smiley! ---
**Author:** ![sperfur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9adbd/32.png) [@sperfur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sperfur)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2003, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snarky-has-jumped-the-snark-er-shark/156201/38 "2003-02-22T03:42:21Z")
I guess now would be a bad time to tell you my cat’s breath smells snarky. So I won’t. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2003, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snarky-has-jumped-the-snark-er-shark/156201/39 "2003-02-22T22:48:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by moriah \* > Would you prefer instead of snarky… _curt, churlish, estrogenic-devil-bitch-on-wheels-like,_ or, _crotchety_? I would prefer 1, 2, or 4, but not 3. And in case anyone asks, I don’t like “asshat” either. ---
**Author:** ![Wikkit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c0e974/32.png) [@Wikkit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wikkit)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snarky-has-jumped-the-snark-er-shark/156201/40 "2003-02-24T17:09:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by blowero \* > \*\*And in case anyone asks, I don’t like “asshat” either. \*\* I don’t either. It’s so hard to find a matching tie in those particular shades of peach and brown. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snarky-has-jumped-the-snark-er-shark/156201.md?page=1)