# Straight Dope Slang **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [February 23, 2001, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-slang/55546 "2001-02-23T02:24:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Qwertyasdfg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ecc23a/32.png) [@Qwertyasdfg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwertyasdfg)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2001, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-slang/55546/1 "2001-02-23T02:24:36Z")
OK, I see people use these things all the time and I can usually get em, but there are some I’m not sure about: IIRC - If I remember/recall correctly? WAG - Wild-Assed Guess? AFAIK - ??? There are more but if somebody could tell me if I’m right about these things I would appreciate. ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2001, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-slang/55546/2 "2001-02-23T02:30:37Z")
You got the first two right. AFAIK = As Far As I Know Another one that comes up from time to time that confused the hell out of me for a while is “IANAL”. Which is “I Am Not A Lawyer”. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2001, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-slang/55546/3 "2001-02-23T02:35:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Qwertyasdfg \* > **AFAIK - ???** As Far As I Know. The others are correct, AFAIK, IIRC. Not bad for a WAG. ^\_\_~ ---
**Author:** ![kasuo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8c91f0/32.png) [@kasuo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kasuo)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2001, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-slang/55546/4 "2001-02-23T02:47:53Z")
What’s the deal with “Hi Opal!”? ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2001, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-slang/55546/5 "2001-02-23T02:52:56Z")
You know, it seems like these questions come up a lot, so maybe it would be nice to have a board FAQ (one specific to SDMB, not just the generic one that comes along with VB) that explains some of the more common questions. Then when you sign up for an account, it could direct you to the FAQ before posting, or something like that. Just a thought. And this should probably be in “About this board.” ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2001, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-slang/55546/6 "2001-02-23T05:29:02Z")
> [@](#): > > maybe it would be nice to have a board FAQ Manny people ask me what these jokes are and I tell them to look here: [http://fathom.org/teemingmillions/injokes.html](http://fathom.org/teemingmillions/injokes.html) Admittedly some of these references are dated but us old timers prefer to think of them as “classic”. ---
**Author:** ![silent\_rob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@silent\_rob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silent_rob)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2001, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-slang/55546/7 "2001-02-23T05:41:42Z")
Well, I don’t know if the abbreviations would be considered in-jokes. They’re pretty wide-spread on MB’s, and I’ve quite a few of them all over the place. But there is an abbreviations list posted in ATMB (probably a better place to post this question) every once in a while: [Abbreviations List](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=30949) “Hi Opal” is an in-joke. It’s been asked a couple of times recently, but I’ll help you out as best I can. I believe it started when **OpalCat** said that lists should have at least 3 things to be considered a list. So posters with only 2 things in their list would put “Hi Opal” as the third to tease her. It expanded somewhat, and some posters now just put it as the third point even if there are more than three things in thier list. ---
**Author:** ![silent\_rob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@silent\_rob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silent_rob)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2001, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-slang/55546/8 "2001-02-23T05:45:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \ in **their** list. I’ll correct myself now, so my post isn’t broughten up in the next “Grammar Pet-peeves” thread. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mercutio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@Mercutio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mercutio)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2001, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-slang/55546/9 "2001-02-23T06:11:31Z")
1. I know no slang 2. I wonder what TTT is. 3. Hi Opal! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Phobos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Phobos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phobos)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2001, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-slang/55546/10 "2001-02-23T12:56:27Z")
The acronyms are not from the SDMB, but the internet in general. Typical lists have been posted in past threads. ---
**Author:** ![Phobos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Phobos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phobos)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2001, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-slang/55546/11 "2001-02-23T12:57:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mercutio \* > 2. I wonder what TTT is. > \*\* TTT = Thought that, too (when someone types in what you were about to type) ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2001, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-slang/55546/12 "2001-02-23T14:23:15Z")
YMMV ? ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2001, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-slang/55546/13 "2001-02-23T14:43:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by casdave \* > \*\*YMMV ? \*\* Your mileage may vary. ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2001, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-slang/55546/14 "2001-02-23T14:44:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by casdave \* > \*\*YMMV ? \*\* Your Milage May Vary ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2001, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-slang/55546/15 "2001-02-23T14:44:41Z")
> [@](#): > > YMMV? I know I know!! Your Mileage May Vary ::sits down, looking pleased with himself:: ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2001, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-slang/55546/16 "2001-02-23T14:46:20Z")
Arrgh. Damn simulposts… ::sits down, looking embarrassed:: ---
**Author:** ![G.B.H.Hornswoggler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c67d28/32.png) [@G.B.H.Hornswoggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G.B.H.Hornswoggler)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2001, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-slang/55546/17 "2001-02-23T15:23:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Little Nemo \* > \*\* > Manny people ask me what these jokes are and I tell them to look here: > > [http://fathom.org/teemingmillions/injokes.html](http://fathom.org/teemingmillions/injokes.html) > > Admittedly some of these references are dated but us old timers prefer to think of them as “classic”. \*\* “Some” of the references are dated? The only ones I even recognize (gry, manny) were ancient when I arrived. Here’s the pertinent info on that page: Last Modified: Monday, October 25, 1999 4:38:03 AM GMT These seem to be mostly old jokes from the AOL days, and don’t refence more recent history, like Satan’s ass or “Guy Stuff.” ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2001, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-slang/55546/18 "2001-02-25T07:30:03Z")
As I wrote, these are _classics_ and like any classics are meant to read and studied so that their inner truths can be absorbed and from thence translated into the modern idiom. Think of the AOL Straight Dope Forum as the Greece that begat the Rome of the Straight Dope Message Board. Sure, it may have been the SDMB that conquered the known world, but it was us old-timers on AOL who founded the basis of Straight Dope culture as we now know it. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2001, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-slang/55546/19 "2001-02-25T22:54:28Z")
“Socrates himself is particularly missed, A lovely little thinker but a bugger when he’s pissed” ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2001, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-slang/55546/20 "2001-02-25T23:08:57Z")
[http://www.acronymfinder.com/](http://www.acronymfinder.com/) That will give you all what they call “acronyms,” but, of course, you and I know these are not acroynms. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-slang/55546.md?page=2)