# Survey - "Bully for you" **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 24, 2008, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-bully-for-you/465083 "2008-09-24T23:54:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-bully-for-you/465083/1 "2008-09-24T23:54:27Z")
What do you think the phrase “Bully for you” means, both in meaning and in tone, and what is your nationality? thanks ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-bully-for-you/465083/2 "2008-09-24T23:57:53Z")
I think it means “That is unfortunate for you but I don’t care” but I am not wholly sure if that’s its meaning. I am English Born, Manx Resident. ---
**Author:** ![Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Springtime_for_Spacers)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-bully-for-you/465083/3 "2008-09-24T23:59:22Z")
“Well done” or “That’s a piece of luck” but with a snidey overtone. Southern English Brit. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-bully-for-you/465083/4 "2008-09-25T00:00:02Z")
It means, roughly, “I can tell you’re proud/happy about what you just said, but I think it’s trivial or assholish.” American. ---
**Author:** ![Susie\_Derkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@Susie\_Derkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susie_Derkins)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-bully-for-you/465083/5 "2008-09-25T00:02:07Z")
Basically the same as “Well, pin a rose on your nose!” or, “Aren’t you special?” Very sarcastic. I’m American from FL. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-bully-for-you/465083/6 "2008-09-25T00:04:08Z")
Depending on the context and tone, it can mean either: - “well done”, in a sincerely positive sense; or - “that’s nice, but I really don’t care” in a sarcastic sense. Probably more likely the latter. Australian ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-bully-for-you/465083/7 "2008-09-25T00:05:47Z")
“It’s clear that you’re pleased by this development; no one else gives a shit.” Californian. ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-bully-for-you/465083/8 "2008-09-25T00:08:19Z")
It means ‘well done’ and the tone is sarky. English Midlands. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-bully-for-you/465083/9 "2008-09-25T00:15:25Z")
It appears I was off the mark. Consider my ignorance fought (slightly) ---
**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:** [September 25, 2008, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-bully-for-you/465083/10 "2008-09-25T00:15:32Z")
‘‘Too bad for you.’’ In the same dismissive tone as someone 'round here might say, ‘‘Sucks to be you.’’ American. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-bully-for-you/465083/11 "2008-09-25T00:16:44Z")
It’s roughly equivalent to “Smashing!” Or at least I think it’s contemporaneous. My father saw me in Arsenic and Old Lace when I was in high school and he’s used “Bully!” periodically ever since. ---
**Author:** ![Nikki\_Tikki\_Tavi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3da27b/32.png) [@Nikki\_Tikki\_Tavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nikki_Tikki_Tavi)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-bully-for-you/465083/12 "2008-09-25T00:19:19Z")
When I use that phrase I mean it as a sarcastic “well, whoop di doo” or “good for you”. Like if I was complaining about my job and a friend said “I love my job, it’s really great” I would say “bully for you, but mine sucks eggs”. I’m American. ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-bully-for-you/465083/13 "2008-09-25T00:21:56Z")
> [@Nikki\_Tikki\_Tavi](#): > > When I use that phrase I mean it as a sarcastic “well, whoop di doo” Ah, there you go. That’s the phrase I was trying to recall when I posted. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-bully-for-you/465083/14 "2008-09-25T00:25:25Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > Depending on the context and tone, it can mean either: > > - “well done”, in a sincerely positive sense; or > - “that’s nice, but I really don’t care” in a sarcastic sense. > > Probably more likely the latter… Seconded. I’m an American from NE Ohio. I’m a Theodore Roosevelt fan and it always reminds me of him (and a century ago, he meant the word “Bully!” as high praise indeed). ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-bully-for-you/465083/15 "2008-09-25T05:04:26Z")
“While you’re up, patting yourself on the back, get me a beer.” American ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-bully-for-you/465083/16 "2008-09-25T05:23:39Z")
Of course, anything can be said with a sarcastic tone or intent, and such uses may have become the most common sense in any given location, or for any person. But the literal original meaning, which like **Elendil’s Heir** , I associate with TR, simply means “Good for you!” ETA: I’m American. ---
**Author:** ![Lucky\_13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucky_13/32/13209_2.png) [@Lucky\_13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucky_13)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-bully-for-you/465083/17 "2008-09-25T05:24:52Z")
“How wonderful for you!” :rolleyes: This phrase sounds awfully quaint to me. I would use something like “Well, more power to you.” :rolleyes: American ---
**Author:** ![Stealth\_Potato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Stealth\_Potato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stealth_Potato)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-bully-for-you/465083/18 "2008-09-25T05:53:44Z")
“Well, good for you,” very sarcastically. I suppose it _might_ be said without sarcasm, but then “good for you” is a sentiment almost always dispensed with a healthy dose of same, so I just mark it down mentally as a sarcastic phrase in itself. American, Washington State. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-bully-for-you/465083/19 "2008-09-25T05:57:27Z")
It’s a sarcastic way of saying, “That’s wonderful.” Frex: I just got an A on the test you said was impossible! Bully for you. Midwest American ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-bully-for-you/465083/20 "2008-09-25T06:23:41Z")
“Congratualtions!” (non-sarcastic) - Australian [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-bully-for-you/465083.md?page=2)