# What does "Just sayin'" mean? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 10, 2010, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-just-sayin-mean/542658 "2010-06-10T14:49:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gruntled](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/34f0e0/32.png) [@Gruntled](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gruntled)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-just-sayin-mean/542658/1 "2010-06-10T14:49:38Z")
I see this all over the ‘net. People post something blunt, then add "Just sayin’". I know you’re saying it, you just said it. 😕 What does that mean? ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-just-sayin-mean/542658/2 "2010-06-10T14:50:53Z")
It’s a way of deflecting blame for your bluntness…Sort of like “Don’t blame the messenger.” ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-just-sayin-mean/542658/3 "2010-06-10T14:53:58Z")
It’s not always meant to be taken seriously, either - some people use it as a “get out of jail free” card, others of us indicate that our outrageous statements were not dead serious. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-just-sayin-mean/542658/4 "2010-06-10T14:55:07Z")
> [@Gruntled](#): > > I see this all over the ‘net. People post something blunt, then add "Just sayin’". I know you’re saying it, you just said it. 😕 > > What does that mean? Here’s the facts, but I’m not drawing any conclusions. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-just-sayin-mean/542658/5 "2010-06-10T14:55:15Z")
Right - sort of “don’t mean any harm, just throwing it out there.” Also used as an apology for a digression, a way of saying “apropros of nothing.” ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-just-sayin-mean/542658/6 "2010-06-10T14:57:07Z")
I woulda thought everyone knew this. Just sayin. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-just-sayin-mean/542658/7 "2010-06-10T14:58:49Z")
> [@Gruntled](#): > > I see this all over the ‘net. People post something blunt, then add "Just sayin’". I know you’re saying it, you just said it. 😕 > > What does that mean? How about people exclaiming “Now _that’s_ what I’m talkin’ about!” when in fact they weren’t saying anything at all. ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-just-sayin-mean/542658/8 "2010-06-10T15:01:36Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > Here’s the facts, but I’m not drawing any conclusions. …well, you’ve at least drawn the conclusion that the person you’re saying this to may not have drawn the right conclusion. It’s a gentle form of objection. ---
**Author:** ![MikeS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MikeS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeS)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-just-sayin-mean/542658/9 "2010-06-10T15:09:07Z")
Often times it’s used in a sort of passive-agressive way, something like, “there are obvious and uncomfortable implications that follow from what I just said, but I’m specifically not explicitly saying them.” For example, “Bill sure seemed to have a lot of extra spending cash right after that brand new computer went missing from the storeroom. Just saying.” ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-just-sayin-mean/542658/10 "2010-06-10T15:23:49Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > How about people exclaiming “Now _that’s_ what I’m talkin’ about!” when in fact they weren’t saying anything at all. When I first encountered the phrase, it was in the context of two men talking about something. They are in agreement, and when one says something that closely matches his train of thought, the latter says ‘That’s what I’m talking about!’ Next, two guys are talking about something (women, cars, etc.). As they talk, an example of their conversation is seen. (i.e., a woman or car or whatever that fits their conversation passes.) ‘That’s what I’m talking about!’ Lately it seems to be a general interjection that doesn’t have anything to do with talking about anything. But it sounds cool. Just sayin’. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-just-sayin-mean/542658/11 "2010-06-10T15:46:04Z")
“ **Just sayin’** ” = “I don’t want to make a big deal of this, but I want to make sure you’re aware of it.” ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-just-sayin-mean/542658/12 "2010-06-10T15:46:44Z")
Or there’s the extended version (which is used a bit tongue in cheek), which is along the lines of, “not that I’m _sayin_’… I’m just sayin’”. ---
**Author:** ![IAmNotSpartacus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@IAmNotSpartacus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IAmNotSpartacus)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-just-sayin-mean/542658/13 "2010-06-10T15:59:27Z")
it’s nbd, js ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-just-sayin-mean/542658/14 "2010-06-10T16:11:23Z")
Here is how I would translate it. “I am making a simple statement of fact based on my observations. Although stating those facts may _sound_ like I’m trying to imply that I’m passing some sort of judgment, or tell you what to do–I’m not. I’m just presenting facts, so there’s no reason for you to get pissed off.” In practical use, it’s very similar to saying, “No offense” when you have just said something offensive. Example. Two people are in a car and approach a red light to make a right turn. The intersection is clear; there is no cross-traffic. The driver does not immediately turn. Passenger: “It’s legal to make a right turn on red in this state.” Driver: Dirty look. Passenger: “Just sayin’.” ---
**Author:** ![EdwardLost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbe5ce/32.png) [@EdwardLost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EdwardLost)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-just-sayin-mean/542658/15 "2010-06-10T16:30:44Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > It’s not always meant to be taken seriously, either - some people use it as a “get out of jail free” card, others of us indicate that our outrageous statements were not dead serious. Sort of like “Bless her heart.” ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-just-sayin-mean/542658/16 "2010-06-10T16:57:04Z")
I agree it’s a way to say something offensive and then try to take the “offensiveness” off of it, or absolve you from the blame of making an offensive statement For example: Homer Simpson: - > [@](#): > > America’s goody two shoes little brother, who never had a date, just sayin’ is all - ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-just-sayin-mean/542658/17 "2010-06-10T17:17:04Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > Here’s the facts, but I’m not drawing any conclusions. I think this is the closest. It seems to me, the phrase when used on these boards often means, ‘here’s a fact (that disputes the general discussion) regarding the poster/idea in question, but don’t think that I like or support him/it’. Poster A: _Poster B is a dumb shit who wouldn’t know a thing about politics if it bit him on his ass!_ Posters C through Y: _We agree._ Poster Z: _In this thread (link), he did predict Obama’s election in 2007, just sayin’._ ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-just-sayin-mean/542658/18 "2010-06-10T17:25:07Z")
I’ll use it to mean “Based on your current conversation or action, I think you may be ignoring or overlooking something. I don’t know. You might have already considered it. You might not care. But I don’t want to have said nothing in case it does actually matter.” Also, not all passive behavior is passive aggressive. ---
**Author:** ![Tethered\_Kite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@Tethered\_Kite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tethered_Kite)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-just-sayin-mean/542658/19 "2010-06-10T17:29:25Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I woulda thought everyone knew this. Just sayin. Unfortunately they don’t. That’s why you have to add "Know what I mean?’ after it. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-just-sayin-mean/542658/20 "2010-06-10T19:27:36Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I woulda thought everyone knew this. Just sayin. Really. How can the OP have gotten this far in life and yet be baffled by this extremely common and intuitively self-explanatory expression? Just sayin’. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-just-sayin-mean/542658.md?page=2)