# What does "meh" mean, please? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 13, 2005, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-meh-mean-please/321380 "2005-09-13T02:22:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-meh-mean-please/321380/1 "2005-09-13T02:22:54Z")
Like the subject says? ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-meh-mean-please/321380/2 "2005-09-13T02:24:35Z")
It means something was ok or that the person expressing it was not impressed. Personally, I never use it. It seems kind of obnoxious to me. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-meh-mean-please/321380/3 "2005-09-13T02:30:43Z")
> [@Odinoneeye](#): > > It means something was ok or that the person expressing it was not impressed. > > Personally, I never use it. It seems kind of obnoxious to me. Is it an acronym? ---
**Author:** ![Torgo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@Torgo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torgo)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-meh-mean-please/321380/4 "2005-09-13T02:31:23Z")
**Meh** is the internet version of\*\* feh\*\*, which is Yiddish for **yuck.** ---
**Author:** ![KJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b2d939/32.png) [@KJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KJ)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-meh-mean-please/321380/5 "2005-09-13T02:49:43Z")
It means exactly what it sounds like. “Meh.” ---
**Author:** ![Orual](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/779978/32.png) [@Orual](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orual)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-meh-mean-please/321380/6 "2005-09-13T02:52:19Z")
It’s a universal expression of apathy, sort of like a vocal shrug. ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-meh-mean-please/321380/7 "2005-09-13T03:05:43Z")
I always hear it as General Melchett gives expression to it in _Blackadder Goes Forth_. There it functions to show the imbecilic thought processes (such as they exist) of someone totally out of touch with reality. ---
**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:** [September 13, 2005, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-meh-mean-please/321380/8 "2005-09-13T03:14:47Z")
> [@roger thornhill](#): > > I always hear it as General Melchett gives expression to it in _Blackadder Goes Forth_. There it functions to show the imbecilic thought processes (such as they exist) of someone totally out of touch with reality. Only his is more of a sheep’s bleat. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-meh-mean-please/321380/9 "2005-09-13T03:35:17Z")
> [@Orual](#): > > It’s a universal expression of apathy, sort of like a vocal shrug. Exactly. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Bruin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Queen\_Bruin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Bruin)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-meh-mean-please/321380/10 "2005-09-13T03:43:51Z")
To use it in a quote: > [@Lisa Simpson](#): > > M-E-H. Meh. ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-meh-mean-please/321380/11 "2005-09-13T04:04:30Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > Only his is more of a sheep’s bleat. Absolutely, but because I came across his “Meh” first, I still associate the message board use of the term with him, rather than the (correct) shrug/indifference meaning. It’s one of the cleverest devices - just a single vocalisation to convey the multiple meanings of futility, imbecility, insecurity, pathos, etc. etc. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-meh-mean-please/321380/12 "2005-09-13T04:58:40Z")
[Here in Post 2 we see the “meh” in its natural habitat, as I express my complete indifference to some chump getting banned.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=334663) ---
**Author:** ![The\_New\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@The\_New\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_New_Guy)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-meh-mean-please/321380/13 "2005-09-13T08:28:08Z")
Just another asinine thing that internet geeks think is clever, but is really just annoying. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-meh-mean-please/321380/14 "2005-09-13T08:43:31Z")
> [@The New Guy](#): > > Just another asinine thing that internet geeks think is clever, but is really just annoying. I don’t think they think it’s clever. In fact, I don’t think they’ve put any thought into it. It’s just, “meh.” It something that can be used to convey total apathy in 3 little words. ---
**Author:** ![Eurograff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@Eurograff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eurograff)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-meh-mean-please/321380/15 "2005-09-13T08:50:40Z")
> [@The New Guy](#): > > Just another asinine thing that internet geeks think is clever, but is really just annoying. Nah(!). The **Meh** carries a meaning that other expressions (_me shrugs_ etc.) lack or can’t express in such a compact way. It’s also way closer to **bah** than, for example, **yuck** , in all its indifference. FWIW, Urban dictionary [has lots to say](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=meh) about “meh”. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-meh-mean-please/321380/16 "2005-09-13T09:21:34Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#): > > I don’t think they think it’s clever. In fact, I don’t think they’ve put any thought into it. It’s just, “meh.” It something that can be used to convey total apathy in 3 little words. Personally, I would have said three little letters. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-meh-mean-please/321380/17 "2005-09-13T11:05:49Z")
> [@The New Guy](#): > > Just another asinine thing that internet geeks think is clever, but is really just annoying. I suppose it’s annoying when it’s directed at you, but in the context of some kind of informal review, I think it’s quite useful in describing something that was neither interesting, nor offensive - just plain bland. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-meh-mean-please/321380/18 "2005-09-13T11:08:41Z")
> [@The New Guy](#): > > Just another asinine thing that internet geeks think is clever, but is really just annoying. Sore point? ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-meh-mean-please/321380/19 "2005-09-13T11:47:57Z")
This seems to be a question for which there is a clear answer, and it’s not really related to arts/entertainment, so I’m moving it from Cafe Society to General Q’s. No big deal, **Leaffen** , but you might want to read over the forum descriptions briefly… you’ll usually get better response in the proper forum. ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-meh-mean-please/321380/20 "2005-09-13T13:46:43Z")
> [@The New Guy](#): > > Just another asinine thing that internet geeks think is clever, but is really just annoying. I don’t get what your deal is. I _say_ meh, so why wouldn’t I write it? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-meh-mean-please/321380.md?page=2)