# What does TMI mean?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-tmi-mean/137739>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [November 20, 2002, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-tmi-mean/137739 "2002-11-20T14:14:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 9\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Janx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Janx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Janx)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-tmi-mean/137739/1 "2002-11-20T14:14:10Z")

</div>

I can figure by the usage that it means “Caution, could gross you right out of existence” but what words do the letters signify. Also can someone point me to a thread with all the common abbreviations we use around here, I can’t be the first person to ask this.

Thanx, Janx

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-tmi-mean/137739/2 "2002-11-20T14:19:46Z")

</div>

If I told you, it might be too much information.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Janx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Janx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Janx)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-tmi-mean/137739/3 "2002-11-20T14:27:19Z")

</div>

\*\* Libertarian \*\* wrote

> [@](#):
>
> If I told you, it might be too much information.

Sooooooo, you DO know but you don’t want to tell me huh.

Vell - Veee Half Veeys Ov MHAKINK you talk!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Kritter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a587f6/32.png) [@Kritter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kritter)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-tmi-mean/137739/4 "2002-11-20T14:50:30Z")

</div>

I agree Its way **T** oo **M** uch **I** nformation:smack:

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-tmi-mean/137739/5 "2002-11-20T15:42:56Z")

</div>

It means “Two-Mandibled Ibis”.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-tmi-mean/137739/6 "2002-11-20T15:58:05Z")

</div>

It’s [in the FAQ](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?postid=1959125#post1959125).

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-tmi-mean/137739/7 "2002-11-20T16:01:11Z")

</div>

Holy Sequential Thread Titles, Batman!

**The Man-Juice Diet  
What does TMI mean?**

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Janx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Janx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Janx)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-tmi-mean/137739/8 "2002-11-20T17:11:47Z")

</div>

Guys, thanks, I got it the first time.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-tmi-mean/137739/9 "2002-11-20T17:36:52Z")

</div>

From growing up in Pennsylvania in the late 1970’s, I can tell you it also stands for **T** hree **M** ile **I** sland.