# What they say/what it really means **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 12, 2010, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-they-say-what-it-really-means/532288 "2010-03-12T20:02:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-they-say-what-it-really-means/532288/41 "2010-03-15T16:19:46Z")
> [@binjod](#): > > When you ask someone if they want to get together, and they reply with “maybe”. > > It really means they want to wait to see if somebody gives them a better offer before they commit to meeting up with you Crap. Do I need a new line? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-they-say-what-it-really-means/532288/42 "2010-03-15T16:20:10Z")
“Earn 7 to 10 dollars an hour” means “Earn 7 dollars an hour.” ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-they-say-what-it-really-means/532288/43 "2010-03-15T16:27:47Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > “Bless your heart.” In the South, this means “You’re an idiot.” This is not _quite_ true. It certainly can mean “you’re an idiot,” but depending on tone, inflection, and context, it can mean a great deal more than that. It’s quite frequently used as an expression of honest, straightforward sympathy. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-they-say-what-it-really-means/532288/44 "2010-03-15T16:28:46Z")
Former NYC mayor Ed Koch once observed that, “In politics, the word ‘feisty’ has only one meaning - ‘short’!” The word was often associated with him, so I guess he’d know. ---
**Author:** ![enomaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-they-say-what-it-really-means/532288/45 "2010-03-15T18:00:04Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > “Earn 7 to 10 dollars an hour” means “Earn 7 dollars an hour.” It’s funny 'cause it’s true. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-they-say-what-it-really-means/532288/46 "2010-03-15T18:13:26Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > This is not _quite_ true. It certainly can mean “you’re an idiot,” but depending on tone, inflection, and context, it can mean a great deal more than that. It’s quite frequently used as an expression of honest, straightforward sympathy. I wondered about that myself. Southerners aren’t about direct talk. For a Texan, the term “old boy” always needs a modifier. It can range from “good old boy” to “that old boy ain’t right”. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-they-say-what-it-really-means/532288/47 "2010-03-15T18:20:17Z")
When a DJ says “I’ll see if I can get that out for you” they really mean “there’s no chance in hell i’m going to play that song.” ---
**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:** [March 15, 2010, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-they-say-what-it-really-means/532288/48 "2010-03-15T18:30:42Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > “Earn 7 to 10 dollars an hour” means “Earn 7 dollars an hour.” “Take on this extra work and we’ll review your pay at a future date” means “Take on this extra work.” ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-they-say-what-it-really-means/532288/49 "2010-03-15T18:43:49Z")
> [@enomaj](#): > > It’s funny 'cause it’s true. 😃 Oh yeah. I once needed to get a 2nd job because I was really hurting. I saw an ad for something that was $7-10/hour. In my naivette, I really hoped that they’d start me out at $10. What they really meant: Earn $7 per hour, but not during the training, and then your first night will be a sort of audition night and you’ll probably be chopped, and then we’ll hold your measly paycheck for 13 days, and if you don’t come in to pick it up within 14 days, we’ll assume that you don’t want the money and will keep it for ourselves, and on that one day when you can pick it up, we’ll be closed. ---
**Author:** ![maladroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@maladroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maladroit)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-they-say-what-it-really-means/532288/50 "2010-03-15T18:59:58Z")
By the time someone says “to make a long story short” it’s way too late in the process to have that effect. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-they-say-what-it-really-means/532288/51 "2010-03-15T19:15:19Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > I wondered about that myself. Southerners aren’t about direct talk. For a Texan, the term “old boy” always needs a modifier. It can range from “good old boy” to “that old boy ain’t right”. And “good old boy” can range in meaning from “respectable local citizen” to “powerful businessman”, to “corrupt scumbag”, all depending on context. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-they-say-what-it-really-means/532288/52 "2010-03-15T19:22:24Z")
How many ways can “challenge” cover for “problem” or similar? – Here’s a challenging assignment = I can’t figure it out so it’s your problem now. – Let this assignment be a challenge to you = It’s problem and you’re stuck with it. – We challenged the other side = We dumped the problem back on them. – Our clients will both challenge and reward you = Our clients have problems you’ve never seen before, but they pay their bills. – Dealing with Mr. Smith is challenging = You’re going to have lots of problems dealing with Mr. Smith. ---
**Author:** ![badbadrubberpiggy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/57b2e6/32.png) [@badbadrubberpiggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badbadrubberpiggy)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-they-say-what-it-really-means/532288/53 "2010-03-15T19:25:46Z")
> [@Illuminatiprimus](#): > > “Let’s just agree to disagree” - I can’t win this argument but don’t want to lose face by conceding defeat. It can also mean, “I think you’re a moron, so it’s not really worth arguing with you anymore” ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-they-say-what-it-really-means/532288/54 "2010-03-15T19:27:12Z")
“Challenging”, when used to describe a job opening, means you’ll be up to your knees in raw sewage on your first day. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-they-say-what-it-really-means/532288/55 "2010-03-15T19:31:47Z")
> [@badbadrubberpiggy](#): > > It can also mean, “I think you’re a moron, so it’s not really worth arguing with you anymore” Or “I’ve just realized I’m out of my depth, and can’t support my arguments. Besides, I don’t really care to question my assumptions. I’m quite comfortable where I am.” ---
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-they-say-what-it-really-means/532288/56 "2010-03-15T21:35:30Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > Former NYC mayor Ed Koch once observed that, “In politics, the word ‘feisty’ has only one meaning - ‘short’!” > > The word was often associated with him, so I guess he’d know. Ed Koch is 6 foot 2 inches (or at least was in his prime - he’s in his mid-80s now) ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-they-say-what-it-really-means/532288/57 "2010-03-15T22:35:45Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > Also, for a female: > > Athletic build = flat chested. Huh, really? I’m not disputing your experience, but I’ve always been described (by myself and others) as having a flat chest, and I’m a C/D cup. I always thought it meant bigger muscles - I have big shoulders and big thighs. Both are muscular, but they’re certainly not averaged-sized. Maybe this is in reference to dating website descriptions? Or is this like the time I bought a shirt that said “I like to swing” and wore it around campus all day, wondering why the hell I was stared at and asked questions constantly? ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-they-say-what-it-really-means/532288/58 "2010-03-15T22:47:26Z")
> [@badbadrubberpiggy](#): > > It can also mean, “I think you’re a moron, so it’s not really worth arguing with you anymore” That’s true - I’ve actually used it that way myself. :o ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-they-say-what-it-really-means/532288/59 "2010-03-15T23:40:20Z")
> [@SirRay](#): > > Ed Koch is 6 foot 2 inches (or at least was in his prime - he’s in his mid-80s now) “Short, tall, who gives a fuck”. Often means “I’m taller than you, and I want to be sure everybody knows it”. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-they-say-what-it-really-means/532288/60 "2010-03-15T23:55:40Z")
> [@SirRay](#): > > Ed Koch is 6 foot 2 inches (or at least was in his prime - he’s in his mid-80s now) Hm. I must have misattributed the quote. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-they-say-what-it-really-means/532288.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-they-say-what-it-really-means/532288.md?page=4)