# what's the best word to 'fill in the blank' in this sentence? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 29, 2013, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-word-to-fill-in-the-blank-in-this-sentence/654239 "2013-03-29T03:15:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Win\_Place\_Show](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/win_place_show/32/13469_2.png) [@Win\_Place\_Show](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Win_Place_Show)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-word-to-fill-in-the-blank-in-this-sentence/654239/1 "2013-03-29T03:15:54Z")
Paraphrasing an unrelated exchange here, but let’s say that you’re in this conversation - somehow it just ‘feels like’ there’s a better word to fill in this sentence than the word ‘disparage’ (or perhaps there’s not - you tell me). Her: hey, a tennis match is on, wanna watch this? Me: yeah, ok, whatever, I don’t care Her: what, you don’t like tennis? Me: it’s not really my cup of tea, but I wouldn’t \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ anyone who considers it theirs So, suppose you’re respectful of others’ opinions (i.e. ‘to each their own’, ‘different strokes for different folks’, etc) - is there a good word to fill in the blank with? The ones I’ve come up with are: tennis? it’s not really my cup of tea, but I wouldn’t disparage anyone who considers it theirs (sounds like I’m trying to “use big words”) tennis? it’s not really my cup of tea, but I wouldn’t dog-out anyone who considers it theirs (sounds like something a 12-yr-old gangster would say) tennis? it’s not really my cup of tea, but I wouldn’t criticize anyone who considers it theirs (I don’t really feel like this is what I’m shooting for) any better ideas? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-word-to-fill-in-the-blank-in-this-sentence/654239/2 "2013-03-29T03:20:08Z")
It’s really not my cup of tea. No need to say more. No one will assume that you’re judging people who like tennis. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-word-to-fill-in-the-blank-in-this-sentence/654239/3 "2013-03-29T03:29:18Z")
Look down on ---
**Author:** ![esmeralda2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ccd318/32.png) [@esmeralda2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/esmeralda2)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-word-to-fill-in-the-blank-in-this-sentence/654239/4 "2013-03-29T03:34:16Z")
> [@Win\_Place\_Show](#): > > Paraphrasing an unrelated exchange here, but let’s say that you’re in this conversation - somehow it just ‘feels like’ there’s a better word to fill in this sentence than the word ‘disparage’ (or perhaps there’s not - you tell me). > > Her: hey, a tennis match is on, wanna watch this? > Me: yeah, ok, whatever, I don’t care > Her: what, you don’t like tennis? > Me: it’s not really my cup of tea, but I wouldn’t \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ anyone who considers it theirs > > So, suppose you’re respectful of others’ opinions (i.e. ‘to each their own’, ‘different strokes for different folks’, etc) - is there a good word to fill in the blank with? The ones I’ve come up with are: > > tennis? it’s not really my cup of tea, but I wouldn’t disparage anyone who considers it theirs (sounds like I’m trying to “use big words”) > > tennis? it’s not really my cup of tea, but I wouldn’t dog-out anyone who considers it theirs (sounds like something a 12-yr-old gangster would say) > > tennis? it’s not really my cup of tea, but I wouldn’t criticize anyone who considers it theirs (I don’t really feel like this is what I’m shooting for) > > any better ideas? Thanks It wouldn’t even occur to me to say anything negative about someone who plays a sport I’m not interested in. If someone said to me, “you don’t like tennis?” I just say no, not really. I would never think to make a judgment about people who do. I’d never say something like “but I wouldn’t disparage (or whatever) people who do like it.” ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-word-to-fill-in-the-blank-in-this-sentence/654239/5 "2013-03-29T03:40:47Z")
“Begrudge”. ---
**Author:** ![Bootis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e8c25b/32.png) [@Bootis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootis)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-word-to-fill-in-the-blank-in-this-sentence/654239/6 "2013-03-29T03:45:43Z")
In case you can vary the wording a little but need it to mean what exactly what you’re trying to say, then : It’s not really my cup of tea, but to each his own ---
**Author:** ![Win\_Place\_Show](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/win_place_show/32/13469_2.png) [@Win\_Place\_Show](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Win_Place_Show)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-word-to-fill-in-the-blank-in-this-sentence/654239/7 "2013-03-29T03:46:19Z")
holy shit… I think ‘begrudge’ is the word I’ve been looking for - thank you **Ambivalid**! and thank you as well for the other inputs - “look down on” (courtesy of **Hampshire** ) is definitely the ‘spirit’ of what I was trying to get to ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-word-to-fill-in-the-blank-in-this-sentence/654239/8 "2013-03-29T04:43:51Z")
> [@Win\_Place\_Show](#): > > I think ‘begrudge’ is the word I’ve been looking for I believe this word requires a bit more. You can begrudge someone their success, or the enjoyment they get from tennis - but I don’t think you can simply begrudge them. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-word-to-fill-in-the-blank-in-this-sentence/654239/9 "2013-03-29T05:16:19Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > I believe this word requires a bit more. You can begrudge someone their success, or the enjoyment they get from tennis - but I don’t think you can simply begrudge them. In this instance, she would (or wouldn’t) be begrudging them their preferences. But yeah, it may have to be re-worded just a bit. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-word-to-fill-in-the-blank-in-this-sentence/654239/10 "2013-03-29T08:19:05Z")
Perhaps: Her: hey, a tennis match is on, wanna watch this? Me: yeah, ok, whatever, I don’t care Her: what, you don’t like tennis? Me: it’s not really my cup of tea, but I wouldn’t \*mind fucking Caroline Wozniacki in front of \* anyone who considers it theirs. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-word-to-fill-in-the-blank-in-this-sentence/654239/11 "2013-03-29T08:24:55Z")
**don’t ask** , perfect post/user name contribution to the thread!!! ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-word-to-fill-in-the-blank-in-this-sentence/654239/12 "2013-03-29T08:32:10Z")
I’d use disparage if I had to fill in the blank, but in reality, I’d probably say “Eh, not really my cup of tea, but, I mean, if someone likes it, whatever.” Truly I am a poet of the highest caliber. ETA: For some reason I have a habit of mixing uncommon or “big” words with the most bizarrely casual/faux-street manner of speech possible, so “disparage” sounds pretty natural to me. ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-word-to-fill-in-the-blank-in-this-sentence/654239/13 "2013-03-29T11:49:17Z")
drown ---
**Author:** ![one\_red\_shoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/54ee81/32.png) [@one\_red\_shoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/one_red_shoe)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-word-to-fill-in-the-blank-in-this-sentence/654239/14 "2013-03-29T13:12:04Z")
Just say… Hey that’s you doing you… not my thing. Establish this early. . ---
**Author:** ![DataX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DataX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataX)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-word-to-fill-in-the-blank-in-this-sentence/654239/15 "2013-03-29T13:23:38Z")
knock? Somewhat informal, but… ---
**Author:** ![minlokwat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minlokwat/32/2844_2.png) [@minlokwat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minlokwat)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-word-to-fill-in-the-blank-in-this-sentence/654239/16 "2013-03-29T13:32:07Z")
I’d go with: “Tennis? –It’s really not my racket.” or “Tennis? –I just don’t see the advantage in it.” or “Tennis? –If you want to; I don’t see any faults with it.” O.K. that’s all I got. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-word-to-fill-in-the-blank-in-this-sentence/654239/17 "2013-03-29T16:44:08Z")
> [@minlokwat](#): > > I’d go with: > > “Tennis? –It’s really not my racket.” > > or > > “Tennis? –I just don’t see the advantage in it.” > > or > > “Tennis? –If you want to; I don’t see any faults with it.” > O.K. that’s all I got. I don’t like some of those jokes, I love all. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-word-to-fill-in-the-blank-in-this-sentence/654239/18 "2013-03-29T20:26:27Z")
…but I wouldn’t mind if someone else appreciates it. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-word-to-fill-in-the-blank-in-this-sentence/654239/19 "2013-03-29T21:31:59Z")
“knock” if the second sentence must be used. But it isn’t necessary. ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_From\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Girl\_From\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_From_Mars)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-word-to-fill-in-the-blank-in-this-sentence/654239/20 "2013-03-29T21:41:50Z")
> [@DataX](#): > > knock? > > Somewhat informal, but… Yep, that’s what I’d say. But agree not in a formal writing context. More formally I might say begrudge or judge, depending on my feelings. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-word-to-fill-in-the-blank-in-this-sentence/654239.md?page=2)