# Where the fuck did "meh" come from? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 1, 2004, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-fuck-did-meh-come-from/242955 "2004-05-01T07:16:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2004, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-fuck-did-meh-come-from/242955/1 "2004-05-01T07:16:46Z")
As in “I thought that movie was just meh.” It’s driving me insane. It’s stupid, it’s meaningless, and it makes whoever uses it look like a moron. What movie/TV show/song/whatthefuckever did it come from? ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2004, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-fuck-did-meh-come-from/242955/2 "2004-05-01T07:19:43Z")
I meant to add that I tried to do a search on it to see if others had complained, but it was too short. Also, I didn’t mean that people who use it _are_ morons, but using it makes them look that way to me. ---
**Author:** ![Danalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Danalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danalan)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2004, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-fuck-did-meh-come-from/242955/3 "2004-05-01T07:34:40Z")
OddTodd, I believe. ---
**Author:** ![jastu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/43a26b/32.png) [@jastu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jastu)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2004, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-fuck-did-meh-come-from/242955/4 "2004-05-01T07:40:22Z")
I thought it originated from a Lisa Simpson quote from Homer’s Triple Bypass episode. ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2004, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-fuck-did-meh-come-from/242955/5 "2004-05-01T07:58:58Z")
I actually agree with the OP. I don’t know why, but that word (if you can call it a word) is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me. The other one that bugs the shit out of me is: _shrugs_ I guess it’s because it just sounds so fucking geeky and passive-aggressive, like “I am shrugging you off - I’m EVER so cool.”:rolleyes: Hey, y’know what would be REALLY SUPER FUNNY? If somebody replies with either “meh” or _shrugs_. I sure hope somebody does that, cuz man oh man would that be funny. ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2004, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-fuck-did-meh-come-from/242955/6 "2004-05-01T08:01:46Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > As in “I thought that movie was just meh.” > > It’s driving me insane. It’s stupid, it’s meaningless, and it makes whoever uses it look like a moron. > > What movie/TV show/song/whatthefuckever did it come from? I think it’s a perfect word. It’s a way of expressing my complete lack of interest in something, or that I’m so unconcerned with the question that it’s not worth a real response. ---
**Author:** ![JRootabega](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e7dd6/32.png) [@JRootabega](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRootabega)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2004, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-fuck-did-meh-come-from/242955/7 "2004-05-01T11:10:08Z")
Don’t know if this was the origin, but I think the first time people really became _aware_ of “meh” was the Simpsons episode Hungry Hungry Homer. Here is a lot of information: [http://www.snpp.com/episodes/CABF09](http://www.snpp.com/episodes/CABF09) > [@](#): > > Homer: Kids, how would you like to go to … Blockoland! > Bart + > Lisa: Meh. > Homer: But the TV gave me the impression that – > Bart: We said, “Meh!” > Lisa: M-e-h, meh. ---
**Author:** ![Sami41](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c57346/32.png) [@Sami41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sami41)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2004, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-fuck-did-meh-come-from/242955/8 "2004-05-01T11:31:51Z")
> [@Blalron](#): > > I think it’s a perfect word. It’s a way of expressing my complete lack of interest in something, or that I’m so unconcerned with the question that it’s not worth a real response. So, why respond at all? Just curious. ---
**Author:** ![Merkwurdigliebe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@Merkwurdigliebe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merkwurdigliebe)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2004, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-fuck-did-meh-come-from/242955/9 "2004-05-01T11:32:36Z")
> [@Blalron](#): > > I think it’s a perfect word. It’s a way of expressing my complete lack of interest in something, or that I’m so unconcerned with the question that it’s not worth a real response. Christ on a Crutch what the fuck every happened to saying, “I don’t care.” I think that is actually better than some poor excuse for a word. The _shrugs_ thing really pisses me off too. But I have to say that in most respects I’ll have to quote Jerry Seinfeld, which sums up my thoughts exactly. “People…they’re the worst.” ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2004, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-fuck-did-meh-come-from/242955/10 "2004-05-01T11:55:52Z")
Do you people also object to “Hmmm…” and “Ah.” and “OW!” and “Hey!”? I say ‘meh’ is a very good word, as it _self-evidently_ means ‘I don’t care about that.’\* How about the buddhist term [Mu](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_049.html), which means and sounds much the same, but has a greater philosophical grounding? 🙂 \*I agree people using it inappropriately, when they just can’t be bothered to consider the question, and later getting cross because you didn’t telepathicaly understand what they would have said if they could be bothered, are annoying morons. ---
**Author:** ![RandomLetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8edcca/32.png) [@RandomLetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandomLetters)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2004, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-fuck-did-meh-come-from/242955/11 "2004-05-01T12:10:24Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > As in “I thought that movie was just meh.” > > It’s driving me insane. It’s stupid, it’s meaningless, and it makes whoever uses it look like a moron. > > What movie/TV show/song/whatthefuckever did it come from? Meh. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2004, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-fuck-did-meh-come-from/242955/12 "2004-05-01T12:43:59Z")
It’s jewish. Or at least my grandmother’s been using it all her life. Might be yiddish, might just be cultural. ---
**Author:** ![Daerlyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Daerlyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daerlyn)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2004, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-fuck-did-meh-come-from/242955/13 "2004-05-01T12:49:45Z")
> [@Sami41](#): > > So, why respond at all? Just curious. Because not responding will either make the person asking think you haven’t heard them, and they often repeat themselves, or they may just assume you’re a rude bastard for ignoring them. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2004, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-fuck-did-meh-come-from/242955/14 "2004-05-01T13:59:54Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > It’s jewish. Or at least my grandmother’s been using it all her life. Might be yiddish, might just be cultural. Well, kind of . . . It’s the white-bread version of “feh.” Like, you say “meh” when you don’t even care enough to say “feh.” ---
**Author:** ![Satyricon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f05b48/32.png) [@Satyricon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satyricon)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2004, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-fuck-did-meh-come-from/242955/15 "2004-05-01T14:05:41Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > As in “I thought that movie was just meh.” > > It’s driving me insane. It’s stupid, it’s meaningless, and it makes whoever uses it look like a moron. > > What movie/TV show/song/whatthefuckever did it come from? This is the first I’ve heard of it. Up till now, I just thought it was the sound my cat made. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2004, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-fuck-did-meh-come-from/242955/16 "2004-05-01T14:54:11Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > As in “I thought that movie was just meh.” 😉 > [@Equipoise](#): > > It’s driving me insane. It’s stupid, it’s meaningless, and it makes whoever uses it look like a moron… meh > [@Equipoise](#): > > What movie/TV show/song/whatthefuckever did it come from? _shrugs_ ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2004, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-fuck-did-meh-come-from/242955/17 "2004-05-01T16:29:12Z")
[I’ve pitted that infernal utterance before.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=185647). My opinion hasn’t changed, except that maybe I hate it even more. It grates on my nerves to see it written or hear it spoken. Hate. It. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@The\_Tim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tim)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2004, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-fuck-did-meh-come-from/242955/18 "2004-05-01T16:51:29Z")
It is one of many sound effects used to express disinterest. I don’t see anything wrong with it. People communicate in informal situations with all sorts of non-verbal signals. Being pissed about any particular one is silly, it just makes you unhealthily angry. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2004, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-fuck-did-meh-come-from/242955/19 "2004-05-01T16:56:49Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > Well, kind of . . . It’s the white-bread version of “feh.” Like, you say “meh” when you don’t even care enough to say “feh.” I thought “feh” was an expression of mild distaste, whereas “Meh” is totally indifferent? I hate people overusing it, but it’s a shame, cause it could be such a useful word. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2004, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-fuck-did-meh-come-from/242955/20 "2004-05-01T17:16:22Z")
> [@GMRyujin](#): > > I thought “feh” was an expression of mild distaste, whereas “Meh” is totally indifferent? Exactly: you say “meh” when you don’t even care enough to say “feh.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-fuck-did-meh-come-from/242955.md?page=2)