# Would somebody please tell me what "MAD" stands for?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-somebody-please-tell-me-what-mad-stands-for/197758>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [August 26, 2003, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-somebody-please-tell-me-what-mad-stands-for/197758 "2003-08-26T15:34:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/22080_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-somebody-please-tell-me-what-mad-stands-for/197758/21 "2003-08-27T10:44:28Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by GingerOfTheNorth \*  
> \*\*Michelle’s A Dork (heh) \*\*

\<sniff sniff\> I’m crushed. Shattered, even. It will take years of expensive therapy to put this behind me, if at all. Oh, the bitter, bitter pain…  
Note to self: **Ginger** is on _The List_

😛

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**Author:** ![curlybacon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bc79bd/32.png) [@curlybacon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlybacon)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-somebody-please-tell-me-what-mad-stands-for/197758/22 "2003-08-27T11:26:17Z")

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To save starting another similar thread, could anyone help me out with these ones (just for starters…):

YMMV  
IIRC  
IANA  
THG

Cheers, CB

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**Author:** ![Beagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Beagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beagle)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-somebody-please-tell-me-what-mad-stands-for/197758/23 "2003-08-27T12:21:22Z")

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Your Mileage May Vary – used in a larger sense.

If I Remember (Reckon) (Recall) (Ruminate) Correctly. Something like that.

I Am Not A (usually Lawyer). OTOH, IAAL. [aside] Could I have my $150,000 back? [/aside]

THG: ???

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**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-somebody-please-tell-me-what-mad-stands-for/197758/24 "2003-08-27T14:00:24Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Polycarp \*  
> They _claim_ it’s an acronym for **M** id- **A** tlantic **D** opers – but having met more than a few of them, I can guarantee it’s not an acronym at all! 😉

As usual, **Polycarp** speaks the truth. 🙂

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**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-somebody-please-tell-me-what-mad-stands-for/197758/25 "2003-08-27T16:43:23Z")

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One more abbreviation: occasionally at the end of a post explaining or clarifying, or giving an insight not quite on topic, you’ll see HTH. It stands for Hope This Helps.

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