'Meh': Apathetic expression enters dictionary

pantophobia · 11.16.2008, 09:02 PM

LONDON — At least someone is excited about "meh."
The expression of indifference or boredom has gained a place in the Collins English Dictionary after generating a surprising amount of enthusiasm among lexicographers.
Publisher HarperCollins announced Monday the word had been chosen from terms suggested by the public for inclusion in the dictionary's 30th anniversary edition, to be published next year.
The origins of "meh" are murky, but the term grew in popularity after being used in a 2001 episode of "The Simpsons" in which Homer suggests a day trip to his children Bart and Lisa.
"They both just reply 'meh' and keep watching TV," said Cormac McKeown, head of content at Collins Dictionaries.
The dictionary defines "meh" as an expression of indifference or boredom, or an adjective meaning mediocre or boring. Examples given by the dictionary include "the Canadian election was so meh."
The dictionary's compilers said the word originated in North America, spread through the Internet and was now entering British spoken English.
"This is a new interjection from the U.S. that seems to have inveigled its way into common speech over here," McKeown said. "Internet forums and e-mail are playing a big part in formalizing the spellings of vocal interjections like these. A couple of other examples would be 'hmm' and 'heh.'
"Meh" was selected by Collins after it asked people to submit words they use in conversation that are not in the dictionary. Other suggestions included jargonaut, a fan of jargon; frenemy, an enemy disguised as a friend; and huggles, a hybrid of hugs and snuggles.

wow, just wow, i mean D'Oh was added to the dictionary, what is next woozle wuzzle? is that what passes as diction these days?

atsonicpark · 11.16.2008, 09:09 PM

meh, they used my favorite word meh! meh.

This Is Not Here · 11.16.2008, 09:11 PM

This is interesting, the "word" (sorry: word) has been increasingly in use over the past few years, I use it quite alot myself, it's interesting how the Dictionary dude sites the Simpsons as a reason for this, just another way the program has affected popular culture.

Sonic Youth 37 · 11.16.2008, 09:12 PM

straight from my user profile:

Top 10 (whatever you want):
1.Meh
2.Eh
3.Neh
4.Zuh
5.Wah?
6.Ah...
7.Hmm...
8.Umm...
9.Ow.
10.Oh...

atsonicpark · 11.16.2008, 09:16 PM

Sonic Youth 37 · 11.16.2008, 09:19 PM

atsonicpark · 11.16.2008, 09:26 PM

Sonic Youth 37 · 11.16.2008, 09:33 PM

phoenix · 11.16.2008, 09:36 PM

GeneticKiss · 11.16.2008, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atsonicpark

THAT is disturbing...

Alex's Trip · 11.17.2008, 12:29 AM

I remember that Simpsons episode! I lol'd a lot at it. Dang. I was only ten years old then.

Sonic Youth 37 · 11.17.2008, 12:47 AM

The quote goes.

Lisa: "We're the MTV generation. We feel neither highs nor lows."
Homer: "What's it like?"
Lisa: "Meh."

AMIRITE?

alteredcourse · 11.17.2008, 02:24 AM

Thats why expressions that our parents nudge onto us inspire nothing. Are you chasing the dragon? I suppose mom, since everything in my limited fishbowl attention span would suggest that its what I've been doing.

Danny Himself · 11.17.2008, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pantophobia

wow, just wow, i mean D'Oh was added to the dictionary, what is next woozle wuzzle? is that what passes as diction these days?

It's a perfectly cromulent expression. Let the dictionaries embiggen, that's what I say.

pbradley · 11.17.2008, 07:48 AM

The logical response I have to this news is so cogent that I have trouble expressing it.

I meh at replying meh to meh.

shentov · 11.17.2008, 09:12 AM

ploesj · 11.17.2008, 09:27 AM

great. my little brother answers every question saying 'meh', and my mom always says it's not a word. now it is!

shentov · 11.17.2008, 09:28 AM

way to go.

11.16.2008, 09:02 PM	#1
pantophobia expwy. to yr skull Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,349	LONDON — At least someone is excited about "meh." The expression of indifference or boredom has gained a place in the Collins English Dictionary after generating a surprising amount of enthusiasm among lexicographers. Publisher HarperCollins announced Monday the word had been chosen from terms suggested by the public for inclusion in the dictionary's 30th anniversary edition, to be published next year. The origins of "meh" are murky, but the term grew in popularity after being used in a 2001 episode of "The Simpsons" in which Homer suggests a day trip to his children Bart and Lisa. "They both just reply 'meh' and keep watching TV," said Cormac McKeown, head of content at Collins Dictionaries. The dictionary defines "meh" as an expression of indifference or boredom, or an adjective meaning mediocre or boring. Examples given by the dictionary include "the Canadian election was so meh." The dictionary's compilers said the word originated in North America, spread through the Internet and was now entering British spoken English. "This is a new interjection from the U.S. that seems to have inveigled its way into common speech over here," McKeown said. "Internet forums and e-mail are playing a big part in formalizing the spellings of vocal interjections like these. A couple of other examples would be 'hmm' and 'heh.' "Meh" was selected by Collins after it asked people to submit words they use in conversation that are not in the dictionary. Other suggestions included jargonaut, a fan of jargon; frenemy, an enemy disguised as a friend; and huggles, a hybrid of hugs and snuggles. wow, just wow, i mean D'Oh was added to the dictionary, what is next woozle wuzzle? is that what passes as diction these days?
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11.16.2008, 09:09 PM	#2
atsonicpark invito al cielo Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 28,843	meh, they used my favorite word meh! meh. __________________
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11.16.2008, 09:11 PM	#3
This Is Not Here invito al cielo Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Kingston-Upon-Thames, London Posts: 2,586	This is interesting, the "word" (sorry: word) has been increasingly in use over the past few years, I use it quite alot myself, it's interesting how the Dictionary dude sites the Simpsons as a reason for this, just another way the program has affected popular culture. __________________ http://images.google.co.uk/url?sourc...zLTl_B146tcuiw ~~Record of the moment~~
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11.16.2008, 09:12 PM	#4
Sonic Youth 37 invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: if there is a bright spot in the universe, the farthest point from it Posts: 9,443	straight from my user profile: Top 10 (whatever you want): 1.Meh 2.Eh 3.Neh 4.Zuh 5.Wah? 6.Ah... 7.Hmm... 8.Umm... 9.Ow. 10.Oh... __________________ "One: Where's the fife? and Two: Gimme the fife."
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11.16.2008, 09:16 PM	#5
atsonicpark invito al cielo Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 28,843	__________________
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11.16.2008, 09:19 PM	#6
Sonic Youth 37 invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: if there is a bright spot in the universe, the farthest point from it Posts: 9,443	__________________ "One: Where's the fife? and Two: Gimme the fife."
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

11.16.2008, 09:26 PM	#7
atsonicpark invito al cielo Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 28,843	__________________
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

11.16.2008, 09:33 PM	#8
Sonic Youth 37 invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: if there is a bright spot in the universe, the farthest point from it Posts: 9,443	__________________ "One: Where's the fife? and Two: Gimme the fife."
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11.16.2008, 09:36 PM	#9
phoenix invito al cielo Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: the future where it's hot and dark Posts: 5,926	meh __________________ tiny and lost.
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11.17.2008, 12:29 AM	#11
Alex's Trip invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Southern California Posts: 5,608	I remember that Simpsons episode! I lol'd a lot at it. Dang. I was only ten years old then. __________________ KALOPSIA
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11.17.2008, 12:47 AM	#12
Sonic Youth 37 invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: if there is a bright spot in the universe, the farthest point from it Posts: 9,443	The quote goes. Lisa: "We're the MTV generation. We feel neither highs nor lows." Homer: "What's it like?" Lisa: "Meh." AMIRITE? __________________ "One: Where's the fife? and Two: Gimme the fife."
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11.17.2008, 02:24 AM	#13
alteredcourse expwy. to yr skull Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,503	Thats why expressions that our parents nudge onto us inspire nothing. Are you chasing the dragon? I suppose mom, since everything in my limited fishbowl attention span would suggest that its what I've been doing.
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11.17.2008, 07:48 AM	#15
pbradley invito al cielo Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: SoKo Posts: 10,621	The logical response I have to this news is so cogent that I have trouble expressing it. I meh at replying meh to meh.
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11.17.2008, 09:12 AM	#16
shentov expwy. to yr skull Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bulgaria Posts: 1,223	duh __________________
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11.17.2008, 09:27 AM	#17
ploesj invito al cielo Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: antwerp. Posts: 2,901	great. my little brother answers every question saying 'meh', and my mom always says it's not a word. now it is! __________________ blog flickr
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11.17.2008, 09:28 AM	#18
shentov expwy. to yr skull Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bulgaria Posts: 1,223	way to go. __________________
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