'Meh' is officially a word now

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Queasy

Queasy

Moderator<br>Console Gaming
Aug 24, 2001
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There is nothing meh about the journey of the latest entry in the Collins English Dictionary. Rather, it illustrates how e-mail and the internet are creating language.

?Meh? started out in the US and Canada as an interjection signifying mediocrity or indifference and has evolved, via the internet and an episode of The Simpsons, into a common adjective meaning boring, apathetic or unimpressive in British English.

The word was chosen over hundreds of others nominated by the public for inclusion in the 30th anniversary edition of the dictionary, to be published next year. Jargonaut, frenemy and huggles were among entries suggested to the Word of Mouth campaign, run in conjunction with Waterstone?s. The panel that made the final selection chose meh because of its frequent use today.

Meh was submitted by Erin Whyte, from Nottingham, who defined it as ?an expression of utter boredom or an indication of how little you care for an idea?. The dictionary will say that meh can be used as an interjection to suggest indifference or boredom ? or as an adjective to say something is mediocre or a person is unimpressed.

Collins has been aware for some time of the growing use of meh in written and spoken language. The word is widely used on the internet and is appearing in British spoken English as well as in print media.

Cormac McKeown, head of content at Collins Dictionaries, said: ?This is a new interjection from the US that seems to have inveigled its way into common speech over here.

?It was actually spelt out in The Simpsons, when Homer is trying to prise the kids away from the TV with a suggestion for a day trip. They both just reply ?meh? and keep watching TV; he asks again and Lisa says, ?We said MEH! ? MEH, meh!?

?Internet and e-mail are playing a big part in formalising the spellings of vocal interjections like these. Other examples would be hmm and heh, which are both now ubiquitous online and in e-mails. People are increasingly writing in a register somewhere in between spoken and written English.?

Elaine Higgleton, the editorial director at Collins Dictionaries, said: ?We ran this campaign to encourage the public to tell us about the words that they use every day, but that aren?t in the dictionary.

?We want to make sure that Collins dictionaries include everyone?s words.?
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TridenT

TridenT

Lifer
Sep 4, 2006
16,800
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Meh... No, this is actually awesome.

going to meh all over the fuckin' place now. :D
 
I

imported_Imp

Diamond Member
Dec 20, 2005
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Can't wait till they put 'fuxxored' in. Hilarious when I first heard someone actually say it out loud. I use it regularly.
 
MichaelD

MichaelD

Lifer
Jan 16, 2001
31,528
3
76
Originally posted by: Imp
Can't wait till they put 'fuxxored' in. Hilarious when I first heard someone actually say it out loud. I use it regularly.
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Well, "all bollocksed up" (sp?) is already some kind of British English phrase meaning "it's all fucked up" so I don't see why "all fuxxored up" shouldn't be in there I use it often. It's semi-PC...coworkers don't get offended for about 34 seconds until they realize what word "fuxxored" is substituted for.
 
sandorski

sandorski

No Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
70,808
6,362
126
Originally posted by: MichaelD
Originally posted by: Imp
Can't wait till they put 'fuxxored' in. Hilarious when I first heard someone actually say it out loud. I use it regularly.
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Well, "all bollocksed up" (sp?) is already some kind of British English phrase meaning "it's all fucked up" so I don't see why "all fuxxored up" shouldn't be in there I use it often. It's semi-PC...coworkers don't get offended for about 34 seconds until they realize what word "fuxxored" is substituted for.
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"fuxxord" works on it's own as a complete statement. Does "bollocksed" as well? I prefer "fuxxord" of those 2, but "Bollocks!" works in a pinch.
 
middlehead

middlehead

Diamond Member
Jul 11, 2004
4,573
2
81
Originally posted by: mrSHEiK124
Awesome. Thank God it won, their other choices included huggles and frenemy :Q
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If 'huggles' ever makes the cut, I will end whichever civilization is stupid enough to do it.
 
V

Vehemence

Banned
Jan 25, 2008
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Originally posted by: middlehead
Originally posted by: mrSHEiK124
Awesome. Thank God it won, their other choices included huggles and frenemy :Q
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If 'huggles' ever makes the cut, I will end whichever civilization is stupid enough to do it.
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Awww...SOMEbody needs a huggles! :heart:
 
M

Mr Pickles

Diamond Member
Feb 24, 2006
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Is this really a credible news source? Their front page shows a link to pirates taking over something or other. Not sure I'd believe it.
 
V

Vehemence

Banned
Jan 25, 2008
5,943
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Originally posted by: Mr Pickles
Is this really a credible news source? Their front page shows a link to pirates taking over something or other. Not sure I'd believe it.
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That's exactly what the pirates want you to believe.
 
Jeff7

Jeff7

Lifer
Jan 4, 2001
41,596
20
81
Bollocks - better than anything else in this thread.
Everything else in this thread is bollocks by comparison.


Originally posted by: dNor
Originally posted by: middlehead
Originally posted by: mrSHEiK124
Awesome. Thank God it won, their other choices included huggles and frenemy :Q
Click to expand...
If 'huggles' ever makes the cut, I will end whichever civilization is stupid enough to do it.
Click to expand...

Awww...SOMEbody needs a huggles! :heart:
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I's gonna snorgle with you now!!!

Mmmmmm, fuzzy bollocks.




.......I think that went too far.


"And that, son, is the story of how I got to be nicknamed 'Fuzzy Bollocks."
"Wow dad, that story is lame. I wish I'd never been born!"

 
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