Subscribe by Email“meh” gets into the Collins English Dictionary
November 18, 2008 by Mark O'Neill | 4 commentsBy Mark O’Neill
Contributing Writer, [GAS]
In a sign that the English language is rapidly evolving, the word “meh” has been chosen to appear in the next edition of the Collins English Dictionary – and it came via the internet and an episode of the Simpsons.
I am one of the people who don’t use this word, so in case you also don’t use it, here’s what it means : “mediocrity or indifference, boring, apathetic or unimpressive”. Personally I prefer to say that something is “total pants”. Each to their own I suppose.
The people who run the Collins English Dictionary had hundreds of words to choose from for the next edition, and words that didn’t make it included Jargonaut, frenemy and huggles. But they decided in the end to go with “meh” because of its frequent use today. They have already indicated that they have thought up its official definition :
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.
The word appeared in the Simpsons a few years ago when Homer tried to suggest a day trip to Bart and Lisa, but they wanted to watch TV instead. They kept on replying “meh, MEH!”
Via Times Online
- English is Dumb… er, Dum!
- Google Rolls out Google Suggest
- Scientists: USA #1! Public: Meh.
- Man flies across English Channel with jet-propelled wing
haha know of any other “internet slang” that made it into the dictionary?
meh.
I love that word. It’s a perfect way to describe things that are less than stellar. I use it all the time but I never hear anyone else saying it. I guess only cool people say it :-P
I fear for what is to come in the next few years. I personally would like to see more jamming of 2 words together to make a type of new meaning.
For example “prossibly” (pros-sa-blee). A combination of possibly and probably. Prossibly means that their is a small chance it won’t happen.
Meh. we’ll see if it ever makes it. Spread the word of prossibly. :)