Meh
"Meh" is an interjection, often used as an expression of apathy, indifference, or boredom. However, it can also be used to indicate agreement or disagreement. It can also be an adjective, meaning mediocre or boring.[1]
Popularization
The word gained popularity as a result of its use on The Simpsons.[2] It was used in a 1994 episode, "Sideshow Bob Roberts", when a librarian reacts to Lisa's surprise that voting records are not classified, and also in "Lisa's Wedding" after Marge weaves "Hi Bart" on a loom to try to pique his interest in weaving, to which he responds "meh." In the 2001 episode "Hungry, Hungry Homer", Lisa spells out the word for emphasis ("M - E - H"), after Homer tries to interest her and Bart into going to the theme park "Blockoland". As early as 1992, however, the word appeared in a posting to a Usenet Internet forum in a discussion referring to the TV series Melrose Place.[3] The word's first mainstream print usage occurred in Canadian newspaper the Edmonton Sun in 2003: "Ryan Opray got voted off Survivor. Meh."[4]
There has been speculation that its origin is Yiddish because of its similarity to the interjection "feh". American lexicographer Benjamin Zimmer expressed some skepticism about this idea, and wrote in 2006, "Whatever Yiddish origins the interjection might have had, they have been lost in post-Simpsons usage." Lexicographer Grant Barrett wrote about "meh" and "D'oh", "I suspect they're both just transcribed versions of oral speech, which has any number of single-syllable sounds that mean a variety of things."[3]
In December 2009, meh was included in a BBC News Online list of 20 words which 'defined the decade'.
Controversy
In November 2008, the word was added to the Collins English dictionary, a British publication published by HarperCollins.[1][5] Cormac McKeown, senior editor for 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 spelled out in The Simpsons when Homer is trying to pry 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! M-E-H, meh!' "
The inclusion of a neologism in a dictionary caused some controversy. Sam Leith, writing in the Daily Telegraph, described the appearance of the word, following suggestions received from the public as a "gimmick", before concluding it was a "useful" word.[6]
In Canada
Harper Collins' definition of "meh" included a "real example" of usage:
"As in 'the Canadian election was so meh' "[7]
When complaints arose over this choice in Canada, Harper Collins' lexicographer Cormac McKeown, who chose the election reference, insisted that he meant "no slight to Canada."[7]
Relation to Mu
"Meh" serves a similar purpose for the speaker as "Mu" in Zen buddhism or Discordianism or Dairy Science, namely to avoid to respond a Yes-no question with "Yes" or "No". Nevertheless, the intention of the speaker is different: While "Meh" indicates her/his indifference, "Mu" her/his opinion that both "Yes" and "No" are wrong answers. This entire paragraph is original research and therefore not encyclopaedic in the the Wikipedia sense. Honi soit la vache qui rit.
References
- ^ a b "Bothered much? 'Meh' is a word". Sky News. November 17, 2008. Retrieved November 23, 2008.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "'Meh' - The Simpsons Make Word History". Simpsons Channel. November 19, 2008. Retrieved 18 September 2010.
- ^ a b Bierma, Nathan (April 13, 2007). "'Meh' joins ranks of little words that do grunt work". Chicago Tribune. p. 2. Retrieved August 9, 2010.
- ^ Barnes, Steve (May 5, 2007). "Meh...: A little word replaces the indifference of 'whatever' – like you care", Times Union, p. D1.
- ^ Hoyle, Ben (November 17, 2008). "Looking for a word to describe how bored you are? Try meh", The Times, p. 21.
- ^ Leith, Sam (November 17, 2008). "'Meh' is more useful than 'weaselnose'". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved December 4, 2009.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ a b Boswell, Randy (November 18, 2008). "Canadian politics: The definition of 'meh'". Canwest News Service. Retrieved December 3, 2008.
External links
- Mark Caro (March 2, 2009). "A surprising brouhaha over the use of 'meh'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 4, 2009.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - Staff Writer (November 17, 2008). "'Meh': Apathetic Expression Added to Dictionary". Fox News. Retrieved 2009-04-013.
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