say v.
(US Und.) to rob; to break into.
![]() | Life In Sing Sing 262: We said that plant and trimmed it nice. |
SE in slang uses
In phrases
(US black) a dismissive phr. suggesting that nothing you say is of the slightest importance.
![]() | Third Ear n.p.: ain’t sayin(g) nothin(g) phrase referring to a matter or person of little merit, respect, or value. | |
![]() | Black Jargon in White America 87: you ain’t sayin’ nothin’ Your opinion is worthless; your words are of no substance or importance. |
(US black) gossip, chatter, loose talk.
![]() | Gentleman of Leisure 114: If somebody did something with him sexually and told another girl, he’d make that girl come down and do the same thing. That’s punishment for ‘he-say, she-say’. | |
![]() | Drylongso 64: I know how to tell things, without any who-shot-John or he-said-she-said. | |
![]() | Crack War (1991) 89: ‘What you saying about me, saying I was a traitor, going for the money with Todd?’ [...] ‘That’s he-say, she-say talk,’ Sphinx replied. | |
![]() | A2Z 47/1: he-said-she-said – n. gossip, rumors. | et al.
a teasing phr. orig. used by women to men but latterly by either sex; it follows a compliment or ‘line’; thus fig. ext. to any person.
![]() | Collier’s 94 12: ‘I’ll bet you say that to all the girls,’ I suggested, but Mr. Sutter ignored my pleasantry. | |
![]() | Amer. Mag. 134 91/2: To deflate a fast worker who thinks he’s the Army’s (or Navy’s) gift to women [...] ‘I’ll bet you say that to all the girls’. | |
![]() | Yank 4 41/2: I’ll bet you say that to all the boys. Don’t try any of that stuff on me. | |
![]() | Sex life of a Cop 15: ‘I bet you say that to all the girls,’ she kidded. | |
![]() | 🎵 on Bat Out of Hell [album] Boy: Would you offer your throat to the wolf with the red roses? Girl: Yes. Boy: I bet you say that to all the boys! | ‘You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth’|
![]() | 🎵 on Kiss of the Spiderwoman [soundtrack album] mother: A good son sees his poor old mother through her old age; he doesn’t leave her for a tummy ache! molina: You’re not old...You’re still beautiful. mother: I bet you say that to all the girls! | ‘You Could Never Shame Me’|
![]() | ’I Bet You Say That to All the Hacks’ Baltimore City Paper Online Nov. 19–25 🌐 I bet you say that to all the boys. |
(orig. US) absolutely, definitely, I couldn’t agree more.
![]() | TAD Lex. (1993) 48: (IS: Listening and wondering as the fat dame introduces her new young husband to her relatives for the first time) She’s a dude at findin’ em — ain’t she? I’ll say she is. | in Zwilling|
![]() | Le Meschacébé (Lucy, LA) 10 Apr. 7/1: ‘Did you have any luck at the game last night? ‘I’ll say so’. | |
![]() | One Basket (1947) 142: ‘I’ll say!’ agreed Nick. | ‘The Afternoon of a Faun’ in|
![]() | Hooch! 148: ‘How about a little drink, Dutch?’ [...] ‘I’ll say so!’ Slenk agreed. | |
![]() | Skegness Standard 8 Feb. 5/1: ‘And didn’t they tell themselves off when the time came?’ ‘I’ll say so!’ . | |
![]() | Coll. Stories (1965) 155: I’ll say, he said. I bet you have, I said. | ‘That Summer’ in|
![]() | Candy (1970) 41: ‘Liv’s in one of her moods’ [...] ‘I’ll say!’. | |
![]() | (con. 1940s) Danger Tree 92: ‘Any questions?’ ‘I’ll say there are,’ Ridley whispered to Simon. | |
![]() | Powder 52: ‘There’s nothing usual about what I’m proposing ...’ ‘I’ll say.’. | |
![]() | Empty Wigs (t/s) 520: Tamara wrote in English and translated herself into Flemish and French. Daunting? ‘I’ll say! Not ‘arf!’. |
(US black) a phr. of agreement, affirmation.
![]() | Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com 🌐 ‘I’m saying doe’ Definition: to concur or agree ie: I second that, short for word up. Example: Yo mike need to stop tripping, I’m saying doe. | |
![]() | Campus Sl. Fall 4: FOR REAL – expression of agreement: [...] Also I’M SAYIN’, TRUE DAT. |
1. to say something important and true.
![]() | Scots Mag. 7 Dec. 60/2: It was the first time he had ever been heard to speak a mouthful of sense. | |
![]() | Irish Times 22 May 4/3: It was not his intention to speak a mouthful of moonshine. | |
![]() | Royal Cornwall Gaz. 14 Nov. 5/2: A witness [...] assured the Bench that no one could speak a ‘mouthful’ of harm against her. | |
![]() | Taking the Count 314: A feller told me once [...] that all the wise guys in the cities came in from the small towns. He sure said an armful then. | ‘Easy Picking’ in|
![]() | Indoor Sports 10 Sept. [synd. cartoon] You said a page full. Turn over. | |
![]() | Old Man Curry 31: ‘You spoke an armful then!’ said the Kid. [Ibid.] ‘The Redemption Handicap’ 180: Ain’t it the truth! [...] You surely spoke a mouthful then! | ‘Levelling with Elisha’ in|
![]() | Big Town 233: Some egg in the gallery hollered ‘You said a mouthful, kid!’. | |
![]() | West Broadway 35: ‘You are of the people yourself.’ ‘You said a mouthful! [...] I was raised on Avenue A and in [...] cheap theaters all my young life’. | |
![]() | Iron Man 19: ‘Coke’s got a chance.’ ‘You said a mouthful,’ said Regan. | |
![]() | High Sierra in Four Novels (1984) 394: You said a mouthful, Marie. | |
![]() | (con. 1944) Rats in New Guinea 197: To use one of your phrases, you’ve said a mouthful. | |
![]() | Pop. 1280 in Four Novels (1983) 395: You shorely spoke a mouthful there, Nick. | |
![]() | Requiem for a Dream (1987) 16: Now you have just said a mouthful, mah man. | |
![]() | Chicken (2003) 98: ‘You’re a very old soul . . .’ concludes Rainbow. You said a mouthful there, sister. |
2. to talk at length, esp. critically.
![]() | Little Caesar (1932) 26: You said a mouthful. |
3. (gay) to reprove a fellow homosexual in detail and at great length.
![]() | Sex Variants. | ‘Lang. of Homosexuality’ Appendix VII in Henry|
![]() | Guild Dict. Homosexual Terms 40: say a mouthful (v.): The reprimand of one homosexual for another, usually at great length, as in ‘To lay (one) to filth.’ The term, with a somewhat different meaning, is said to have come into the popular language from the homosexual. | |
![]() | (ref. to 1940s) Queens’ Vernacular 177: say a mouthful (rare, ’40s) to severely rebuke. |
(juv.) synon, with older say no more, an indication that a proposal is so excellent that it requires no further debate.
![]() | 🌐 . | Parents’ Guide to Teen Sl.
(US black) to talk trivially.
![]() | Jazz: A Quarterly of Amer. Music Summer 201: He’d say, ‘he ain’t sayin’ nothin’’. |
(US) to make an important statement, to say something profound; lit. or fig.
![]() | Smile A Minute 68: You said somethin’! | |
![]() | Gay-cat 24: ‘That your dog, Kid?’ he greeted. The kid halted [...] ‘You’ve said something, bo,’ he answered. | |
![]() | ‘The Smythes’ [comic strip] You said somethin’, Pop. | |
![]() | Poor Man’s Orange 70: She’d better say something, that’s all. I’ll tell her a few things. She can talk. | |
![]() | Jazz for Moderns 21: saying something: producing something of value (‘That cat is saying something!’ This could pertain to a good musician, actor, driver, shoemaker, etc.). | |
![]() | Jazz Rev. Jan. 6: Basie is also an admirer of Martin Luther King: ‘Like the cats would put it, he’s saying something.’. | |
![]() | Hy Lit’s Unbelievable Dict. of Hip Words 34: sayin’ something – Very good; you dig it; pleasing. | |
![]() | Underground Dict. (1972). |
(US) an expression of mock disbelief, e.g. what did you say? are you telling the truth?
![]() | Old Man Curry 238: ‘Are you going to bet on him?’ ‘Says which?’ Shanghai showed a double row of glistening ivories. | ‘Egyptian Corn’ in|
![]() | blackface dialogue in Tosches (2001) n.p.: ‘I suppose you read in today’s papers about the big robbery on Main Street, Emmett?’ ‘Says which?’. | |
![]() | Farewell, My Lovely (1949) 13: ‘How long’s this coop been a dinge joint?’ ‘Says which?’. | |
![]() | Fields of Fire (1980) 263: ‘How many people do you know who rotated without getting hit?’ Cannonball scowled [...] ‘Say what?’. | |
![]() | Joe Bob Goes to the Drive-In 1: Banned in Dallas? Say what, boy? | |
![]() | Corner (1998) 163: Suddenly the man in the black robes is running wild, talking fifteen and no parole. Say what? Who changed the rules? | |
![]() | Sydney Morning Herald (Aus.) 6 Jan. n.p.: So here’s a tentative guide to Sydney teenspeak: [...] Say what? (repeat that, I don’t understand). | |
![]() | Swollen Red Sun 149: ‘We need ta get rid of that crazy old goat fucker’ [...] ‘Say what? You’d hafta take out the whole family’. |
a formula used when pouring someone else a drink, i.e. say when you want me to stop pouring.
![]() | Modern Society 6 June n.p.: ‘Say when,’ said Bonko, taking up a flagon of whiskey and commencing to pour out the spirit into my glass. ‘Bob!’ replied I [F&H]. | |
![]() | John Bull’s Other Island Act I: broadbent: [pouring whisky] Say when. | |
![]() | Dubliners (1956) 73: ‘Water? Say when.’ Little Chandler allowed his whisky to be very much diluted. | ‘A Little Cloud’|
![]() | Carry on, Jeeves 115: Rocky took up the decanter. ‘Say when, Bertie.’ ‘Stop!’ barked the aunt. | |
![]() | Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day (2000) 149: Miss Pettigrew brought glasses. ‘Say when,’ said Michael. | |
![]() | Van (1998) 498: He showed her the vinegar bottle. – Say when, he said. |
(US) a comment that suggests the speaker’s disbelief in another’s attestation.
![]() | Desert Sun (CA) 14 Jan. 4/4: Coni Tilghman went to Yosemite over Christmas vacation. New Years Eve she attended the Ahwahnee (that’s what she said!). | |
![]() | (CA) 4 Feb. 1/1: Ye Gads! I had no idea there were so many early risers in the world—5:30 a. m. (groan) in California, that’s what the lady from Long Beach said; That's what she said! | |
![]() | Jagwire (Falls Church, VA) 8 Feb. 11: This prank is suffering the same fate as once-popular, now straggling phrases, such as ‘your mom,’ ‘that’s what she said,’ and ‘awkward sea turtle’ . | |
![]() | Heights (Boston College) 8 Dec. C2: After 2 A.M., even if she didn’t actually say it, “that’s what she said” comments are fair game. |
(US) how are you?
![]() | (con. 1944) Naked and Dead 275: How the old married man [...] what do ya say? | |
![]() | Duke 23: ‘What do you say, man!’ I say. ‘What’s doing?’. | |
![]() | Rally Round the Flag, Boys! (1959) 142: Grady, whaddya say? | |
, | ![]() | DAS 573/2: What do you say? A conventional greeting that needs no reply [...] Common since c.1920. |
![]() | Texas by the Tail (1994) 154: What d’you say, Mitch? | |
![]() | Demon (1979) 69: Hi, whatta ya say? | |
![]() | Song of the Silent Snow (1988) 69: Whatta ya say Ron [...] what’s happening? |
(US black) a euph. for an obscenity.
![]() | Drylongso 220: Nowadays blackfolks just ain’ happy ’less they got some bukra peepin’ in they what-I-might-say! [Ibid.] 168: She would rather sit on her do-nothing-stool and take all that what-I-might-say. |
1. (orig. US) what did you say? what was that? what do you think?; occas. as excl.
![]() | Brother Jonathan I 357: ‘Was he hurt, uncle Harwood?’ ‘What-say?’. | |
![]() | New England Nun 31: Well, what say! [DA]. | |
![]() | Timber Wolves 312: What say, Jack? Shall we go home right away? | |
![]() | Gay-cat 155: A thousand bucks wot we’ll split fiftyfifty. Wot say, Kid? | |
![]() | (con. 1918) Mattock 297: Le’s go ’er together. What say? | |
![]() | Look Homeward, Angel (1930) 485: ‘What say?’ she asked sharply. | |
![]() | Capricornia (1939) 78: I don’t give a damn what he said. Takim back. Here’s some baccy — now then — what say? | |
![]() | City of Spades (1964) 43: What say, man? You like a glass of rum? | |
![]() | Gonif 95: It’s a big, tough one. What say? | |
![]() | Brown’s Requiem 36: ‘Let's get together soon, Fritz. Dinner, what say?’. |
2. used as a greeting.
![]() | AS III:3 221: What say? v.phr.—A form of greeting. | ‘Kansas University Sl.’ in|
![]() | If He Hollers 141: ‘What say, Don,’ I greeted, coming up. ‘How’s things breaking?’. | |
![]() | But Not For Love 85: ‘What say, Burney,’ said Iles. ‘What say, Jacob,’ Burney said. ‘Can I buy you a drink?’. |
(orig. US) a phr. underlining the speaker’s agreement with the previous statement.
![]() | ‘Whitman College Sl.’ in AS XVIII:2 Apr. 155/1: you ain’t woofing; you can say that again; you’re on the beam. Terms denoting satisfaction and agreement. | |
![]() | (con. 1944) Gallery (1948) 112: You can say that again, Father! | |
![]() | Waiters 258: ‘You can say that again,’ Rowden finally said. | |
![]() | Corner Boy 93: ‘They ain’t never seen nothing like Perk.’ ‘You can say that again.’. | |
![]() | Holy Smoke 36: You can say that again! | |
![]() | Best Man To Die (1981) 94: ‘Folks buy new stuff, they don’t want this reconditioned rubbish.’ ‘You can say that again,’ said Wexford. | |
![]() | Start in Life (1979) 120: ‘That was a close call,’ he said. [...] I laughed hysterically. ‘You can say that again.’. | |
![]() | (con. 1941) Gunner 137: ‘Ya can say that again’ he invited glumly. | |
![]() | Only Fools and Horses [TV script] You can say that again. | ‘The Yellow Peril’
a heavily sarcastic response to a statement of the obvious.
![]() | Speed the Plough II ii: handy, jun.: I rather fancy I can plough better than any man in England. sir abel: You don’t say so! | |
![]() | Poor Gentleman I i: No! You don’t say so? | |
![]() | An Uncle Too Many I i: No! you don’t say so! | |
![]() | City Looking Glass V i: You don’t say so! the doctor! | |
![]() | ‘The Romance of a Day’ in Bentley’s Misc. June 573: Mercy on us! you don’t say so? | |
![]() | London Assurance in London Assurance and other Victorian Comedies (2001) Act II: courtly: (aside) Why, that’s is my governor, by Jupiter! dazzle: (aside) What, old whiskers! You don’t say that! | |
![]() | Handy Andy 296: You don’t say so! | |
![]() | Louisiana ‘Swamp Doctor’ (1850) 150: Exclamations of [...] ‘Lordy grashus!’ and ‘Well, did you ever!’ and ‘You don’t say so!’. | |
![]() | Widow Bedott Papers (1883) 66: You don’t say so, elder! well, I declare, I do feel relieved. | |
![]() | Semi-Detached House (1979) 36: You don’t say so! | |
![]() | Wild Boys of London I 208/1: Oh, Lor! ’ee don’t zay so. | |
![]() | Old Hunks in Darkey Drama 5 47: tommy: Dis is full of money! harry: You don’t say so? | |
![]() | Hoosier School-Master (1892) 160: ‘It was called Nazareth, which means ‘Bushtown’.’ ‘You don’t say?’. | |
![]() | Dick Temple I 242: ‘You don’t say so,’ whispered back Mr. Eggshells, with a sort of disgust. | |
![]() | Peck’s Bad Boy and His Pa (1887) 83: ‘Sho! You don’t say so,’ says the grocery man. | |
![]() | Elder Conklin & Other Stories (1895) 115: ‘You don’t tell!’ she exclaimed. | ‘A Modern Idyll’ in|
![]() | Liza of Lambeth (1966) 121: ‘You don’t say so,’ replied her affectionate mother. | |
![]() | No. 5 John Street 150: You don’t say so; why I’m going to a meeting at his mother’s house. | |
![]() | Boys Of The Empire 25 Dec. 188: You don’t say! | |
![]() | Maison De Shine 269: ‘All the gelmun’s as full as goats, Mis’ Trippit!’ [...] ‘You don’t say!’. | |
![]() | Abe and Mawruss 52: ‘You don’t say so!’ Morris cried. | |
![]() | Man with Two Left Feet 29: the chappie: (sceptically) You don’t say! | ‘Extricating Young Gussie’ in|
![]() | Bulldog Drummond 73: ‘Are you aware that this man is a guest of mine, and sick?’ ‘You don’t say,’ remarked the leader. | |
![]() | Brooklyn Murders (1933) 46: ‘I should like to know approximately what Sir Vernon is worth.’ ‘Not far short of a million.’ ‘You don’t say so.’. | |
![]() | Haxby’s Circus 41: ‘You don’t say,’ Dan pattered. | |
![]() | Dames Don’t Care (1960) 94: ‘They should have called you Lousy, it would have matched up better.’ ‘You don’t say,’ I tell her. | |
![]() | We Were the Rats 7: The second girl said ‘Aw gee. You don’t say?’ and the first girl said ‘Spit me death.’. | |
![]() | Big Smoke 150: Well, you don’t say. | |
![]() | Yarns of Billy Borker 63: Pumpkins don’t grow under the ground. I know that, but this one was so heavy it sunk into the ground till you couldn’t see it. You don’t say. | |
![]() | Family Arsenal 120: ‘You don’t say,’ said Mr Gawber. | |
![]() | Déjàvu Act I: You don’t say. |
In exclamations
see under name n.
a general excl. of contempt and disbelief, dismissing as beneath argument the previous speaker’s words.
![]() | Bleak House (1991) 52: That warn’t Chancery practice though, says you. | |
![]() | Broadway II. 108: Steve’s a fine fellow and he’s just out for some innocent fun — Says you — Says I. | |
![]() | Have His Carcase 412: ‘When Lord Peter gets these fits of quotation he’s usually on to something.’ ‘Sez you,’ retorted Wimsey. | |
![]() | Right Ho, Jeeves 76: Only a feudal sense of what is fitting restrains you from substituting for it the words, ‘Says you!’. | |
![]() | Farewell, My Lovely (1949) 15: ‘Easy now [...] This isn’t the time to pull the artillery.’ ‘Says you,’ the barman sneered. | |
![]() | Diss Exp. 22 Oct. 4/1: Says You! ‘We have to drop all this confounded nonsense [etc.]’. | |
![]() | Skyvers I i: cragge: ’E ain’t much good at anything. helen: Sez you! | |
![]() | (con. 1930s) Muvver Tongue 35: In the early thirties all the herberts went about saying ‘Oh, yeah’, ‘sez you’ and ‘scram’. |
see word up! excl.