whatever adv.
1. whatever happens, at all events.
Sandburrs 72: ‘That’s whatever!’ agreed Dan Boggs. | ‘Short Creek Dave’ in||
Eng. As We Speak It In Ireland. | ||
Powder 47: Guy doubted the relationship would stand too much strain. Whatever. So be it. | ||
Kill Your Darlings 90: He laughed. ‘Whatever.’. |
2. (orig. US black/teen, also wevs, whatevers, whatevs, wotevs) a general expression of dismissal, disinterest.
Bewitched [TV script] (2nd Ser. Episode 1) Endora: Good Morning, Derwood. Samantha Stephens: Darrin. Endora:... Whatever. | ||
Current Sl. IV:2 10: Whatever’s fair. Yes; no (as an evasive reply to a direct question). | ||
(con. 1969) Dispatches 130: ‘It gets me outta the Corps three months early.’ ‘Whatever, Jim.’. | ||
Sl. U. 204: whatever I don’t care. That’s weird. Have it your way. I don’t want to argue. | ||
Clueless [film script] summer: Hey, Cher! Is it true some gang members, like tried to shoot Tai in the mall? cher: No. summer: That is what everyone is saying. cher: Whatever. | ||
Wind & Monkey (2013) [ebook] ‘Whatever,’ replied agent Corris. | ||
Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightdress 35: Hey, did you hear I’m actually coaching [...] and she just goes, ‘Whatever!’. | ||
Gutshot Straight [ebook] ‘Where are we going?’ she asked. ‘You’ll see.’ ‘Whatevers’. | ||
On the Bro’d 14: [A][ bunch of not-hot bitches who were talking about some bullshit conference — bitch-bitch, whatever-whatever [ibid.] 15: I figured whatevs. | ||
Independent 5 Jan. 🌐 Homegrown expressions reflect teen habits of overstating: devs or devo’d for devastated (mildly inconvenienced); and feigning indifference—wotevs or whevs. CBA or ceebs (short for ‘can’t be arsed’) . |