Depending on its position in a sentence or cluster thereof, a clarifying statement, a conversational stall, or a slightly apologetic amplifier. Rarely used in formal written communication, but common as a conversational particle in early 21st-century American English.
1. "That movie sucks! I mean, the FX were okay but the story was shit!"
Here, "I mean" is used to introduce a following clause which modifies the prior one. This usually has the effect of altering a very strong and general statement to instead reflect a specific contention.
2. "What's your favorite movie?"
"Hmm... I mean... I like Mission Impossible, but I also love Die Hard."
Here "I mean" covers the speaker's thought process and indicates that conflicting ideas are being weighed in the speaker's mind. It indicates that an answer has not yet been formulated, but does not invite the other speaker to continue talking.
3. "Man, that song is really great!"
"I mean, if you hate music."
Here "I mean" is used to indicate that the speaker has briefly thought of a more polite way to indicate the statement but can only express it in a blunt or sarcastic fashion. "I mean" only starts a statement of this nature if it is in response to someone else's statement, though it can be used in both to agree and disagree with said statement.
Here, "I mean" is used to introduce a following clause which modifies the prior one. This usually has the effect of altering a very strong and general statement to instead reflect a specific contention.
2. "What's your favorite movie?"
"Hmm... I mean... I like Mission Impossible, but I also love Die Hard."
Here "I mean" covers the speaker's thought process and indicates that conflicting ideas are being weighed in the speaker's mind. It indicates that an answer has not yet been formulated, but does not invite the other speaker to continue talking.
3. "Man, that song is really great!"
"I mean, if you hate music."
Here "I mean" is used to indicate that the speaker has briefly thought of a more polite way to indicate the statement but can only express it in a blunt or sarcastic fashion. "I mean" only starts a statement of this nature if it is in response to someone else's statement, though it can be used in both to agree and disagree with said statement.
by Ian J Slinger August 17, 2011
by Ma22y December 30, 2017
by lodobico February 18, 2011
in the famous movie Breakfast at Tiffany's Audrey Hepburns character discirbes them as a horrible thing there like the blues only the blues is for when your sad
the mean reds are for when you scared and you dont know what your scared of...
the mean reds are for when you scared and you dont know what your scared of...
Holly Golightly: You know those days when you get the mean reds?
Paul Varjak: The mean reds, you mean like the blues?
Holly Golightly: No. The blues are because you're getting fat and maybe it's been raining too long, you're just sad that's all. The mean reds are horrible. Suddenly you're afraid and you don't know what you're afraid of. Do you ever get that feeling?
Paul Varjak: Sure.
Holly Golightly: Well, when I get it the only thing that does any good is to jump in a cab and go to Tiffany's. Calms me down right away. The quietness and the proud look of it; nothing very bad could happen to you there. If I could find a real-life place that'd make me feel like Tiffany's, then - then I'd buy some furniture and give the cat a name!
Paul Varjak: The mean reds, you mean like the blues?
Holly Golightly: No. The blues are because you're getting fat and maybe it's been raining too long, you're just sad that's all. The mean reds are horrible. Suddenly you're afraid and you don't know what you're afraid of. Do you ever get that feeling?
Paul Varjak: Sure.
Holly Golightly: Well, when I get it the only thing that does any good is to jump in a cab and go to Tiffany's. Calms me down right away. The quietness and the proud look of it; nothing very bad could happen to you there. If I could find a real-life place that'd make me feel like Tiffany's, then - then I'd buy some furniture and give the cat a name!
by Kennay burdette January 06, 2008
Joke on twitter that began with the cliché of lesbians being mean, and is now seen as serious and/or a political movement by safe and liberal queer twitter
Is now used by many lesbophobes
Is now used by many lesbophobes
"She has a red lesbian flag as a Twibbon, she must be a mean lesbian!"
"OMG mean lesbians are everywhere on twitter i hate them"
"OMG mean lesbians are everywhere on twitter i hate them"
by meanlesbian June 08, 2021
A person who, when consuming alcoholic beverages, is given to highly aggressive and antisocial behavior. This can range from simple verbal intimidation to physical assault. Mean drunks tend to overreact to small slights, and threaten physical violence toward anyone they perceive as threatening them. The term also implies that the person may be entirely normal when not drunk, and that it is the alcohol which causes the aggressive behavior. Contrast with a "happy drunk," who becomes much more social and frindly under the influence of alcohol.
Mean drunks appear to be a minority of the drinking population, and due to their aggressive behavior are not often welcome at social gatherings for long. Since they behave irrationally and often attack with little provocation, the best tactic is to stay out of their way.
Mean drunks appear to be a minority of the drinking population, and due to their aggressive behavior are not often welcome at social gatherings for long. Since they behave irrationally and often attack with little provocation, the best tactic is to stay out of their way.
by The Creature April 21, 2006
The meaning of life is a subjective question perhaps. The answer may vary from person to person to aardvark to flower.
How you live your life as a sentient being is perhaps more relevant than what purpose does life itself serve.
There are few guarantees in life and to assume that any answer to any question is correct is arrogant folly.
“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing” – Socrates
However everyone is entitled to an opinion. Here is mine…
How you live your life as a sentient being is perhaps more relevant than what purpose does life itself serve.
There are few guarantees in life and to assume that any answer to any question is correct is arrogant folly.
“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing” – Socrates
However everyone is entitled to an opinion. Here is mine…
The meaning of life is.... life
Life is the most amazing thing; it is something that we take for granted because we do not know any better.
If we could understand just how surreal the whole concept of life is - we would surely implode or just fade away into insanity.
Hold your hand up in front of your face, wiggle your fingers - do you understand how beautiful, bizarre and amazing the whole concept is?
Take a walk outside look at anything, listen to everything, touch something, smell the soil, taste the air - these are not things you should be able to do - you should not exist.
Life is not something that should exist; it does not make sense, it cannot be explained rationally.
Life is enjoyed in the simplicity, the natural beauty of nature and emotion
Life is hard, life is oh so painful.
But... life is beautiful; without life there is no love.
Without love there is nothing.
Therefore the meaning of life is life, because without life there is no love
Love is all - cant you feel it?
Tuesday 12/01/2010
Life is the most amazing thing; it is something that we take for granted because we do not know any better.
If we could understand just how surreal the whole concept of life is - we would surely implode or just fade away into insanity.
Hold your hand up in front of your face, wiggle your fingers - do you understand how beautiful, bizarre and amazing the whole concept is?
Take a walk outside look at anything, listen to everything, touch something, smell the soil, taste the air - these are not things you should be able to do - you should not exist.
Life is not something that should exist; it does not make sense, it cannot be explained rationally.
Life is enjoyed in the simplicity, the natural beauty of nature and emotion
Life is hard, life is oh so painful.
But... life is beautiful; without life there is no love.
Without love there is nothing.
Therefore the meaning of life is life, because without life there is no love
Love is all - cant you feel it?
Tuesday 12/01/2010
by sandy28 January 11, 2010