then I took an arrow to the knee

to plan on doing something, having done something, or did something, only to get shot in the knee by an arrow.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim's version of Stop right there criminal scum!

1. I used to be an adventurer like you. Then I took an arrow to the knee.

2. I used to have severe acne. Then I took an arrow to the knee.

by HighKingTorygg December 4, 2011

Took an Arrow in the Knee

“I Took an Arrow in the Knee” is a catchphrase from the role-playing video game The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim which inspired the snowclone phrasal template “I used to X, then I took an arrow to the knee.”

In The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, the town guard non-player characters (NPCs) repeated “I used to be an adventurer like you, then I took an arrow in the knee.” when the player walks near them.

The restating of such a specific story over and over again by so many different guards caused it to be noticed by players, who then proceeded to post about it in gaming forums and image boards.

I used to be an adventurer like you, then I took an arrow in the knee.

I used to give a fuck, then I took an arrow in the knee.

by luv-xoxo December 15, 2011

I took an arrow to the knee

Catch phrase from the game 'The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim' in which the guards have a repeating phrase throughout the game. Sparked an internet meme, including much fan art and responses from other existing memes.

'I used to be an adventurer like you, until I took an arrow to the knee.

by Arswaw December 15, 2011

Arrow in the knee

Meme based on a quote from Bethesda's RPG, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Guards would frequently tell the player "I used to be an adventurer like you, but then I took an arrow in the knee." The Internet joke modifies the independent clause to make it relevant to the topic.

I used to think arrow in the knee jokes were funny, but then I took an arrow in the knee. It wasn't funny.

by Brawldud June 10, 2012

arrow to the knee

A phrase that is never said by any guards in Skyrim ever. And I'm not being sarcastic.

Lots of people say "arrow to the knee" on the Internet, as part of an overused Skyrim joke. I have no idea why—all the guards say "arrow IN the knee".

by Anonymous938743 May 23, 2013

Arrow in the knee

Based on one of the default conversations of guards in the game TES V: Skyrim.

If you talk to the guards they say "I was an adventurer like you, then I took an arrow in the knee".

And it really gets annoying after playing the game for some time.

So people started coming up with catch phrases like "I used to be <insert something OP here>, but then I took an arrow in the knee."

"I used to be a douche like you, then I took an arrow in the knee.

by welt_protoss December 16, 2011

Arrow to the knee

A phrase that is fairly old but popularized into a meme via the Skyrim quote

"I used to be an adventurer like you, but then I took an arrow to the knee"

It has since found its way into youtube and message boards alike. Where a comment vaguely involving a video on youtube coupled with the phrase "but then I took an arrow to the knee" can attract hundreds of thumbs up.
It has since become more of spam then anything being put everywhere on every video regardless of relation. However it still fits on skyrim videos and is rather funny when paired correctly.

Me: -Browsing youtube-

Me: -reads comments on video about chocolate bar-

Comments: I USED TO EAT CHOCOLATE LIKE YOU BUT THEN I TOOK AN ARROW TO THE KNEE

Me: Okay....

by engineer is spy December 30, 2011