“I Took an Arrow in the Knee” is a memorable quote originating from the role-playing video game The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. An often repeated stock line throughout the game, it went on to inspire the snowclone “I used to X, then I took an arrow to the knee.”

Largely owing to the positive reception of Skyrim, “I Took An Arrow To The Knee” eventually became perceived as a hyper-saturated cliche, similar to “The Cake Is A Lie” from the puzzle action game Portal. In response to the indiscriminate usage of the phrase, some fans of the game began posting satirical animations and image macros criticizing its hackneyed nature.

It is also argued that Taking an arrow in the knee is a Nordic saying meaning "Getting married." Thus, "I used to be an adventurer like you...then I took an arrow in the knee," actually means that getting married ended his adventuring career.
I used to be an adventurer like you...then I took an arrow in the knee.

I used to be an adventurer like you...then I got married.
by Cespanar June 22, 2013
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“I Took an Arrow in the Knee” is a catchphrase from the video game The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
Can most commonly be seen as comments on youtube, hoping other gamers will recognize the comment and give it a thumbs up. or recognize the inside joke on a random video.

Also used as a reason you're no longer doing something awesome.
"i used to hunt crocodiles, until I took an arrow in the knee"
"I used to think Nothing Else Matters, until I took an arrow in the knee"
by Gemini.crickit December 10, 2011
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A phenomenon that occurs when you're stopped in your tracks or cease to do something that you used to: popularised in today's culture by Skyrim with the famous phrase "I used to be an adventurer like you, but then I took an arrow to the knee." iterated by guards that pop up in the game. Since Skyrim's release it has found popular use around the interweb, having been parodied thousands of times in youtube videos and comments it has become a meme. The phrase can be applied to any everyday situation by "I used to .... but then I took an arrow to the knee"
by hugphenson December 4, 2011
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The only prerequisite for becoming a guard in the land of Skyrim. It doesn't matter on what your previous occupation was, if you took a arrow in the knee then you got the job.

The job requires you to guard the town and inform everyone you meet that you took a arrow in the knee.
"I use to be a (insert previous occupation here) like you, then I took an arrow in the knee."
by Raptor Jewsus January 2, 2012
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An overused joke/reference to Skyrim. It goes by: "I used to do/be/have/etc. a <whatever you used to do/be/have/etc>, but then I took an arrow to the knee."

Most of the time, it it completely unrelated and makes you look like an idiot.
1. I used to have a house, but I took an arrow to the knee.
2. I used to write "arrow to the knee jokes", but I took an arrow to the knee.
by AwesomeGuy123456 December 31, 2011
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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 March 4, 2012
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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
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