No way!

[0136] Seriously?

🎲 You're kidding me
English Idioms
All Idioms

Explanation

  • Expresses surprise, disbelief, skepticism, or asks for confirmation of something unexpected or seemingly untrue.
  • Can also be used to check if someone is being serious or joking.

Origin

  • Comes from the adverb seriously (meaning in a serious manner, not joking).
  • Used interrogatively, it questions the seriousness or truth of a preceding statement.
  • Its use as a standalone interjection became very common in the latter half of the 20th century and continues to be popular.

Synonyms & Related Expressions

  • Really?
  • For real?
  • Honestly?
  • Are you serious?
  • You cannot be serious! (More emphatic, associated with John McEnroe)

Alternatives

Slang/Informal:

  • For real? (Very common, interchangeable)
  • Fr? / frfr? (Internet/text slang for 'for real?' / 'for real for real?')
  • No cap? (AAVE origin, means 'no lie?', asks for confirmation of truthfulness)
  • Word? (AAVE origin, expresses surprise and seeks confirmation)
  • Are you legit? (Asking if the person or statement is genuine)

Vulgar/Emphatic:

  • Are you fucking serious?
  • Are you shitting me? (Expresses stronger disbelief/annoyance)

Milder:

  • Really?
  • Truly?
  • Is that so?
  • Oh?

Situational Appropriateness

  • Informal to semi-formal.
  • Widely used in casual conversation.
  • Tone is critical; it can sound accusatory or doubtful if not used carefully in sensitive situations. Avoid sharp tones in professional settings unless you intend to express strong skepticism.

Misunderstanding Warnings

  • The primary misunderstanding comes from tone. A neutral, information-seeking Seriously? can be mistaken for judgmental disbelief if the tone is slightly off.
  • Non-native speakers might overuse it or use it in situations where a milder Really? would be more appropriate.

Examples

  • A: I'm thinking of quitting my job to become a street performer. B: Seriously?
  • You ate the whole pizza by yourself? Seriously?
  • A: We have to rewrite the entire report. B: Seriously? Why?

Dialogue

Layla: I just won a trip to Hawaii!

Ben: Seriously? Like, actually won?

Layla: Yeah, seriously! I entered that online contest last month.

Ben: Wow! That's incredible!

Social Media Examples

  • Tweet reply: @UserA: They cancelled the show! // @UserB: Seriously?! 😭 #heartbroken
  • Comment: Wait, the final episode airs tonight? Seriously? I'm not ready!
  • Text: U coming tonight? Nah gotta study Seriously? 😒

Response Patterns

  • Confirmation: Yeah, seriously., I am., Totally serious., Unfortunately, yes.
  • Negation/Clarification: No, I'm just kidding!, Nah, just messing with you.
  • Agreement/Shared feeling: I know, right?, It's crazy, isn't it?

Common Follow-up Questions/Actions

After confirmation (Yeah, seriously.):

  • Express further shock/disbelief: Wow, I can't believe it., No way!
  • Ask for details: Why?, What happened?, Tell me more.
  • Express judgment or opinion: That's crazy!, Are you sure that's a good idea?

After negation (No, just kidding):

  • Express relief or annoyance: Oh, thank God!, Don't scare me like that!, You got me.

Conversation Starter

  • No.
  • It's almost always a reaction to a statement.

Intonation

  • Typically has a sharp rising intonation at the end, emphasizing disbelief or the questioning nature.
  • Stress often falls on the first syllable: SER-i-ous-ly?
  • A flatter or falling intonation can imply disapproval or resignation rather than pure surprise.

Generation Differences

  • Very common across most age groups, particularly Millennials and Gen Z.

Regional Variations

  • Widely used in most major English-speaking regions (AE, BE, AusE, etc.).
No way!
🎲 You're kidding me