- An informal exclamation expressing great surprise, disbelief, or astonishment.
- Similar to Get out of here!, it's not a literal instruction but a hyperbolic way of saying That's unbelievable! or Wow!
Explanation
Origin
- American English slang, likely emerging in the mid-to-late 20th century as a variant of the already existing Get out of here!
- The idea is that the news is so extraordinary or unbelievable that the person delivering it (or perhaps the hearer, overwhelmed by shock) should metaphorically leave the current location ('town') because the news doesn't fit within normal reality. It emphasizes the outlandishness of the information.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Get outta town! / Get outta here!
- No way!
- Shut the front door!
- Stop it! (Playful)
- You're shitting me! (Vulgar disbelief)
Vulgar/Emphatic:
- Get the fuck outta here! / Get the fuck outta town!
Milder:
- Wow!
- Really?
- I don't believe it.
- Fancy that!
Situational Appropriateness
- Very informal.
- Best used in casual conversations with friends, family, or peers.
- Avoid in formal settings due to its slang nature.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Like Get out of here!, there's a small risk of being taken literally as a command to leave town, especially by non-native speakers unfamiliar with the idiom.
- Tone and context (reacting to surprising news) are key to conveying the intended meaning of disbelief/amazement.
Examples
- A: I just won an award for my painting! B: Get out of town! Congratulations!
- They're selling houses on Mars now? Get out of town! (Expressing disbelief at something heard)
- A: Guess who I ran into at the airport? My favorite actor! B: Get out of town! Were you able to get a photo?
Dialogue
Jake: You know that old comic book I had? I just sold it online for $5,000!
Maya: Get out of town! That dusty old thing?
Jake: Yep! Apparently, it's a rare first edition.
Maya: Wow! That's incredible!
Social Media Examples
- Comment: You finished the marathon? Get out of town! That's awesome! 🏃♀️
- Reply: A: My band got signed! B: Get out of town! Congrats dude! 🎸🎉
- Text: I'm engaged!! GET OUT OF TOWN!!! Omg tell me everything!
Response Patterns
- Confirmation/Shared Amazement: I know, right?!, Yep, it's true!, Totally!, Swear to God!
- Laughter.
- Providing details: Yeah, I couldn't believe it either! It was...
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
- Expressions of congratulations, further amazement, or related emotions: That's fantastic!, No way!, How cool is that?
- Asking for more details: Tell me more!, How did it happen?, Are you serious?
Conversation Starter
- No.
- Purely a reaction.
Intonation
- Exclamatory, typically with a tone of pleasant surprise or amazement.
- Stress often falls on OUT and TOWN. GET OUT of TOWN!
- Can have a rising intonation, similar to Really?!
Generation Differences
- Feels slightly more dated than Get out of here! or No way!
- Might be more associated with Gen X or older Millennials, but generally understood by most.
Regional Variations
- Primarily American English slang, though it might be understood in other regions due to media exposure. Less common than Get out of here! globally.