- A sarcastic response to someone stating something incredibly obvious.
- It implies Of course! That's completely apparent, you don't need to point it out.
- References Sherlock Holmes, the fictional detective famous for his deductive reasoning, implying ironically that the speaker needed no such detective skills to figure out the obvious point.
Explanation
Origin
- Combines the vulgar exclamation No shit! (expressing agreement or acknowledging the obvious, sometimes genuinely, sometimes sarcastically) with the name Sherlock.
- Popularized in the late 20th century. The exact origin is unclear, but it plays on the detective's reputation for stating deduced conclusions, which might sometimes seem obvious after his explanation.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Duh! (Very common, especially among younger people, though slightly dated).
- Ya think? (Sarcastic).
- No duh.
- Thanks, Captain Obvious. (Referring to the speaker).
Vulgar/Emphatic:
- No fucking shit. (Even stronger agreement/acknowledgment of the obvious, less inherently sarcastic than adding Sherlock).
Milder:
- Obviously.
- Clearly.
- Well, of course.
- That's apparent.
- You don't say? (Can be sarcastic or genuine depending on tone).
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal and sarcastic. Contains mild vulgarity (shit).
- Can be perceived as rude or dismissive. Avoid in formal, professional, or polite settings.
- Best used among friends who understand the sarcastic humor.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Non-native speakers might miss the sarcasm and think it's a genuine acknowledgment or a strange reference to the detective.
- The rudeness/dismissiveness might be stronger than intended if the user isn't comfortable with sarcastic banter.
Examples
- Person A: It's raining. You'll get wet if you go out without an umbrella.
- Person B: No shit, Sherlock.
- Person A: Wow, the internet is down. I can't access any websites.
- Person B: No shit, Sherlock, the router light is red.
Dialogue
Alex: If you don't study for the test, you probably won't pass.
Ben: No shit, Sherlock. Thanks for the insight.
Chloe: This milk smells sour. I think it's gone bad.
Dana: No shit, Sherlock, the expiration date was last week.
Social Media Examples
- Reply to a comment stating something obvious: No shit, Sherlock. 🙄
- Tweet: Friend just told me water is wet. My response: 'No shit, Sherlock.'
- Forum post: Someone in the thread pointed out that fire is hot. Like... no shit, Sherlock?
Response Patterns
- Realizing the sarcasm and feeling slightly put down (Okay, okay, sorry.).
- Getting defensive (I was just saying!).
- Ignoring the sarcasm.
- Responding with counter-sarcasm (Glad we agree, Watson.).
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
- Usually ends that particular conversational thread, as the point was deemed obvious.
- The person who made the obvious statement might feel awkward or annoyed.
- The person who said No shit, Sherlock might roll their eyes or sigh.
Conversation Starter
- No. It's a sarcastic response.
Intonation
- Delivered with a sarcastic, flat, or slightly annoyed tone.
- Stress is often placed on shit and Sherlock. NO SHIT, SHERlock.
- Sometimes drawled out for extra sarcastic effect.
Generation Differences
- Widely understood, perhaps most common among Gen X and Millennials. Might sound a bit dated or cliché to some Gen Z, who might prefer simpler forms like Ya think? or just convey sarcasm through tone.
Regional Variations
- Common in North American English.
- Understood in UK/Aus/NZ English, but perhaps less frequently used than in NA. Captain Obvious might be more universal.