Fuckin' A

[0708] No shit

🎲 No fucking way
English Idioms
All Idioms

Explanation

Can mean two things:

  • 1) Sarcastic acknowledgment that something stated is incredibly obvious (No shit, Sherlock).
  • 2) Genuine surprise or disbelief, similar to Really? or Wow!.

Context and intonation are key.

    Origin

    • Likely emerged in the early-to-mid 20th century.
    • The obvious meaning implies telling me this is like telling me shit isn't shit (i.e., stating the undeniable).
    • The surprise meaning uses shit as a general exclamation.

    Synonyms & Related Expressions

    • Obvious: Duh., Obviously., Tell me something I don't know., No kidding., You don't say? (Sarcastic)
    • Surprise: Really?!, Wow!, Seriously?!, No way!, Get out!, Are you serious?!

    Alternatives

    Slang/Informal (Obvious):

    • Duh.
    • Clearly.
    • No duh.

    Slang/Informal (Surprise):

    • Word?!
    • For real?!
    • Get outta here!

    Vulgar/Emphatic (Surprise):

    • Holy shit!
    • Fuck me! (UK/Aus primarily for surprise)
    • No fucking way!

    Milder (Obvious):

    • Well, yes.
    • Of course.
    • That's clear.

    Milder (Surprise):

    • Oh my goodness!
    • Wow!
    • Really?
    • Is that so?

    Situational Appropriateness

    • Informal to vulgar.
    • The sarcastic version can be rude.
    • The surprised version is less offensive but still informal due to the swear word.
    • Avoid in formal or professional settings.

    Misunderstanding Warnings

    • The biggest risk is misinterpreting the tone and taking the sarcastic version as genuine surprise, or vice versa.
    • Non-native speakers should pay close attention to intonation and context.

    Examples

    • Obvious: A: It gets dark when the sun goes down. B: No shit.
    • Surprise: A: I just won $1000 on a scratch ticket! B: No shit! That's amazing!

    Dialogue

    # Scenario 1 (Obvious)

    Alex: It's raining really hard out there. You'll get wet if you go out without an umbrella.

    Ben: No shit. Thanks, Captain Obvious.

    Chloe: You know Dave? He's moving to Japan next month!

    Dana: No shit?! Wow, that's sudden! Does he have a job lined up?

    Chloe: Yeah, he got transferred.

    Social Media Examples

    • Obvious: Tweet: Water is wet. Reply: No shit.
    • Surprise: Post: My favorite band just announced a reunion tour! Comment: NO SHIT?? Where are they playing??

    Response Patterns

    • Obvious: Often ends the exchange or is met with a defensive Well, yeah... or silence.
    • Surprise: Usually followed by the first speaker confirming or elaborating: Yeah, seriously! Look! or I couldn't believe it either!

    Common Follow-up Questions/Actions

    After sarcastic No shit:

    • The person stating the obvious might feel foolish or annoyed.
    • The conversation might stall or change topic.

    After surprised No shit?!:

    • The person who shared the surprising news will typically provide more details or proof. Yeah, I bought it this morning! I'm still shaking!

    Conversation Starter

    • No.
    • Always a response.

    Intonation

    • Obvious: Flat, deadpan, or slightly annoyed tone. Emphasis often on shit. No SHIT.
    • Surprise: Higher pitch, rising intonation, emphasis on No. NO shit?!

    Generation Differences

    • Widely understood and used, particularly from Gen X onwards.
    • The sarcastic No shit, Sherlock variation might feel slightly dated to younger generations but is still understood.

    Regional Variations

    • Common in North American English, also used in UK/Australia/NZ.
    Fuckin' A
    🎲 No fucking way