- An abbreviation and exclamation used when someone shares overly personal, intimate, graphic, or inappropriate details that the listener finds uncomfortable or unnecessary.
- Signals that the information shared crossed a boundary of social appropriateness or desired intimacy.
Explanation
Origin
- Acronym for Too Much Information.
- Emerged in the late 1990s or early 2000s, likely fueled by the rise of internet chat and texting where brevity was valued, and perhaps by the increasing trend of oversharing online and in media.
- Quickly became a common spoken interjection as well.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Way too much info.
- Keep that shit to yourself. (Vulgar)
- Nobody wants to hear that.
- Yikes. (General expression of cringe/discomfort)
- Oof. (Similar to Yikes)
Milder/More Polite:
- Perhaps that's a bit personal.
- I'm not sure that's appropriate to share here.
- Let's keep things professional. (In a work context)
Vulgar/Emphatic:
- What the fuck? TMI!
- Jesus Christ, I didn't need that image.
- Keep that shit to yourself.
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal.
- Used among friends, peers, sometimes family.
- Generally avoid in formal or professional settings, where directly calling out TMI might be considered unprofessional or rude. In such cases, one might subtly redirect the conversation or express discomfort more formally (Perhaps we could focus on the main points?).
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Non-native speakers might not know the acronym or might be confused why sharing information is being criticized. The concept of conversational boundaries varies across cultures.
Examples
- Person A: I have this really weird rash in a place I can't show you... Person B: Okay, TMI! I don't need to know that.
- He described his entire colonoscopy procedure in detail. Seriously, TMI.
- (After someone shares intimate details about their relationship) Whoa, TMI, dude!
Dialogue
Greg: ...and then after the bad shellfish, the sounds coming from my bathroom were just unbelievable, like...
Hannah: Okay, Greg, TMI! Please spare me the details.
Greg: Oh! Right, sorry. Got carried away.
Hannah: Let's talk about something else. Did you see the game last night?
Social Media Examples
- Reply to a graphic medical post: Dude, TMI! Hope you feel better though.
- Tweet: My coworker just told me WAY too much about their date last night. #TMI #AwkwardMonday
- Comment on a celeb gossip post detailing something private: Ugh, why do we need to know this? TMI.
Response Patterns
- Apology/Retraction: Oh, sorry! / Oops, my bad. / Okay, okay, I'll stop.
- Defensiveness: What? I'm just being honest. / Why, does it bother you?
- Ignoring it and continuing (less common/socially awkward).
- Laughter (if the situation is humorous).
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After someone says TMI:
- The person who overshared usually stops sharing those details.
- They might awkwardly change the subject.
- The listener might quickly change the subject to move away from the uncomfortable topic.
There usually isn't a follow-up question *about* the TMI; the point is to stop that line of conversation.
Conversation Starter
- No. It's a reaction to something someone else has said.
Intonation
- Often said abruptly, sometimes with a tone of slight disgust, embarrassment, or mock horror.
- Can be delivered humorously or seriously depending on the information and relationship.
- Emphasis is usually equal on all letters (T-M-I) or slightly on the I.
Generation Differences
- Very common among Millennials and Gen Z, who grew up with the acronym being prevalent online and offline.
- Understood by Gen X, perhaps used slightly less frequently. Older generations might understand it but are less likely to use the acronym themselves, perhaps preferring That's a bit much information.
Regional Variations
- Widely understood in most English-speaking regions, especially where internet/texting culture is prevalent.