Used when asking someone to repeat what they have said
An act of surprise (something you say when someone surprises you)
A modern slang word meaning “excuse me”
They are going out tonight, even though we told them to stay at home. “Say what!”
Please hand me that book on the table behind you. “Say what?”
“Say what” is an informal use of language and should not be used in any sort of formal conversation or by intelligent people.
Anyone who says “say what” should be ignored until they say “pardon me” which is the polite way of expressing the same sentiment.
“Congratulations Mrs. Scott, you have won the Gold Medal in English Literature! How does it feel to be a great writer?” “Say what?”
There is no origin for this idiom
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definition
Common phrase that has a specific meaning.