Really? Really!

Hello, you have A Way with Words.

Hi, this is Derek. I’m calling from Provo, Utah.

Hello, Derek. Welcome.

Hi, Derek. Welcome to the program.

Thank you. I’m so excited to be on the show, by the way.

I love it. I’ve been listening since, like, 2005, and I just love it.

We’re delighted to have you. What’s up?

Thank you. Well, I have a question, and I have a theory.

And I guess my question is actually if my theory is correct.

But my theory is about the word really.

I feel like I notice a particular way that people use this word, including myself.

It has to do with the tone of voice that they use when they say this word.

And it’s like when they say, really?

And so I have a few examples.

But my theory is that this comes from Tina Fey.

So would you like the examples?

Sure.

Oh, yeah, sure.

Well, like when something doesn’t work, like maybe your calculator doesn’t work

Or your phone doesn’t work, you’ll just look at the phone

And you’ll just say, really?

Really, phone? You’re not going to work for me?

Or

Another one is like when a professor

Maybe there’s

A Thanksgiving break or a 3-day weekend or something

And the professor gives a lot of homework

For that particular weekend. You just look at the professor and say,

Really? Really? We have this homework?

And so I think that

When they say it in that tone of voice,

It’s like a way of calling out the ridiculousness

Of something or

A person’s behavior. That’s a great way to put it.

Well, my theory is that this comes from Tina Fey, because on SNL, on Saturday Night Live, she had this, and they still do it, this segment where something ridiculous will happen in the news, and then Tina Fey would say, really?

And I just think that maybe this comes from that.

Yes, yes, yes.

I noticed this earlier this year, and I was like, what is the deal with this new catch?

I mean, people have been saying really in this way for, you know, really to mean doubt or skepticism or to indicate that you’re not really sure that that’s what they meant for a long time.

That’s not really.

But it’s it’s this particular.

Yeah, it’s exactly that.

That particular way.

You nailed it, Derek.

You got it exactly right.

That particular way of saying it.

And also the compulsion on the part of the speaker to say it that way.

They can’t help themselves.

It has all the hallmarks of a catchphrase.

And I think you’re right.

It’s this, I’ve seen the segments on Saturday Night Live.

They call it Really with Seth and Amy.

I don’t think Amy Poehler is on the show anymore.

It was Seth Meyers and Amy Poehler.

And they do this.

They just basically pick some public figure who’s done something absolutely ignorant, you know, something just ridiculous.

And they make fun of them.

And they just keep saying it in a lot of different ways.

Yeah.

Really, Blagojevich?

Really?

That’s your best effort?

You know, and they just keep.

Elliot Spitzer, really?

Yeah, the whole thing is just them coming up with all these different ways to mock these public figures.

And it’s just layered.

I mean, it’s just riddled with the word really.

Really? Really? That’s all you got for me?

It turns out that the Saturday Night Live segment,

Which I wasn’t quite aware that Tina Fey did it,

But it’s so hard.

Yeah, I don’t remember her doing it.

She did?

She’s so 100% awesome.

I want to give her credit for it anyway,

Even if I can’t break it.

I like Tina Fey, so I’ll give her credit.

I think that’s where it came from.

I hear a lot of people doing this.

I hear it in casual conversation.

Colleagues say it.

I’ve heard people say it on the radio.

I’ve heard people say it in podcasts.

I’ve seen it in scripted, acted television shows and, of course, on Saturday Night Live.

And it’s the compulsion of it which I think underlies my whole argument that it’s a catchphrase.

Really as a word isn’t new.

Saying really to express skepticism isn’t new.

But that particular tone of voice and the compulsion on the part of the speaker to come out with it, that’s what makes it a catchphrase.

Yeah.

I think it’s really handy.

It’s a great way to make fun of—

Really?

Really?

That’s what you’re going to say to me?

Yes, really, I do.

It’s a great way to make fun of public figures who should know better.

You know, really, Kanye?

Really?

You can hear parents say this to their children, which is just ridiculous because the kids don’t get it.

They just take it at face value.

Well, do you think it has staying power, Derek?

Good question, Derek.

What do you think?

I think so.

The reason I like it is because, I mean, what you just said is brilliant about it being a catchphrase.

Because it’s not like what you said.

It’s not a new word.

Right.

It’s a new way of saying an old word, which I think that will have staying power.

We’ll see what happens.

We’ll see.

We’ll have to touch base on this again, Derek, in a couple of years.

All right?

Really?

Okay, great.

Well, thank you so much for taking my call.

It was really fun to talk to you.

It really was.

It was fantastic.

Thank you, sir.

Good luck with your studies.

All right.

Bye-bye.

Thank you.

Take care.

Bye-bye.

I love that Derek’s saying it to his phone.

Really, phone?

Yeah.

Well, so you kind of get the idea about, I keep using this word compulsion.

Yeah, yeah.

You get the idea of, like, it seems to fit in all these normal life situations where you want to protest.

By casting some doubt on the other party.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

If you’ve got a catchphrase that you would like us to get to the bottom of,

Give us a call.

Sometimes we can help.

1-877-929-967.

This is going to get old fast.

1-877-929-9673.

Or email us at words@waywordradio.org.