ameliorated "Shut up!" in WSJ

[Mai Kuha]

Back in January, several students in all of my 200-level classes reported
having felt hurt, or at least confused, when they first came to Ball State
and their very first attempts at social interaction met with "shut up!",
which they interpreted literally. It blew my mind that anyone could be
unaware of the "unrude use", but it seems we're getting more and more
academically impressive freshmen, so it's possible they don't watch TV...
Anyway, those comments suggest the usage isn't so widespread as to be known
to everyone.

-Mai

On 5/6/03 10:31 AM, Laurence Horn wrote:

> It's always reassuring to find articles citing the likes of Erin
> McKean and Connie Eble.  This one I've only noticed on TV
> commercials, but I assumed they were referencing actual usage by
> someone.
>
> Larry
> =================
>
> Amused? Want to Hear More?
> One Term Says It All: 'Shut Up!'
> By SHELLY BRANCH
> Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
>
>(...)
> Not too many years ago, the unrude use of "Shut up!" might have
> baffled linguists and just about everybody else. But the term has now
> made its way from schoolgirl chatter to adult repartee and into
> movies and advertising. People use it as much to express disbelief,
> shock and joy as to demand silence. In some circles, it has become
> the preferred way to say "Oh my God!" "Get out of town!" and "No
> way!" all at once. (...)