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Re: Who'da thunk it?

Posted by Kit on September 04, 2003

In Reply to: Re: Snuck in posted by ESC on September 02, 2003

: : : :
: : : : Hi,

: : : : What does this phrase "Who'da thunk it" mean?

: : : : Thanks!

: : : It translates to:
: : : "Who would have thought anything like THAT would have happened".

: : It's a lighthearted thing to say. The perfect tense of think is thought. This saying pretends that the past tense of think is thunk, just as the perfect tense of slink is slunk.
: : Similarly, the perfect tense of sneak is the regular form sneaked, but you can often hear (American) people say snuck. This usage seems to be growing. Is it regarded as correct in America?

: My Associated Press Stylebook says "sneaked" is the proper past tense of "sneak" and cautions: "Don't use the colloquial 'snuck.'"

The phrase "Who'da thunk it?" is widely used in American culture and is becoming accepted as a legitimate statement. What a shame for our beautiful language. Anyone who has even a slight grasp of the English language is advised to avoid it, no matter how 'amusing' it may be. I guess that's why the Americans use it. How typical.