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"We Know Where You're Going"

Posted by Bruce Kahl on October 08, 2005

In Reply to: Nyeah nyeah posted by Smokey Stover on October 08, 2005

: : : I would love to know the origin of the phrase:
: : : nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh
: : :
: : : Context:
: : : Said in a sing song sort of way often by children it is usually used to gloat about ones superiority in a 'I told you so' kind of way something like this -
: : :
: : : John: My house is bigger than yours.
: : : Dave: Oh, I don't think so.
: : : John: How many rooms does yours have?
: : : Dave: Seven, seven rooms.
: : : John: Mine has twelve - nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh...
: : :
: : : Some may prefer the spelling to be - nah nah nah nah nah.
: : :

: : In the U.S. a better spelling would be, nyeah - nyeah nyeah nyeah - nyeah. (The rhythm is long, short, short, long, long.) In the key of F, the pitches would be: C - A D C - A. I don't know the origin or age of this expression, but it seems to be pretty universal. I'm guessing it's very old. SS

: I should have added that "nyeah nyeah," with or without discernible pitch, means "So there!" The OED does not appear to have either expression. SS

In the world of sound editing the sound is called a taunt aka the "We Know Where You're Going" song.

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