"Say what you really think"

Posted by SR on December 16, 2004

In Reply to: "Say what you really think" posted by Word Camel on December 16, 2004

: Is anyone familiar with the ironic phrase, "say what you really think" or "Say what you really think, why don't you?" usually following a very blunt statement? It's usually something like this:

: "John is a complete and utter fool and his administration of this enterprise has been an disaster of biblical proportion."

: "Say what you really think, why don't you?"

: It seems to be making a few inroads here in the US. I always think of it as a British phrase.

: Anyway, I was wondering where it comes from. It sounds like a comic's signature line but I haven't been able to find any trace of it, at least online. Maybe it's too subtle for Google. Any ideas?

Why don't you tell me what you really think?
Why don't you say what you really mean?
Both said with sarcasm or irony in resopose to a blunt statement are quite common here in the northern US, but am unsure of the origin.
SR