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whatever

The word 'whatever' has acquired an attitude. It's the word teenagers mutter deadpan or with sighs and rolled eyes. It was the word spoken by a concierge in a US hotel that caused Russell Crowe to snap and throw the phone at him.

The fifth edition of the Collins Australian Dictionary published last year has even added a new meaning for 'whatever': 'informal — an expression used to show indifference or dismissal'. In The Evasion English Dictionary, New York poet Maggie Balistreri defines 11 uses of 'whatever':

  1. Apathetic whatever (Yeah so? Oh, I'm immature? Whatever.)

  2. Pseudo-impartial whatever (Who am I to judge? She's dating the boss. Whatever.)

  3. Self-pitying whatever (Never mind I did all the work but whatever.)

  4. Slow-thaw whatever (Him: I'm sorry. Let's have dinner. Her: Whatever.)

  5. Emotion-kibosh whatever (Dad, whatever, it's just a tattoo.)

  6. Evasion-evader whatever (So now she's mad at me. Whatever.)

  7. Jealous whatever (His uncle got him the job but whatever.)

  8. Minced-oath whatever (Her: This kitchen is a pit. Him: Whatever.)

  9. Faltering cliché whatever (That way you can get closure or whatever.)

  10. Bashful whatever (I just feel such total love or whatever.)

  11. Doubting Thomas whatever (He said he lost my phone number and I'm, like, whatever.)

Reference: David Astle, Like, whatever ... , Sunday Life, 4 September, 2005

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