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Etymology Journal ยท A

Ain't that something

Meaning

Used to express genuine amazement or surprise at a situation, object, or piece of news. It can be positive, negative, or just plain baffled.

Folksy, contemplative

Used in a sentence

  • I just saw the neighbor's cat walking the dog on a leash, ain't that something.
  • They managed to find that lost wedding ring after three years, ain't that something.
  • The price of eggs has doubled in a week, ain't that something.

The backstory

A classic folksy contraction that serves as a rhetorical question. It invites the listener to agree that the situation is unusual or remarkable.

Heard in

Nationwide

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