Etymology Journal ยท N
Not if I see you first!
Meaning
- A playful comeback when someone says they will see you later. It implies a joking rivalry or a desire to avoid the person entirely.
Playful, snarky
Used in a sentence
- I'll see you later at the game! Not if I see you first!
- My coworker shouted have a good night, and I replied, Not if I see you first!
- When my brother said he would see me at dinner, I laughed and said, Not if I see you first!
The backstory
This is a classic piece of American wit often attributed to schoolyards and offices. It relies on the literal interpretation of seeing someone to create a humorous social barrier.
Heard in
Nationwide
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