Question
Updated on
4 February
- Bengali
- Hindi
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English (US)
Question about English (US)
Is the idiom “mark my words” natural to say in American English?
Is the idiom “mark my words” natural to say in American English?
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- English (US)
- English (UK)
No, it's not common. I've read it in books set in the past, but I can't recall ever hearing it said.
No, it's not common. I've read it in books set in the past, but I can't recall ever hearing it said.
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Highly-rated answerer
- English (US)
It’s definitely more common in older generations, but it’s not unheard of. My 55-year-old coworker says it all the time. It’s just not a super useful phrase if you want to sound youthful.
It is typically used as a strong warning:
“If you keep lazing about, then mark my words, you won’t graduate high school.”
“You’ll regret the way you treated her once you’re older. Mark my words.”
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- English (US)
- English (US)
- English (UK)
@peachoolong96 Not in daily speech. Sure, I've read it in books and historical accounts. It sounds grandiose/over the top to my ear. I'm from British Columbia.
Highly-rated answerer
- English (US)
@COASTBC Interesting. Where I am in southern Ontario it’s not part of everyday speech or anything, but certainly not unheard of and typically used in situations where we’re trying to predict (assertively) a negative outcome for something or someone. I’m curious now if there’s some sort of frequency database to chart spoken language patterns across Canada, especially with idioms.
- English (US)
- English (UK)
@peachoolong96 It's uncommon to hear. I might have heard it in a political speech occasionally.
I know what it means, but to me it sounds like "Pay extra special attention to my opinion." I don't put much stock in opinions. Hence why it sounds grandiose to me.
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