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“meh” in the middle

English translation: an indifferent "whatever"

05:43 Feb 23, 2017
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
English term or phrase: “meh” in the middle
Hello everyone,

Remember, haters are not the problem. . . . Ignoring them is. The real problem for your business is the people who have a poor experience but are not passionate enough about you and your com-pany to take the time to say something about it in a form or fashion that you can find and act upon. They are the “meh” in the middle, and they are what kills businesses.

What does “meh” in the middle mean?

Thank you.
Mikhail Korolev
Local time: 10:05
Selected answer:an indifferent "whatever"
Explanation:
Maybe this is referring to the game "pig in the middle", when two people pass a ball to each other and a third person who is supposed to stand in the middle (called the "pig") tries to catch it.
I understood the "meh" to mean "whatever" you know, like somebody shrugging their shoulders and saying, it's just a job like any other. This person is not passionate about their job, doesn't care about it at all.

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Note added at 44 mins (2017-02-23 06:27:52 GMT)
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"used to show that you are not interested in someone or something or do not care about him, her, or it:
"Hurry up, or you'll be late for school." "Meh."

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/meh

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Note added at 1 day4 hrs (2017-02-24 09:56:03 GMT) Post-grading
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You are most welcome :)
Selected response from:

Louisa Tchaicha
Tunisia
Local time: 08:05
Grading comment
Thank you, Louisa.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
3 +14an indifferent "whatever"
Louisa Tchaicha


  

Answers


34 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +14
an indifferent "whatever"


Explanation:
Maybe this is referring to the game "pig in the middle", when two people pass a ball to each other and a third person who is supposed to stand in the middle (called the "pig") tries to catch it.
I understood the "meh" to mean "whatever" you know, like somebody shrugging their shoulders and saying, it's just a job like any other. This person is not passionate about their job, doesn't care about it at all.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 44 mins (2017-02-23 06:27:52 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"used to show that you are not interested in someone or something or do not care about him, her, or it:
"Hurry up, or you'll be late for school." "Meh."

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/meh

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day4 hrs (2017-02-24 09:56:03 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

You are most welcome :)

Louisa Tchaicha
Tunisia
Local time: 08:05
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thank you, Louisa.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Sofia Gutkin
0 min
  -> Thanks Sofia!
agree  Charles Davis: It could possibly be a nod to "man in the middle" (MITM) in computing, where the unseen third party undermines communication: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man-in-the-middle_attack
1 hr
  -> Thanks Charles, yes, it could be!
agree  Jack Doughty
1 hr
  -> Thank you Jack!
agree  Yasutomo Kanazawa
1 hr
  -> Thank you Yasutomo!
agree  Morad Seif
2 hrs
  -> Thank you Morad!
agree  Tony M: I think 'in the middle' here just means the bulk of people in the centre of the range between 'v. satisfied'/'v. dissatisfied'; I don't think anything more should be read into it than that. It's the "don't cares": the "neither-satisfied-nor-dissatisfied"s
2 hrs
  -> Thank you Tony!
agree  Simon Mac: And I agree with Tony - it is *those who don't care enough to complain*
2 hrs
  -> Thank you Simon!
agree  Arabic & More: Agree with Tony. These people are merely indifferent and do not express passion either way (good or bad).
3 hrs
  -> Thank you Amel!
agree  Christine Andersen: The people who give you a 'pass grade' and can use your product, but look around for someone else next time. They may tell others they were not impressed if asked, and that is why they are dangerous.
3 hrs
  -> Thank you Christine!
agree  James A. Walsh
3 hrs
  -> Thank you James!
agree  acetran
3 hrs
  -> Thank you acetran!
agree  Kelly McGuire: I agree with all the above. "Indifferent" clients will not be interested enough to give constructive feedback if they hate something. They're rarely return customers.
15 hrs
  -> Thank you Kestrel!
agree  Lubosh Hanuska
15 hrs
  -> Thank you webguru!
agree  Ashutosh Mitra
20 hrs
  -> Thank you Ashutosh!
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