Idiom
Bite me
Bite me is a rude, dismissive reply that means roughly "leave me alone" or "I don't care what you think."
How people use it
People say bite me when they feel annoyed, teased or bossed around and want to shut the other person down. Between close friends it can be playful, said with a grin. With anyone else it is insulting, so avoid it at work, with teachers or with strangers. It is mostly American slang and can sound childish or sarcastic. It has nothing to do with actual biting, and it is milder than the swear words it often replaces, but it is still impolite.
Examples
- When his sister made fun of his new haircut, Omar laughed and said, "Bite me."
- I reminded my roommate that it was his turn to do the dishes, and he just muttered, "Bite me."
- In the movie, the teenager rolls her eyes and says "bite me" to her older brother.
Where it comes from
It is American slang that became widespread in the 1980s and 1990s, helped along by television comedies and teen movies. No one knows exactly how it began. Many people think it is a softened stand-in for cruder insults with a similar meaning, but there is no clear record that proves a single source.
Check yourself
1. What is the tone of "bite me"?
Answer: Rude and dismissive. Bite me is an impolite way of telling someone you don't care what they think.
2. Where is bite me the least appropriate?
Answer: In a reply to your manager's email. Bite me is rude slang; friends may use it playfully, but it is insulting in professional settings.
Similar idioms
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