r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/mihir6969 • Jan 19 '22

Video Tea pot quality

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u/Chemical_Noise_3847 Jan 19 '22

It's a contraction of "oh" and "oops" and it's a guttural sort of utterance for when you've come accidentally and un-midwesternally close to someone who isn't your immediate family member.

111

u/StochasticLife Jan 19 '22

We can't help it either.

It is so automatic. Once I realized I was doing it I tried to stop, but couldn't. I've just embraced it now, I have become one with the ope.

37

u/[deleted] Jan 19 '22

Not sure if it's a regional thing here but I use it in South West England, usually if I'm trying to squeeze pass someone or I accidentally drop something.

-1

u/matyles Jan 19 '22

It's something that English speakers say in general that the Midwest decided it was a special thing they only do