• @[email protected]OP
    link
    fedilink
    581 month ago

    “Ope” is a common exclamation in Minnesota as an expression of a very Midwestern accent. The meme example is “Ope, lemme sneak right past ya there and grab the ranch”.

    • @Substance_P
      link
      English
      341 month ago

      To be met with “oh yah, you betcha”

      • @Skullgrid
        link
        21 month ago

        Oh god, this is giving me Fargo flashbacks, I couldn’t handle the accent

        • @P00ptart
          link
          11 month ago

          Oh come on, it may be annoying but it’s not nails on a chalkboard bad, like Boston or Jersey.

    • Nougat
      link
      fedilink
      201 month ago

      Not just Minnesota, but a lot of the upper Midwest. Wisconsin, northern Illinois, probably northern Iowa and parts of Michigan, too.

    • @ccunning
      link
      71 month ago

      Like an abbreviation of “Oops”?

      • @[email protected]OP
        link
        fedilink
        111 month ago

        No. It is very specifically pronounced “Ope”, like “hope” without the “h”, and it has it’s own distinct meaning.

        • @ccunning
          link
          71 month ago

          The thing I’ll say is closer to “‘up” And I use it more like “oh no! You caught me inconveniencing you. I’m so embarrassed 🫣”

          Definitely seems related though…

          • @[email protected]OP
            link
            fedilink
            41 month ago

            I’m a transplant to the Midwest, and I catch myself using it as a “get someone’s attention” noise sometimes.

      • @ccunning
        link
        101 month ago

        The more I think about it the more I think it’s actually something I say, just not consciously. And I’m from the Mid-Atlantic; not the Midwest.

        Also found this article that hypothesizes a few origins including, yes, a shortening of “oops!”

        • @[email protected]OP
          link
          fedilink
          51 month ago

          In Minnesota at least, it’s more of an expression noise like “oh!” in terms of use and definition.