It sucks

Question

Hello,I wonder where the "suck" in the expression "It sucks" originates from. Is it possible to make it into a question? i.e: Does it suck? (It sounds funny) or into negated form "It doesn't suck" (It seems to me that the meaning slightly changes in negative form.)

BarbaraPA · Accepted Answer

Oh, it has so many uses. It's also mildly vulgar, so, for example, my seven year old isn't allowed to say it, and I don't say it to my mother-in-law. And of course, it's very informal! But sorry, I don't know its origin - only how to use it

Someone tells you about something unfortunate that is happening to them. "Sucks to be you, huh?" (this you say only to a friend or else that person would think you are not being sympathetic) or "Oh, that sure sucks." Possibly even "Oh no! How much does that suck?" But not "Does it suck?" I suppose you could even say "Is that as sucky as it sounds?"

On the other hand, when someone says "It doesn't suck" it actually means it's good. Someone tells you something good, you say "How wonderful" and he says, "Yeah, doesn't exactly suck, does it?" (It's good.)

Kilimanjaro · Answer

Grammar Geek
Oh, it has so many uses. It's also mildly vulgar, so, for example, seven year old isn't allowed to say it, and I don't say it to my mother-in-law. And of course, it's very informal! Bu sorry, I don't know its origin - only how to use it

Someone tells you about something unfortunate that is happening to them. "Sucks to be you, huh?" (this you say only to a friend or else that person would think you are not being sympathetic) or "Oh, that sure sucks." Possibly even "Oh no! How much does that suck?" But not "Does it suck?" I suppose you could even say "Is that as sucky as it sounds?"

On the other hand, when someone says "It doesn't suck" it actually means it's good. Someone tells you something good, you say "How wonderful" and he says, "Yeah, doesn't exactly suck, does it?" (It's good.)

This expression really sucks Grammar Geek. It means so many things. I can't understand why we can't make it into a question and negative form , if "sucks" is a verb in "It sucks".

BTW: Do you have a shorter name? I have difficulty in adressing you with your long nick.

BarbaraPA · Answer

Lots of people here call me GG, but feel free to call me Barb.

I'm not sure why you can't really make it a question... slang has its own rules. Maybe - don't think of it as a verb - it's more like a complete phrase.

I guess you can use it in the negative in reponse to a question...

A: Your job sounds really awful!

B: Oh, no... it doesn't suck most of the time. It's just the last few weeks that have been so crazy.

Yankee · Answer

KilimanjaroThis expression really sucks Grammar Geek. It means so many things.

This expression really does not have a lot of meanings. It means that something is terrible or extremely disagreeable. And as Barb mentioned, it's quite informal and mildy vulgar.

It sucks

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