I see what you did there

English

Phrase

I see what you did there

1. (informal) An expression used to point out that another person's joke or cleverness has been recognised or understood, either to acknowledge its cleverness or alternatively to communicate a lack of amusement.
   • 2004, Future Music‎^[1], page 177, column 4:

     Book a tabla now (te-he) www.electromancer.com/artists/squishmusic [Yes, very good, I see what you did there - Ed].

   • 2010 November 4, Bill Prady, Steven Molaro & Steve Holland, "The Apology Insufficiency", episode 4-7 of The Big Bang Theory, 00:05:03-00:05:19:

     Leonard Hofstadter: Of course, we're in different departments. He's an engineer and I'm an experimental physicist. You know, one of guys who examines the building blocks of creation and says: "Hello, maker of the universe. I see what you did there. Good one."
     

   • 2011, Grant R. Jeffrey; Alton L. Gansky, The Scroll, WaterBrook Press, →ISBN, page 103:

     "Wait. I see what you did there. You turned my comment around on me so that it would be an insult. You are one clever gal, Dr. Rodgers."

   • 2011, "Fast chat: Miss Piggy of 'The Muppets'", Newsday, 19 November 2011:

     Oh, I see what you did there! You made a little "bacon" joke at moi's expense. You got a death wish or something, buster?!

   • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:I see what you did there.

Synonyms

• ISWYDT