What Is the Meaning of the Phrase “Humor Me”?
- “Understanding ‘Humor Me'”
- When and the Right Way to Utilize It
- “Make Me Laugh” Alternatives
- Crafting a Response
- What is the definition of “humor” when used as a verb?
- Tips
|
|
|
|
|
This piece was evaluated by Candace Gasper and wikiHow staff writer Dan Hickey. Candace Gasper serves as a Social Media & Digital Marketing Consultant and owns Digital Candy, a social media agency. Boasting more than seven years of industry expertise, she excels in social media and content creation, with a focus on assisting local businesses in telling their stories and growing their audience. Candace earned her Bachelor of Science in Merchandising, Apparels, and Textiles from the University of Kentucky.
This article includes 7 references, listed at the end of the page.
The information in this article has been verified for factual accuracy, with all referenced data cross-checked and the credibility of its sources affirmed.
This piece has been read 10,281 times.
When someone tells you to humor them, there’s no need to scramble for a joke to lighten the mood. The phrase “humor me” is a lighthearted way of saying “indulge me” or “bear with me,” often used to request someone’s attention when they’re reluctant or skeptical. This article breaks down the meaning of “humor me,” its appropriate usage, and alternative expressions for asking others to listen.
“Humoring Me”: Brief Explanation
“Humor me” is a playful phrase used to request that someone indulge your thoughts or suggestions, even if they seem dull, obvious, or unnecessary, simply to appease or satisfy you. It carries a similar tone to saying “Bear with me” or “Just listen for a moment” when sharing an idea or explanation.
Steps
The meaning behind “Humor Me”
-
To “humor me” is to indulge or go along with what you’re saying, even if the other person considers it trivial or unengaging.[1]
In essence, it’s a lighthearted way to express “Humor me” or “Hear me out.” You’re aware the other person might consider your words or ideas too trivial, apparent, or dull to endure, yet you’re requesting their patience—either to feel acknowledged, to maintain your spirits, or because you believe you can sway their perspective.- “I understand you’ve rejected this idea in the past, but please hear me out as I share my reasons for reconsidering getting a dog.”
-
Them:“We absolutely aren’t traveling to Bermuda.”
You:“Just play along for a moment! It would be such a blast.” - Tone tip:“Humor me” is often seen as playful, casual, or even sarcastic. When you need someone’s attention urgently or have critical details to share, it’s better to be straightforward and assertive in asking them to listen.
Advertisement
- “I understand you’ve rejected this idea in the past, but hear me out as I share why we should consider getting a dog once more.”
-
Them:“We absolutely aren’t traveling to Bermuda.”
You:“Just play along for a moment! It would be such a blast.” - To refine your tone, focus on clarity and consistency. Ensure your message aligns with the intended emotional impact and audience expectations. Adjust word choice and sentence structure to convey the right attitude, whether formal, casual, or persuasive. Practice varying tones to suit different contexts while maintaining authenticity.“Humor me” is often seen as playful, casual, or even sarcastic. When you need someone to pay attention urgently or share critical details, it’s better to be straightforward and assertive in asking them to listen.
When and the Right Way to Say “Humor Me”
-
Request that someone listens to you or allows you to express your thoughts.When you sense someone might dismiss your thoughts—perhaps they find your idea absurd or show no interest in your passions—use the phrase “Humor me” before requesting their attention or elaborating further. It’s a way of acknowledging their skepticism while still asking them to let you share your perspective.[2]
-
Them:“Enough with your wild prank suggestions—I don’t want to hear another one!”
You:“Alright, just play along with this idea: drones equipped with water guns.” - “Alright, I get that you mentioned we can’t swing a trip this year, but play along for a second. What if I stumbled on ridiculously affordable tickets to Belize…”
-
Them:“Enough with your wild prank suggestions—I don’t want to hear another one!”
-
Persuade them to join in or follow your ideas.Occasionally, you might need more than just a listening ear from someone. When you require a minor favor or assistance with something they’d rather avoid—such as backtracking through the house to locate your misplaced keys—request that they indulge you and lend a hand, even if the task seems trivial or uninteresting to them.
-
Them:“You can’t possibly have left your car keys in the garden.”
You:“Just play along and give me a hand with the search, alright? I should’ve been out of here 15 minutes ago!” - “Would you indulge me and give a few of my freshly written jokes a listen?”
-
Them:“You can’t possibly have left your car keys in the garden.”
-
Request that someone shares something with you, regardless of whether they find it meaningful or not.Perhaps you’d like your partner to share a childhood memory, but they’re reluctant to repeat it, or maybe a friend is tackling a complicated task they think is too hard to describe. Saying “humor me” can be a playful way to encourage them to clarify or elaborate in a manner that satisfies your curiosity and keeps you content.[3]
It’s as if there’s a delightful twist to the phrase “go on, share it regardless.”-
You:“What’s the subject of your reading?”
Them:“These are the findings from a recent experiment conducted at the Large Hadron Collider. I doubt it would capture your interest.”
You:“Indulge me! What did they find out?” -
You:“Can you sing the song that was on during our first date for me?”
Them:“Believe me, you really don’t want to listen to me sing.”
You:“Come on, just indulge me this once!”
-
You:“What’s the subject of your reading?”
Advertisement
-
Them:“Enough with your wild prank schemes—I don’t want to hear another one!”
You:“Alright, but hear me out: drones equipped with water guns.” - “Alright, I get that you mentioned we can’t swing a trip this year, but play along for a second. What if I managed to score us ridiculously affordable tickets to Belize…”
-
Them:“Your car keys couldn’t possibly be out in the garden.”
You:“Just play along and give me a hand with the search, alright? I should’ve been out of here 15 minutes ago!” - “Would you indulge me and give a few of my freshly written jokes a listen?”
-
You:“What’s the subject of your reading?”
Them:“The findings come from a recent test conducted at the Large Hadron Collider. I doubt it would capture your attention.”
You:“Indulge me! What did they find out?” -
You:“Can you sing the song that was on during our first date for me?”
Them:“Believe me, you really don’t want to listen to me sing.”
You:“Come on, just indulge me this once!”
Alternative Phrases for “Humor Me”
-
The phrase “Humor me” has numerous equivalent expressions in the English language.If you frequently use the phrase “humor me” and want to vary your language, explore this collection of alternative expressions with similar meanings. Options range from formal and courteous to relaxed and informal:[4]
- Expressions that tend toward a more formal tone:
- “Humour me”
- “Please be patient with me”
- “Please bear with me”
- “Grant me the courtesy of…”
- “Grant me the kindness of…”
- More informal expressions:
- “Just listen to what I have to say”
- “Just follow my lead for a moment”
- “Could you do something for me”
- “Give me a hand”
- “Go along with it”
- Expressions that tend toward a more formal tone:
- Expressions that tend toward a more formal tone:
- “Humour me”
- “Please be patient with me”
- “Please give me some time and understanding.”
- “Grant me the kindness of…”
- “Grant me the kindness of…”
- More informal expressions:
- “Just listen to what I have to say”
- “Just follow my lead for a moment”
- “Could you do something for me”
- “Give me a hand”
- “Go along with it”
- “Humour me”
- “Please be patient with me”
- “Please give me some time”
- “Grant me the courtesy of…”
- “Grant me the kindness of…”
- “Just listen to what I have to say”
- “Just follow my line of thought for a moment”
- “Could you do something for me”
- “Give me a hand”
- “Go along with it”
Responding to “Humor Me”
-
Relax andconsider carefullyIf someone asks you to listen to what they have to say.When someone tells you to “Humor me,” they often expect you’re not genuinely interested in their upcoming remarks. Demonstrate that you respect them and appreciate their viewpoint by paying attention—even if you strongly oppose their opinion. To prove you’re engaged in the conversation:
- Encourage the speaker to elaborate on their thoughts by posing questions that require detailed responses.[5]
- Occasionally rephrase their statements to demonstrate your comprehension of their message.
- Acknowledge their emotions to demonstrate understanding.
- Maintain regular yet gentle eye contact without appearing confrontational.
- Confront them with a posture or body language that is open and at ease.
- Encourage the speaker to elaborate on their thoughts by posing questions that require detailed responses.[5]
-
Agree to or carry out what someone asks of you when they request that you humor them.When someone requests a minor or lighthearted favor by saying “humor me,” they’re likely being playful with you. Play along with their suggestion to match their energy! Whether it’s completing a trivial task or singing a song as asked, engaging in something fun or helpful can create shared laughter, which fosters stronger connections and more meaningful relationships.[6]
- Naturally, never act against your own comfort or principles simply because someone tells you to “humor me.” The decision on how to proceed is entirely yours.
Advertisement
- Encourage the speaker to elaborate on their thoughts by posing questions that require detailed responses.[5]
- Occasionally rephrase their statements to demonstrate that you comprehend their message.
- Acknowledge their emotions to demonstrate understanding.
- Maintain regular yet gentle eye contact without appearing confrontational.
- Confront them with a posture or body language that is open and at ease.
- Naturally, never act against your own comfort or principles simply because someone tells you to “humor me.” The decision on how to proceed is entirely yours.
What is the definition of “humor” when used as a verb?
-
As a verb, “to humor” refers to accommodating someone’s desires to keep them content or prevent distress.[7]
The expression “humor me” isn’t actually related to humor or joking around; rather, it focuses on comforting or appeasing someone to maintain their morale (or the general atmosphere). Below are a few examples of how “humor” might be employed to describe lifting someone’s spirits:- “The substitute teacher is quite firm, so just go along with their requests.”
- “Grandma’s been telling the same stories over and over today. Just go along with it and act like you’re hearing them for the first time.”
- “The substitute teacher is quite firm, so just go along with their requests to keep things smooth.”
- “Grandma’s been telling the same stories over and over today. Just go along with it and act like you’re hearing them for the first time.”
Expert Q&A
Tips
-
Occasionally, in films or television, you might encounter the phrase “humor me” when one character urges another to engage in something grim, risky, or humiliating. This twisted application of the expression contrasts sharply with its usual playful or teasing tone in everyday conversations.Thanks
Helpful
1The response was unproductive and failed to provide useful assistance.0
You May Also Enjoy
References
- ↑ https://youtu.be/qC9VF7eR_PU?t=20
- ↑ https://youtu.be/qC9VF7eR_PU?t=42
- ↑ https://theenglishfarm.com/social/humour-me
- ↑ https://www.powerthesaurus.org/humor_me/synonyms
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/emotional-nourishment/202305/being-a-very-good-listener
- ↑ https://online.uwa.edu/news/benefits-of-smiling-and-laughter/
- ↑ https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/humor
This Article’s Overview
- Address fan correspondence to writers
Was this article useful to you?
Quizzes
You May Also Enjoy
Highlighted Stories
Popular Articles
Highlighted Articles
Top Stories
Articles on Watches
Popular Articles
Quizzes
- Home
- About wikiHow
- Jobs
- Get in Touch
- Site Map
- Terms and Conditions of Use
- Privacy Policy
- Do NotAllow Access to My Information
- Not Sharing Personal Data
- Contribute
