In 2009, it experienced a large jump in popularity, peaking in 2013 and since slowly declining.

Rise in PopularityĪccording to Google Trends, the initialism has slowly increased in popularity since at least 2004. Data from Google Trends showing the popularity of searches for SMH. Urban Dictionary shows that it was first defined as “shaking my head” in 2004. We don’t know when SMH was first used to mean “shaking my head”, but the initialism was certainly used before to mean Sydney Morning Herald, a paper which has used that name since 1841. SMH seems to be used by younger people more than older people. In a text message: Did you see that story in SMH today? Going to be a rough day at the office.Ī text message between coworkers about how a story in the Sydney Morning Herald is going to affect their workday. Someone is annoyed that their friend doesn't believe in dictionaries and insists on making up their own definitions for words they're unfamiliar with. In a text message: SMH, you can't just make up your own definitions to words! Someone posts a photo to Instagram of a sign that contains a list of prohibited activities, including one which the person finds silly. On Instagram: SMH, what's the point of such a silly rule? Someone is annoyed and disappointed (but not surprised) that their friend keeps making the same mistakes over and over. On Twitter: He just doesn't learn, does he? SMH. Someone is annoyed by lowball offers for an item they're selling on Facebook Marketplace. On Facebook: I said no lowball offers in my post! SMH. On online conversation: SMH, you should have studied.Ī friend is disappointed in their friend's poor test score and tells them that they should have studied. On online conversation: SMH, that's the worst password I've ever seen.Ī friend got hacked and revealed that the password he used was 12345. Someone's friend insists that they can go into the store without wearing pants. In a text message: They're not going to let you into the store without pants, man. It is now that date, and person B does not have the money. Person A said they would give person B money on a specific date. In a text message: You said you would have the money for me today.

What does smh mean