SMH stands for shaking my head. People use it on social media and in texting to react to something that's hard to believe or that they disapprove of, a bit like a facepalm or how can anyone do that? The tone is weary disapproval.
Could you drop smh into a text?
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statement + smh; smh at + person/thing; smh, + comment
- He left the dirty dishes in the sink again, smh.
- smh at people who play loud music on the train.
- She paid twenty pounds for one bottle of water at the festival, smh.
What changed
First versionDear Mr Hughes, the heating in my flat has broken down for the third time this month smh.
RevisionDear Mr Hughes, the heating in my flat has broken down for the third time this month, which is very frustrating.
SMH is a reaction from comments and chats, while a letter to a landlord is formal, even if you're angry. Here the frustration is put into words: which is very frustrating says plainly that the situation is annoying, but still sounds restrained.
OMG expresses strong surprise, happy or not, while smh always carries disbelief or annoyance: omg, they gave us free tickets! and they raised the prices again, smh. Smh isn't used in letters, essays or IELTS Speaking; there, disapproval is expressed in words: I find it really annoying or I can't believe people do that.
Your turn
My cousin spent all his savings on a car he can't even drive yet. Dad thinks it's a terrible idea and replied in the family chat: ___
Show the answer
smh — Dad thinks the purchase is a terrible idea, so he disapproves, and his reaction is smh. Slay is enthusiastic praise for someone who performed brilliantly or looks great, not for someone who blew all their savings.
Write to a friend about something someone did that annoyed you. Say who did what, and end the message with smh.
My flatmate used my towel and then left it wet on the bathroom floor, smh.
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