Suit yourself is another interesting phrase commonly used in the English language. I touched on this phrase in an earlier story, but I have always wondered how this phrase came to be? I personally believe the phrase came about in the Middle Ages, when a valet walked into the King’s chamber to dress him. It was late in the winter, and in an effort to conserve water the King had not had his annual spring bath yet, and therefore the obnoxious and fetid body odour emanating from the King was too much for the valet to handle, so while almost gagging he turned around in the door and said “suit yourself!”
However, history shows that in Medieval ti mes when a squire was unhappy with being charged with applying a suit of armour to the knight, the squire might reply with the phrase “suit yourself,” which showed some resistance, but not a severe level of insubordination, which at the time could have resulted in death. Of course, the squire would live, because the knight would be all tangled up in his armor, unable to grab his sword!
It appears that the phrase was first printed in 1831. J. Newton, R. Cecil The select works of the Rev. John Newton, page 240: “I hope you will endeavour likewise, to be plain and familiar in your language and manner (though not low or vulgar) so as to suit yourself as much as possible to the apprehensions of the most ignorant people!”
Phew! What do you think of that?
As a newbie immigrant in Vancouver, I had heard this phrase spoken a couple of times, without catching the exact meaning. I vividly recall when I went to buy a new suit, and I told the clerk “I’ll suit myself” as I walked over to the change rooms. The clerk looked at me with a confused expression as he uttered a thoughtful “Ok.”
Another time I used the phrase “suit yourself” was in a situation that could have escalated into something more serious. I had been pulled over on the highway for speeding, and the RCMP officer asked all the usual questions such as “Where are you going in such a hurry?” I felt like a smarty pants, and told him that I was on my way home to my wife in Vancouver who had expected me two hours ago.
“Vancouver is in the opposite direction!” said the officer.
“Well,” I said, “no wonder it’s taking me a long time!”
The officer just glared at me and asked, “do you know how fast you were going?”
“Now that’s a tricky question,” I thought, “if I answer no, then I could be charged with undue care and attention, so I answered yes!”
He smiled and said, “Then I’ll have to give you a speeding ticket!”
I resignedly told him, “suit yourself!”
Oh well!
“Suit yourself” means, basically, “ok, do whatever you want; I’m done arguing.” It implies that the speaker made some attempt (perhaps small) to get the listener to do something; it’s not generally something you say out of the blue. I know from experience. Marion and I attended an auction when we had our big farm in Preeceville. I had seen some round bale feeders and wanted to bid on them. The feeders were next, or so I thought.
“No,” said Marion, “they have already been done!”
“No way!” I argued, “I’m going to bid on them!”
“Ok, suit yourself,” she replied with a curt smile. I should have known something was wrong when I won the bid at $10 because nobody else was bidding! I now owned a cooling fan for an implement that we didn’t have! Do whatever you want because I sure don’t care, is another meaning of the phrase. Some wives might shrug their shoulders and utter in a neutral tone “suit yourself,” instead of whatever or ok! The phrase “suit yourself” is indeed in the same danger category as “whatever” and “ok,” and is just as volatile and carries with it the same result, as in the husband having to sleep on the couch that night.
One day Ole was filling his gas tank at a Petro- Can Station. He overfilled the tank and some gasoline got on his shirt sleeve. He paid for the gas and drove off. Unaware that there was gasoline on his sleeve, he lit a cigarette and his sleeve caught fire. He rolled down the window and waved his arm up and down in an effort to put out the flames. He looked into his rear view mirror and saw red and blue lights flashing behind him and heard a police siren. The RCMP officer pulled him over, got out of his patrol car, put out the fire and told Ole that he would be arrested for having an illegal firearm!
“Suit yourself,” said Ole.
Oh, quit your groaning!
Sven, a circus performer, was pulled over by a female RCMP officer for speeding. As the officer was writing the ticket, she noticed several machetes in the car. “What are those for?” she asked suspiciously.
“I’m a juggler,” Sven replied. “I use those in my act.”
“Well, show me,” the officer demanded.
So Sven got out the machetes and started juggling them, first three, then more, finally seven at one time, overhand, underhand, behind the back, putting on a dazzling show and amazing the officer. Ole and Lena drove by, and Ole did a double take, and said, “My God Lena, “I’ve got to give up drinking! Look at the roadside test they’re giving now.”
“Suit yourself,” said Lena.
