Inquiring Minds Want to Know – Meaning, Origin and Usage
‘Inquiring minds want to know’ is quite a popular phrase, and there’s a good chance that you’ve heard it before, and know what it means. However, what you may not know is that there’s a story behind the phrase.
In this article, I’m going to reveal all. The meaning of the phrase, the origin story, how and when to best use the phrase, and what you can say in place of ‘Inquiring minds want to know’.
And without further ado, let’s get straight to it.
What is the meaning of the phrase ‘Inquiring minds want to know’?
The idiom ‘Inquiring minds want to know’ is a request for more information, even though the phrase isn’t actually worded as a question.it refers to the nature of curious minds wanting to discover more about a particular topic.
You can use the phrase whenever you want to know more about something, whether it be juicy gossip, or significant confidential information.
What is the origin of the phrase ‘Inquiring minds want to know’?
The origin story of the phrase ‘Inquiring minds want to know’ begins in the 1970s in connection with an American tabloid newspaper called “The National Enquirer”.
This newspaper provided what is now known as ‘clickbait . Or in other words, it would display shocking, sensationalist headlines that would guarantee to catch the eyes of people passing a newstand.
The tabloid was known for using the phrase ‘Enquiring minds want to know’. So much so that in the 1980s, the National Enquirer decided to copyright the phrase. But, with this phrase being copyrighted, this made it difficult for other publications to use the same phrase.
But, a solution soon presented itself, and people started using the phrase ‘Inquiring minds want to know’ in place of the phrase ‘Enquiring minds want to know’.
The new phrase with the alternative spelling soon began trending in pop culture, and continues to be used today by the likes of journalists, podcasters, celebrities, influencers and more.
The word ‘enquire’ has long been used to make an informal request to ask for something, while ‘inquire’ is a more formal request used in investigations. However both words are interchangeable.
How and when can you use the phrase ‘Inquiring minds want to know’?
You can use the phrase ‘Inquiring minds want to know’ anytime you want to know more about what is being said. You can say it when you want to know more or when a group of people want to know more.
The phrase is suitable for both formal and informal circumstances.For example, you can use the phrase when gossiping with friends, or in a corporate environment with professional colleagues.
Here follows a handful of examples of the phrase in use.
- What does the company downsizing mean for my team? Inquiring minds want to know.
- So,Sshelia, how was the hot date last night? Inquiring minds want to know?
- We have to look him/her/them up on Google/Facebook. Inquiring minds want to know.
- How much is this going to cost me/us? Inquiring minds want to know.
- I know it’s supposed to be confidential, but I won’t breathe a word if you tell me. Inquiring minds want to know.
- Are you single? Inquiring minds want to know.
- I/we need to know what to expect further down the line. Inquiring minds need to know.
What are some other ways of saying ‘Inquiring minds want to know’?
Here follows a few alternative phrases that you can use in place of ‘Inquiring minds want to know’.
- Tell me/us more
- Spill the beans!
- Then what happened?
- Tell me/us everything
- Give me every single detail
- Tell me all the gory details!
- And? Then what?
- You can’t stop the story there!
- Well? What’s the answer?
- You have to tell me/us!
- Don’t keep me/us in suspense
- Can you explain that to me/us?
- You can’t stop at a cliffhanger!
- Hurry up and tell me/us!
- I’m getting impatient now, just get to the bottom line.
- I/we need to know
Final word
So, to sum up, the phrase ‘Inquiring minds need to know’ is an idiom that despite not being worded as a question, is a request for more information or details.
The phrase originated when the American tabloid newspaper The National Enquirer copyrighted the phrase ‘Enquiring minds want to know’, so many people and publications started to use a very similar phrase instead, with an alternative spelling, specifically ‘ Inquiring minds need to know’.
The phrase can be used in many different contexts, including within both informal and formal circumstances.
The idiom ‘Inquiring minds need to know’ is still widely popular to this day, but there are many phrases that you can use in its place if you prefer, as mentioned earlier.
