so much for

[maiabulela]

Dear all,
MAN MAKES HAMBURGER, WHEN HE SMOOSHES IT TOGETHER THE TABLE COLLAPSES

Then she said "Okay. So much for the mess"

What is the meaning of "so much for the mess" here?

Thanks a lot.

[BobK]

I expect you've looked up 'so much for', and can't make the meaning fit this context. Nor can I!.... unless earlier on he had said something like 'I won't cook a meal - too much mess. I'll just make a hamburger instead.' Even then, I would have expected the woman to say something like 'so much for not making a mess'.

b

[maiabulela]

I expect you've looked up 'so much for', and can't make the meaning fit this context. Nor can I!.... unless earlier on he had said something like 'I won't cook a meal - too much mess. I'll just make a hamburger instead.' Even then, I would have expected the woman to say something like 'so much for not making a mess'.

b

but really that is exactly what she said. :( I can't get it.

[maiabulela]

I can't even get the meaning of the "so much for not making a mess" you have kindly mentioned!!!

And please, put in mind that she was kidding. (so may be she's mocking,. Still I don't know the expression or when it should be said) :'(

[BobK]

but really that is exactly what she said. :( I can't get it.

Any chance it's been transcribed wrongly, or you've misheard?

b

[maiabulela]

No. I haven't. She was kidding.

[BobK]

I can't even get the meaning of the "so much for not making a mess" you have kindly mentioned!!!

And please, put bear or keep in mind that she was kidding. (so maybe one word she's mocking,. Still I don't know the expression or when it should be said) :'(

It's not easy to say what 'so much for' means, which is why I took the easy way out and said 'I expect you've looked up "so much for"...'. Well, I'll try.

The 'so much' bit is sarcastic; it means the reverse. 'So much for the diet you were going to start after the holidays' means 'Your intentions were of little value. It's only the end of January. and you're still eating chocolates'. So I'd have understood if the woman in your example had said 'so much for not making a mess', meaning 'So you didn't want to make a mess.... Well that plan wasn't a great success, was it?'

(This is what it means, but - as I said before - it doesn't seem to me to fit the context you described; maybe it's a British/American thing - like 'I couldn't care less', which doesn't need the 'not' in Am English.)

We'll have to hope someone else joins us....

b

[Pedroski]

"Okay. So much for the mess" I think it means 'that explains the mess'.

[maiabulela]

It's not easy to say what 'so much for' means, which is why I took the easy way out and said 'I expect you've looked up "so much for"...'. Well, I'll try.

The 'so much' bit is sarcastic; it means the reverse. 'So much for the diet you were going to start after the holidays' means 'Your intentions were of little value. It's only the end of January. and you're still eating chocolates'. So I'd have understood if the woman in your example had said 'so much for not making a mess', meaning 'So you didn't want to make a mess.... Well that plan wasn't a great success, was it?'

(This is what it means, but - as I said before - it doesn't seem to me to fit the context you described; maybe it's a British/American thing - like 'I couldn't care less', which doesn't need the 'not' in Am English.)

We'll have to hope someone else joins us....

b

What I got that it's simply means "enough for....""No need anynore for...", doesn't it?

Thanks.

[Barb_D]

No, it doesn't mean what you and Pedroski have suggested. It means exactly what Bob said above.

You use it sarcastically to mean "Despite your saying you were going to do something, you didn't." (Or: Despite your saying you were not going to do something, you did it anyway.)

It's also used when something fails or is broken beyond recovery.

So much for that egg -- after the egg falls off the counter onto the floor.
So much for that plan -- after you realize that the route you wanted to take is blocked by construction.
So much for a clean house -- after the dog tracks mud all over the place

The reason we are having a hard time explaining it to you in this context is because it makes no sense in this context! If it had been "So much for a clean kitchen!" or "So much for keeping things tidy as I went"" it would make sense.