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Glite Dictionary
Bah, who needs it?

Bah, who needs it?

9.9
A short phrase people say to show they do not care and think something is not needed
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : ¿A quién le importa?
  • When the expensive dress sold out, she just said, 'Bah, who needs it?' and walked away.

Examples

  • I missed the concert, but honestly, Bah, who needs it? I was tired anyway.

  • When he was told he couldn't attend the party, he replied, 'Bah, who needs it?' with a casual wave of his hand.

  • He failed his driving test, but with a smile, he shrugged, 'Bah, who needs it?'

  • Bah, who needs it?

  • I just got a new phone, but Bah, who needs it?

  • After losing the match, he just laughed and said, 'Bah, who needs it?' as if it didn't matter at all.

  • She found out her favorite restaurant had closed, but she shrugged and said, 'Bah, who needs it?' and moved on.

Synonyms

hah
vsBah, who needs it?
  • Informal
18 8.9

A quick sound that shows scorn or disbelief

is more indifferent, treating it as unnecessary rather than mocking it
tch
vsBah, who needs it?
  • Informal
9 9.9

A short sound people make to show annoyance or mild disapproval

is more indifferent, dismissing it as unimportant rather than annoyed
bah
vsBah, who needs it?
  • Informal
8 9.8

A short sound people make to show they do not like something or refuse it

is more indifferent, treating it as unnecessary or unimportant
bleh
vsBah, who needs it?
  • Informal
8 9.7

A short sound to show dislike or boredom

is more indifferent, implying it is unnecessary or unimportant
buh
vsBah, who needs it?
  • Offensive
6 9.9

A quick sound you make to show you do not like or take someone seriously

is more indifferent, seeing it as not needed or important
Bah humbug
vsBah, who needs it?
  • Informal
9.9

A short annoyed remark showing you do not like holiday cheer

is more generally indifferent, not just critical of celebrations

Surface Forms

Bah, who needs it? main

Morphology

Bah, + who + needs + it?

The sense ‘it’s unnecessary / nobody needs it’ follows directly from the constituents 'who' + 'needs' + 'it' as a rhetorical question, while 'Bah' is a simple interjection expressing contempt or dismissal. This is a common, compositional discourse pattern (rhetorical question + dismissive interjection) that a B1 learner who knows the words would readily interpret.

Etymology

The saying Bah, who needs it? starts with Bah, a short sound showing dislike, followed by who needs it?, a quick question that says no one needs the thing. So people use it to show they 'do not care' or think something is 'not important'.