what was someone smoking

The idiom "what was someone smoking" is a commonly used rhetorical question in colloquial English. It is often used to express incredulity or disbelief about someone's behavior, decision, or statement. When using this idiom, one is essentially questioning the sanity and reasoning of the person in question.

This idiom is typically used in a humorous or sarcastic manner, to highlight the irrationality or absurdity of someone's actions or thoughts. By invoking the image of smoking, the idiom suggests that the person in question must have been under the influence of something mind-altering to have made such an outrageous or illogical choice. It implies that the person's decision or statement is so out of touch with reality that it can only be explained by the assumption that they must have been under the influence of drugs or a similarly mind-altering substance.

The idiom "say that" is another related expression. This phrase is used to express agreement or to acknowledge a statement as accurate or noteworthy. It is similar to "what was someone smoking" in that both idioms involve a rhetorical question, but "say that" is used to affirm a statement, while "what was someone smoking" is used to express disbelief or incredulity.

The idiom "smoking gun" is another related expression. This phrase is used to refer to clear evidence or proof of someone's guilt or wrongdoing. It is similar to "what was someone smoking" in that both idioms involve the use of the word "smoking," but "smoking gun" specifically refers to evidence, while "what was someone smoking" questions the rationality of someone's actions or thoughts.

While the exact origins of these idioms are unknown, they are all commonly used in colloquial English. They serve to express disbelief, incredulity, confusion, or surprise, each in their own unique way. The idioms "what was someone thinking," "holy smoke," "say that," "smoking gun," and "say what" all provide colorful and humorous ways to convey these emotions and engage in conversation with others. They highlight the rich and ever-evolving nature of idiomatic expressions in the English language.