I was watching the new movie of Jim Carrey named Dumb and Dumber 2 when I heard some dialogue which I didn't understand. In the following text, what is the meaning of B?
A: "Well, nice catching up."
B: "Not if I see you first."
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According to imdb.com/title/tt2096672/characters/nm0001099, the joke is in its usual form: - "[...] Well, nice catching up. See you later." - "Not If I see you first!".– mwfearnleyMar 31, 2019 at 19:18
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3 Answers
I can't say I've seen that movie, but I'm assuming it's a joke.
It's not uncommon to say "see you later," to which someone might respond "not if I see you first" as a joke. This dialogue takes it a step further, showing that character B doesn't even understand the meaning of the joke, so he uses it severely out of context.
No, pertinently, this doesn't make any direct sense in English.
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Actually, these were the last conversation between them. the character B didn't like the way the A behaved and got sad at him.B said that sentence in an angry way. I would like to learn the meaning of not if and in order to use it. thank you– PMX128Mar 22, 2015 at 23:53
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6@English Don't use it. It is on its face very insulting to tell some you will actively avoid meeting them again; it's something you can only say to close friends, and only if they already understand that it's a joke. Mar 23, 2015 at 0:11
A. Means nice reconnecting after not seeing someone for some time.
B. Is probably in the context of a joke. Like person one says "See you later" as a phrase for goodbye. The responder uses the "see" literally, saying "Not if I see you first".
"If I see you first, I'll do my best to avoid you, so you don't see me and we do not have the opportunity for a so-called nice catching up."
