Understanding "Here Nor There" - Its Origins And Everyday Use
Have you ever heard someone say something is "here nor there" and, you know, sort of wondered what they really meant? It's a phrase that, in a way, just floats in the air, suggesting something isn't quite relevant to the main point at hand. This particular saying, as it turns out, has a rather interesting past, with its roots stretching back to a specific place and time, specifically pointing to the UK parliament as its initial spot.
It's a way of putting aside information that might seem important at first glance, but actually doesn't help much with the immediate situation. Think of it like a piece of a puzzle that just doesn't fit, so you set it aside. This idea of something not really belonging, or not adding much to the main discussion, is pretty common in how we talk, and it was originally, you see, a way to get people to pay attention to speakers.
We come across moments like this all the time, whether we're trying to figure out how to get into an online account, searching for a bit of information, or even just having a chat with someone. Sometimes, a detail just isn't what we're looking for, or it doesn't quite move things along, making it, well, more or less, a bit of an aside.
Table of Contents
- Where Did "Here Nor There" Begin?
- Is Finding Information Sometimes Here Nor There?
- Your Account Access - Is It Here Nor There?
- What About Crossword Clues - Are They Here Nor There?
- Communication - When a Message is Here Nor There
- The Many Places "Here Nor There" Shows Up
Where Did "Here Nor There" Begin?
The saying "here nor there" has a pretty clear starting point, it seems. Both big information sources like Wikipedia and websites that track phrases point to the UK Parliament as its birthplace. So, you know, it's got a formal kind of background, if you think about it. It wasn't just something someone made up one day in casual conversation. It was, basically, a way of getting people to focus.
Originally, this phrase was, you might say, a command. It was used to draw people's eyes and ears to those who were speaking. Imagine a bustling room, full of chatter, and someone needs to be heard. This phrase would cut through the noise, telling everyone where to direct their focus. It was a tool for keeping order, in a way, making sure important words weren't lost. It's almost like a verbal spotlight, really, shining on the person whose turn it was to talk.
Over time, of course, the meaning shifted a bit. It stopped being about pointing to a speaker and started meaning something that just doesn't matter to the immediate topic. It's interesting how words can change their job like that, isn't it? From a direct instruction to a way of dismissing something as unimportant, the phrase found a new purpose, and that's how we mostly use it today. It's kind of fascinating, actually, how language moves and adapts.
Is Finding Information Sometimes Here Nor There?
Think about trying to find something on the internet, like using a big search engine. Sometimes, you type in what you're looking for, and the results you get back are, well, a bit "here nor there." They might be related, sure, but they don't quite hit the mark. You're looking for one thing, and you get a whole bunch of stuff that doesn't quite fit your immediate need. It's like sifting through a pile of papers when you just need one specific sheet, you know?
The advice for finding things online often starts with something simple: just begin with the basics. No matter what you're trying to find, start with a straightforward question. For instance, if you're looking for a place to catch a plane, you might just type "where's the closest airport." That's a good first step, and it avoids getting results that are, in some respects, "here nor there" to your core question. It helps keep things focused.
Sometimes, even with a simple search, you get a lot of information that just isn't what you need. It might be true, it might be correct, but it's not helpful for your specific situation. That's when you really feel that sense of something being "here nor there." It's not wrong, but it's not right for you right now. You just kind of have to sift through it, basically, to find the bit that actually matters.
Making Sense of What's Here Nor There When Searching
When you're trying to find something, especially on a vast system like the internet, you might come across lots of bits of data. Some of these bits will be exactly what you need, but others will be, you know, a little bit "here nor there." They might be related to your general topic, but they don't solve your immediate problem. It's a common experience for anyone trying to get specific answers from a broad collection of information.
For instance, if you're trying to figure out how to do something on a computer, you might get articles about the history of computers. While interesting, that information is pretty "here nor there" when you just want to know how to open a certain program. The trick is learning to quickly sort through what's useful and what's just extra noise. It's about figuring out what helps you move forward and what just takes up space in your head, so to speak.
Good search habits help you avoid getting lost in all the things that are "here nor there." By starting simple, by adding more specific words only when you need to, you can guide the search engine to give you results that are more on point. It's a skill, really, knowing how to ask the right questions so you don't get a bunch of answers that don't quite fit. It's all about getting to the heart of what you're looking for, you know, without too much fuss.
Your Account Access - Is It Here Nor There?
Getting into your online accounts can sometimes feel like a bit of a puzzle, can't it? You might need a username, and then you're told to follow certain steps to find it. The catch is, you often need to know a phone number or a recovery email address linked to that account. If you don't have those pieces of information, then finding your username, and getting into your account, can feel very much "here nor there." It's like trying to open a door without the key or the code, basically.
Consider a popular email service, for example. To open your inbox, you can sign in from a computer or add your account to an application on your phone or tablet. Once you're signed in, you can look at your messages. But if you can't sign in because you don't have the right details, then checking your mail is, in a way, "here nor there." It's a goal that's out of reach, no matter how much you want to achieve it. It's a bit frustrating, honestly.
The same goes for business accounts. If you're thinking about using a certain email service for your work, a specific kind of account might be a better fit for you than a regular personal one. If you pick the wrong type of account, or if you don't set it up correctly for business use, then its usefulness for your company might be, you know, a little "here nor there." It won't quite serve the purpose you need it to, and that's not ideal for getting things done.
When Your Password Seems Here Nor There
Changing your password for an online account is something many of us do from time to time. You go to your account settings, you might need to sign in again, and then you find the section for security. It seems straightforward enough, right? But sometimes, even with all the right steps, something can feel a bit "here nor there" about the process, especially if you're not sure about the old password.
A key thing to remember is what happens when you change or reset your password. You'll usually be signed out of that account everywhere, except for certain devices. These are the devices you use to prove it's really you when you sign in. If you're trying to get back into an account on a device that isn't one of those trusted ones, then your ability to get in easily might be, you know, pretty "here nor there." It adds an extra layer of difficulty, doesn't it?
So, while the steps for changing a password are clear, the actual experience can be tricky if you're missing a piece of the puzzle, like not having access to a recovery option or a trusted device. In those moments, getting full access to your account can feel like it's neither fully possible nor completely impossible, just kind of floating in a state of being "here nor there." It's a common point of confusion for many people, I think.
What About Crossword Clues - Are They Here Nor There?
Crossword puzzles are a classic example of something where clues can often feel very "here nor there" until you solve them. You look at a clue, and it might seem completely unrelated to the answer. It's like trying to understand a secret code. You know there's a connection, but it's hidden, and until you find it, the clue's meaning is, you know, sort of suspended, not quite making sense in the grand scheme of things.
Take, for example, a clue that was seen on a particular date, like February 8, 2019, in a daily puzzle. Or another one from December 24, 2017. These dates, while specific to the puzzle's history, are totally "here nor there" to actually solving the clue itself. They tell you when it appeared, but nothing about the answer. It's just extra information that doesn't help you fill in the blanks, basically.
There are often many clues in a single puzzle. For instance, one puzzle might have 68 clues, like those from June 9, 2025. Another might have 67, from April 3, 2023. The total number of clues, or the date of the puzzle, is pretty "here nor there" to the individual challenge of figuring out each answer. You just focus on one clue at a time, trying to make sense of its particular riddle. It's a very focused task, isn't it?
The Elusive Nature of Clues That Are Here Nor There
Some crossword clues are quite playful, making references to songs or common sayings. For instance, a clue might refer to "expired milk" or to a British folk song with a familiar dance like "you put your right foot in you put your right foot out." These bits of pop culture, while fun, can make the clue's actual meaning feel very "here nor there" if you don't know the reference. It's like being on the outside of an inside joke, you know?
Then there are clues that mention artists or musicians, like a jazz pianist who covered a famous song multiple times. The specific dates of those covers – 1939, 1948, 1953, and 1956 – are, in a way, "here nor there" to figuring out the artist's name. They add detail, but they don't directly give you the answer. You need to know the artist, not their discography dates, so to speak.
The beauty of crosswords, and what makes some clues seem "here nor there" at first, is how they make you think in different ways. They push you to connect ideas that don't immediately seem to belong together. It's a game of finding the hidden link, and until you spot it, the clue just sits there, neither fully understood nor completely dismissed. It's a fun challenge, really, for the mind.
Communication - When a Message is Here Nor There
When we talk to each other, sometimes what we say, or what someone else says, can feel a bit "here nor there." It might be true, it might be said correctly, but it doesn't quite get the main point across, or it doesn't serve the purpose of the conversation. It's like talking around an issue instead of getting straight to it, you know?
Consider an example: if I say, "Matt, come here please." The main idea I want to get across is that I would like Matt to be in the same spot as me. Any other information, like the time of day, or what I had for breakfast, would be pretty "here nor there" to that simple request. I don't want to communicate anything extra, just the basic instruction. It's about being direct, basically.
So, in communication, when we talk about something being "here nor there," it means it's not adding to the core message. It's not helping to clarify or move the conversation forward. It's just extra noise, in a way, that doesn't really serve a purpose for the immediate interaction. Getting to the point is often the best way to avoid things feeling, you know, a bit beside the point.
The Many Places "Here Nor There" Shows Up
It's clear that the idea of something being "here nor there" pops up in many parts of our lives, not just in formal settings like parliament. It shows up when we're trying to find things online, when we're dealing with our digital accounts, and even when we're just trying to solve a puzzle. It's a common feeling, that something just isn't quite relevant to the main task at hand, or doesn't quite fit.
Whether it's the steps to open a browser like Chrome on your computer, or the process of signing into your email to check your messages, there are always details that might seem important but are actually "here nor there" to the ultimate goal. The goal is to get into your mail, and the specific brand of browser, for instance, might not truly matter as much as just having one that works. It's about what truly helps you achieve what you set out to do, you know?
The phrase helps us sort through what matters and what doesn't. It's a handy way of dismissing information that, while present, doesn't contribute to the immediate purpose. It allows us to focus on what's important, letting the less relevant bits fall away, like the many clues in a crossword puzzle that are just there to fill space, or the numerous details of a story that don't move the plot along. It helps us keep things clear, basically, and on track.
Here Nor There
Here Nor There
Here Nor There - Austin Event Space for Rent | Austin Venue Collective
