What it means
A classic Singlish tease for someone who's totally lost, spaced out, or moving through the day with their brain on airplane mode. If you missed the memo, went to the wrong place, or stood there looking blank while everyone else got it, you're blur like sotong. It's usually playful, a bit roasty, and very Singapore.
Usage examples
"She showed up to the meeting on Wednesday when it was moved to Thursday. Someone even sent three reminders. Blur like sotong, this one, honest to goodness."
"My cousin came back from his army training over the weekend, blur like sotong, took the wrong bus from Bedok and ended up in Tampines for two hours before realising and calling our auntie for help with directions home to Hougang."
"The new admin officer is blur like sotong, sent the meeting invite for next Wednesday but blocked the wrong calendar, half the team turned up to an empty boardroom yesterday morning at ten and the IT guy had already gone for breakfast."
"Eh, I told you the exam starts at nine and you still went for breakfast first. Blur like sotong lah."
"He queued at the wrong bubble tea shop for twenty minutes, then realised he was supposed to be buying coffee. Damn blur like sotong today."
Where it comes from
This is established Singlish. Blur has long been used in Singapore English for being confused or mentally foggy, and sotong is Malay for squid. Put together, the phrase turns cluelessness into a funny local image. It's been common in everyday Singapore speech for years, especially when you're ribbing someone lightly.
Other ways to say it
Editors of this term
Your vote counts
Is this real street talk or have we lost the plot? Cast your vote.
We look after this expression together
If they say it where you live and something is missing here, bring it. A magikito looks at it and adds it.
- An example
- Your patch
- Your voice