May 15, 2003

RTFM

/R·T·F·M/ imp.

[Unix] Abbreviation for ‘Read The Fucking Manual’.

1. Used by gurus to brush off questions they consider trivial or annoying. Compare Don't do that then!.

2. Used when reporting a problem to indicate that you aren't just asking out of randomness. No, I can't figure out how to interface Unix to my toaster, and yes, I have RTFM. Unlike sense 1, this use is considered polite. See also FM, RTFAQ, RTFB, RTFS, STFW, RTM, all of which mutated from RTFM, and compare UTSL.

Posted by Jargon File at May 15, 2003 10:31 AM

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