win liao lor
English
Etymology
Borrowed from Hokkien 了 (liâu, “already”, aspect marker) and 啰 (lor, final particle used to express affirmation).
Pronunciation
(Singapore) IPA(key): /wɪn lɪaʊ lɒ/
Interjection
win liao lor
- (Singapore) An expression someone says to admit defeat in an argument or to a definite win statement/act.
- 1997 November 28, soc.culture.singapore, Usenet:
- Wah this type of response, win liao lor, typical singaporean hehe.
- 1999 May 1, soc.culture.singapore, Usenet:
- Win liao lor… Continue also cannot… Stop also cannot… How?
- 2007 August 21, soc.culture.singapore, Usenet:
- And who says that should a policy holder of an annuity dies before the principal sum is exhausted, the balance is forfeited? Like that all insurance companies win liao lor.
- 2016 October 18, Indonesian artist's series of Line stickers is popular:
- Said the spokesman: "In Singapore, some of the top sticker sets are Singlish sets with illustrations depicting phrases such as bojio (You did not invite me!), win liao lor (when you grudgingly concede to an argument) or kan cheong spider (an anxious person).
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Usage notes
More commonly used in spoken Singapore Colloquial English than in written texts.