I've heard this kind of phrase recently.
When your shoelaces come undone and you trip. That.
I'm confused about the use of That. Any comments?
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1I've seen "This" and "That" used as a way of emphasis in written communication. Usually things like Facebook, other social media, and text messaging. – VampDuc Nov 06 '15 at 18:38
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3@Nathaniel - I think what the speaker says beforehand is more important. (I think this one-word sentence is a shorthand for That's a good example of what I was just talking about.) – J.R. Nov 06 '15 at 18:38
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1Context is key. Do you know what was said/expressed just before your example? – JCG Nov 06 '15 at 19:07
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@JCG "What really makes you annoyed?"? – Edwin Ashworth Nov 06 '15 at 19:51
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@Edwin Ashworth - Come again? Oh......now I get it, good one! – JCG Nov 06 '15 at 19:57
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@JCG I was hoping you weren't too strait-laced to see it as not a personal inquiry. – Edwin Ashworth Nov 06 '15 at 20:01
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When you trip that way, isn't it because you're straight-laced? – deadrat Nov 06 '15 at 20:10
2 Answers
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Generally occurs immediately after the description of some scenario:
You know when someone ties your shoestrings together and you trip? That.
Basically, it's short for "I'm talking about that scenario."
I suppose, by the "rules" of elision in English, it can be argued to be "legal" syntax, though it's probably best considered to be "informal".
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