told you so
Warning proved right
Told you so is an expression of self-satisfaction when events confirm a warning or prediction the speaker made earlier.
It emphasizes that the speaker was right and the listener should have heeded their advice: I told you so—you should have brought an umbrella.
The phrase often carries a smug or gloating tone, which is why saying I told you so is sometimes considered poor form even when justified.
- vindicatedCleared of accusation
- I knew itConfirmation of prior belief
- smugExcessively self-satisfied
- warningAlert about danger
- predictedDeclared in advance
knew · right · last laugh · gloating · rubbing it in · hindsight · ignored · stubborn · lesson · regret · egg on face · foresight · arrogant · nagged · deaf ears · cautioned · broken record · obvious
- Braggingbrag, gloat, show off, flex, swagger
- Schadenfreudeboo hoo, world's smallest violin, cry me a river, just desserts, comeuppance
- sarcastic phraseswhatever, who cares, yeah right, so what, why bother
told you soI was wrong
Acknowledging prior error
my mistake · I stand corrected · you were right · my bad · mea culpa
told you soit's okay
Expression of reassurance
don't worry about it · water under the bridge · let it go · forgive and forget · I understand
told, you, tells, tellers, retells, foretells, your, yours, yourself