Cool MateI didn't mean that vs That's not what I meant
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
I didn't mean that
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
That's not what I meant
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: That's not what I meant
| I didn't mean that | That's not what I meant | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //aɪ dɪdnt miːn ðət//🇺🇸 //aɪ dɪdnt min ðæt// | 🇬🇧 //ðæts nɒt wɒt aɪ miːnt//🇺🇸 //ðæts nɑt wɑt aɪ mint// |
| Meaning | I didn't intend to say or do that. | I didn't say what I wanted to say. |
| Example | When I joked about your cooking, I didn't mean that; I was just teasing. | When I said we should go, I meant to say we should leave later. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | I didn't mean to hurt, I didn't mean to offend, I didn't mean to interrupt | clarify what I meant, understand what I meant, express what I meant |
| Common mistakes | Using ‘meant’ instead of ‘mean’, Omitting ‘that’ which makes it unclear, Saying ‘I mean that’ when it should stay in past tense | Using 'meant to' instead of 'meant', Confusing with 'That's not what I said', Overusing in formal contexts |
| Usage notes | Use this phrase to clarify when something you've said may have been misunderstood or could be taken wrongly. It’s friendly and suitable for casual or formal contexts, but avoid it in very serious situations. | Use this phrase when someone misunderstands your words; it's appropriate for most situations but avoid in formal writing. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: I didn't mean that vs That's not what I meant
What's the difference between I didn't mean that and That's not what I meant?
I didn't mean that: I didn't intend to say or do that. That's not what I meant: I didn't say what I wanted to say.
Which is more common: I didn't mean that and That's not what I meant?
That's not what I meant is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
I didn't mean that: When I joked about your cooking, I didn't mean that; I was just teasing. That's not what I meant: When I said we should go, I meant to say we should leave later.
Can I use I didn't mean that and That's not what I meant interchangeably?
Not always. I didn't mean that and That's not what I meant are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.