Usage

My phrase  “imagine” is often used in everyday language — well, at least down here in Louisiana — in more of a sarcastic reference rather than positive. Rather than urban language, this phrase is used more in casual conversations. In other words, it’s used mainly by teenagers when they are conversing with one another and don’t really agree. Basically, the phrase means that someone said something you don’t agree with so you sort of mock what they say in a not-so-disrespectful way. For example someone might say, ” Walmart has the best fried chicken,” and you would reply, “Imagine.”

Influence

When looking up the etymology of “imagine,” it was revealed that the word dates back to the Middle English and French, and it often meant: “Guess,” “Suppose,” or “to form a mental image of something.” This has completely influenced the use of the phrase because you only use this phrase when you want to be sarcastic. When a person says “imagine,” it usually emphasizes that you want someone to picture something from their point of view; however, this positive connotation has changed over into the modern day phrase because it used in a more negative connotation.