get the memo

phrase

informal + often humorous

: to hear about or become aware of something generally known

—typically used in negative constructions to point to someone's surprising lack of awareness, to say that something did not happen as expected, etc.

Officials often warn tourists not to enter the water, but several tourists searching for that perfect Instagram photo apparently did not get the memo.

—The San Francisco Chronicle

The calendar may say only five more days until fall, but mother nature did not get the memo. It is going to be hot and feel even hotter over the next couple of days.

—Carrie Duncan

You're not still wearing those acid-washed jeans, are you? Tube socks and shorts? … OK, so no one told you. You didn't get the memo. Those things went out with neckties the size of small landing strips.

—Christine Keating

It was expected to be a five-set test of endurance … But, Edberg apparently did not get the memo because he just dominated Courier and captured his first- ever U.S. Open title with a straight set triumph at the National Tennis Center in New York.

—Van Earl Wright

Examples of get the memo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Anyway, Aikman apparently didn't get the memo from Hafley and Sullivan, who don't want their players and fans to think winning isn't a priority this season. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 14 Aug. 2026

But luckily, the rest of women’s soccer didn’t get the memo, because the last few weekends of domestic and international games have been nothing short of exhilarating. — Emily Olsen, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026

Someone at Comcast did not get the memo that holiday weeks are not when companies typically make major business announcements. — Robert Niles, Oc Register, 7 July 2026

The Fourth of July sale has officially ended, but these discounts didn't get the memo. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 6 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1985, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for get the memo

• demo
• nemo
• supremo