RTFM

American  

Or rtfm

abbreviation

Slang.

1. read the fucking manual (a euphemistic acronym used sarcastically in response to, or in reference to, someone asking for technical help).

   He won’t RTFM and then complains that he can’t get through to tech support.

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Etymology

Origin of RTFM

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

Usage is common and exactly parallel to both senses of RTFM.

From The Jargon File, Version 4.2.2, 20 Aug 2000 by Steele, Guy L.

Used to refer to the manual itself in the RTFM.

From The Jargon File, Version 4.2.2, 20 Aug 2000 by Steele, Guy L.

Variant form of RTFM, used when the problem at hand is not necessarily obvious and not answerable from the manuals -- or the manuals are not yet written and maybe never will be.

From The Jargon File, Version 4.2.2, 20 Aug 2000 by Steele, Guy L.