Ping me
Meaning
To send a quick message or notification to someone, usually digitally, to make contact or get their attention.
Origin
The phrase "ping me" springs directly from the world of radar and sonar technology. In the mid-20th century, a "ping" was the distinct sound pulse sent out by a sonar device or radar to locate objects underwater or in the air. That sharp, immediate sound, and its echo, informed the operator of a presence. As computing evolved, the term was adopted for a network utility that sends a small data packet to another computer to test its reachability—effectively, sending a digital "ping." From this technical jargon, it wasn't long before the informal and efficient request to "ping me" became common parlance, especially in the casual digital communication of today, asking for a quick, direct message or notification.
Examples
- If you have any updates on the proposal, just ping me when you get a chance.
- I'll ping you later this afternoon to confirm our plans for the weekend.