---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So it was surprising that I killed it as…"
description: "\"“So it was surprising that I killed it as a babysitter. Er, maybe “killed it” is a wrong and potentially troubling way to express what I’m trying to sa..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb1/mindy-kaling-672_killed_so-it-was-surprising-that-i-killed-it-as_2794487.png"
---

#  So it was surprising that I killed it as a babysitter. Er…

![“So it was surprising that I killed it as a babysitter. Er, maybe “killed it” is a wrong and potentially troubling way to express what I’m trying to say.” quote by Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb1/mindy-kaling-672_killed_so-it-was-surprising-that-i-killed-it-as_2794487.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb1/mindy-kaling-672_killed_so-it-was-surprising-that-i-killed-it-as_2794487.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb1/mindy-kaling-672_killed_so-it-was-surprising-that-i-killed-it-as_2794487.png)

> ““So it was surprising that I killed it as a babysitter. Er, maybe “killed it” is a wrong and potentially troubling way to express what I’m trying to say.””

[Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Describing a performance as “killed it” can be problematic; language matters in expressing success.

**In simple terms:** Choosing words carefully when praising work.

Key Takeaway

Use precise, respectful language.

Themes

communication language self‑expression performance

Mood

thoughtful humorous

Type

communication creative

When to use this quote

- team feedback
- public speaking
- media interviews

Key Concepts

semantic nuance impact of phrasing

Questions to Reflect On

- How does language shape perception of achievement?
- What alternatives convey enthusiasm without negative connotations?

A Different Perspective

Some may prefer more casual praise.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Killed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killed/) [Killed Babysitter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killed-babysitter-3403398/) [Killed Wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killed-wrong-3403399/) [Maybe Killed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maybe-killed-1156166/) [Surprising Killed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprising-killed-3403400/)

## Related quotes

> [You can imagine my embarrassment when I killed the wrong guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-valachi/you-can-imagine-my-embarrassment-when-i-killed-the-wrong-guy/)

[Joe Valachi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-valachi/)

> [“He told me what it was, and I see in a minute it was worth fifteen of mine for style, and would make Jim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/he-told-me-what-it-was-and-i-see-in-a-minute-it-was-worth-fifteen-of/)

[Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/)

> [Maybe I should have killed four, five hundred people. Then I would have felt better. Then I would have felt like I really offered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-manson/maybe-i-should-have-killed-four-five-hundred-people-then-i-would-have/)

[Charles Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-manson/)

> [“I swear, Six is going to kill us, or worse, maybe she's about to be killed by a swarm of Mogs and we're here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pittacus-lore/i-swear-six-is-going-to-kill-us-or-worse-maybe-she-s-about-to-be/)

[Pittacus Lore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pittacus-lore/)

> [“I even had this idea that the knife stopped working, that after a certain time it just stops working for you, when your number…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendare-blake/i-even-had-this-idea-that-the-knife-stopped-working-that-after-a/)

[Kendare Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendare-blake/)

> [The enemy is anybody who's going to get you killed, no matter which side he's on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/the-enemy-is-anybody-who-s-going-to-get-you-killed-no-matter-which/)

[Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/)

> [My mother, she killed me, My father, he ate me, My sister Marlene, Gathered all my bones, Tied them in a silken scarf, Laid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-mother-she-killed-me-my-father-he-ate-me-my-sister-marlene/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“How about giving your old man a break here, huh, Chirp?" "Chirp is dead," I hear myself say and watch the flat words destroy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-wiess/how-about-giving-your-old-man-a-break-here-huh-chirp-chirp-is-dead-i/)

[Laura Wiess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-wiess/)

> [“People from IT sent to replace those they’d killed. Juliette’s”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/people-from-it-sent-to-replace-those-they-d-killed-juliette-s/)

[Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/)

> [Lord Raoul asked me to tell you that if you get yourself killed, he will never speak to you again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/lord-raoul-asked-me-to-tell-you-that-if-you-get-yourself-killed-he/)

[Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/)

> [“But I held him till he relented and just let me pet him and give him some affection. “I love you, Toast. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craven/but-i-held-him-till-he-relented-and-just-let-me-pet-him-and-give-him/)

[Michael Craven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craven/)

> [“Its just either your way or my way. There is no way that is universally right. For British, they killed us to develop their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-hassan-barbhuiya/its-just-either-your-way-or-my-way-there-is-no-way-that-is/)

[Hanif Hassan Barbhuiya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-hassan-barbhuiya/)

> [“The only ones who kill are those prepared to be killed”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lelouch-vi-britannia/the-only-ones-who-kill-are-those-prepared-to-be-killed/)

[Lelouch Vi Britannia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lelouch-vi-britannia/)

> [“I knew how I was supposed to feel when I was with him. Well, I knew what I was not supposed to feel. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-miranda/i-knew-how-i-was-supposed-to-feel-when-i-was-with-him-well-i-knew/)

[Megan Miranda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-miranda/)

> [I never thought I'd be on the cover of the 'Atlanta Journal' unless I killed someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-robinson/i-never-thought-i-d-be-on-the-cover-of-the-atlanta-journal-unless-i/)

[Chris Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-robinson/)

## More by Mindy Kaling

> [I think women in general like men that don't give them the thing that we want. We want a chase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/i-think-women-in-general-like-men-that-don-t-give-them-the-thing-that/)

[Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/)

> [When you're "East Coast" person, you are so insufferable, and you have no idea. And I was. One, because I was miserable, and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/when-you-re-east-coast-person-you-are-so-insufferable-and-you-have-no/)

[Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/)

> [..I find it incredible impossible not to cry when I hear Stevie Nicks's "Landslide," especially the lyric: "I've been afraid of changing, because I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/i-find-it-incredible-impossible-not-to-cry-when-i-hear-stevie-nicks-s/)

[Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/)

> [I must have been 10 or 11, but anything Dana Carvey ever did, I just really loved. He was on for a long time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/i-must-have-been-10-or-11-but-anything-dana-carvey-ever-did-i-just/)

[Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/)

> [“As it is, I guess I find “Jack &amp; Diane” a little disgusting. As a child of immigrant professionals, I can’t help but notice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/as-it-is-i-guess-i-find-jack-diane-a-little-disgusting-as-a-child-of/)

[Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/)

> [“As it is, I guess I find "Jack and Diane" a little disgusting. As a child of immigrant professionals, I can't help but notice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/as-it-is-i-guess-i-find-jack-and-diane-a-little-disgusting-as-a-child/)

[Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/)

> [True love is singing karaoke 'under pressure' and letting the other person sing the Freddie Mercury part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/true-love-is-singing-karaoke-under-pressure-and-letting-the-other/)

[Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/)

> [I had these kind of unrealistic expectations that were fueled by romantic comedies, and it has both helped me and hurt me in many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/i-had-these-kind-of-unrealistic-expectations-that-were-fueled-by/)

[Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/)

> [There's a female writer-performer thing going on in TV right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/there-s-a-female-writer-performer-thing-going-on-in-tv-right-now/)

[Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/)

> [Almost every college playwright or sketch or improv comedian was sort of aware of Christopher Durang - even kids in high school. His short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/almost-every-college-playwright-or-sketch-or-improv-comedian-was-sort/)

[Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/)

> [More than half the questions I am asked are about the politics of the way I look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/more-than-half-the-questions-i-am-asked-are-about-the-politics-of-the/)

[Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/)

> [“Even though Mavis was my secret friend, she is the only one I hope I see again. She’s the only one I wonder about.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/even-though-mavis-was-my-secret-friend-she-is-the-only-one-i-hope-i/)

[Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/)

> [I regard romantic comedies as a subgenre of sci-fi, in which the world operates according to different rules than my regular human world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/i-regard-romantic-comedies-as-a-subgenre-of-sci-fi-in-which-the-world/)

[Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/)

> [“Be like Allan Pearl. Sit next to the class clown and study him. Then grow up, take everything you learned, and get paid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/be-like-allan-pearl-sit-next-to-the-class-clown-and-study-him-then/)

[Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/)

> [“Don’t be closer to twice a friend’s weight than to her actual weight,” I told myself. This little mantra has helped me stave off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/don-t-be-closer-to-twice-a-friend-s-weight-than-to-her-actual-weight/)

[Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/)

[Explore all 415 Mindy Kaling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/)

## More Killed quotes

> [I never thought I'd be on the cover of the 'Atlanta Journal' unless I killed someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-robinson/i-never-thought-i-d-be-on-the-cover-of-the-atlanta-journal-unless-i/)

[Chris Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-robinson/)

> [“I knew how I was supposed to feel when I was with him. Well, I knew what I was not supposed to feel. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-miranda/i-knew-how-i-was-supposed-to-feel-when-i-was-with-him-well-i-knew/)

[Megan Miranda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-miranda/)

> [“The only ones who kill are those prepared to be killed”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lelouch-vi-britannia/the-only-ones-who-kill-are-those-prepared-to-be-killed/)

[Lelouch Vi Britannia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lelouch-vi-britannia/)

> [“Its just either your way or my way. There is no way that is universally right. For British, they killed us to develop their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-hassan-barbhuiya/its-just-either-your-way-or-my-way-there-is-no-way-that-is/)

[Hanif Hassan Barbhuiya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-hassan-barbhuiya/)

> [“But I held him till he relented and just let me pet him and give him some affection. “I love you, Toast. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craven/but-i-held-him-till-he-relented-and-just-let-me-pet-him-and-give-him/)

[Michael Craven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craven/)

> [Lord Raoul asked me to tell you that if you get yourself killed, he will never speak to you again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/lord-raoul-asked-me-to-tell-you-that-if-you-get-yourself-killed-he/)

[Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/)

> [“People from IT sent to replace those they’d killed. Juliette’s”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/people-from-it-sent-to-replace-those-they-d-killed-juliette-s/)

[Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/)

> [“How about giving your old man a break here, huh, Chirp?" "Chirp is dead," I hear myself say and watch the flat words destroy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-wiess/how-about-giving-your-old-man-a-break-here-huh-chirp-chirp-is-dead-i/)

[Laura Wiess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-wiess/)

> [My mother, she killed me, My father, he ate me, My sister Marlene, Gathered all my bones, Tied them in a silken scarf, Laid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-mother-she-killed-me-my-father-he-ate-me-my-sister-marlene/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The enemy is anybody who's going to get you killed, no matter which side he's on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/the-enemy-is-anybody-who-s-going-to-get-you-killed-no-matter-which/)

[Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/)

> [My other brother-in-law died. He was a karate expert, then joined the army. The first time he saluted, he killed himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henny-youngman/my-other-brother-in-law-died-he-was-a-karate-expert-then-joined-the/)

[Henny Youngman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henny-youngman/)

> [Osama Bin Laden is dead. Killed not by a massive troop deployment but by a commando raid carried out by a few dozen highly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/osama-bin-laden-is-dead-killed-not-by-a-massive-troop-deployment-but/)

[Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/)

> [“Hey hey Susan Day have you killed any kids today?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/hey-hey-susan-day-have-you-killed-any-kids-today/)

[Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/)

> [What makes the rich cry, must've killed the poor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jezreel-scott/what-makes-the-rich-cry-must-ve-killed-the-poor/)

[Jezreel Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jezreel-scott/)

> [Fifty thousand people in Mexico have been murdered. Puerto Penasco, 60 miles south of our border, just had five people and a police officer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-brewer/fifty-thousand-people-in-mexico-have-been-murdered-puerto-penasco-60/)

[Jan Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-brewer/)

[Browse all 1,023 Killed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killed/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“So it was surprising that I killed it as a babysitter. Er, maybe “killed it” is a wrong and potentially troubling way to express what I’m trying to say.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Mindy Kaling"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/so-it-was-surprising-that-i-killed-it-as-a-babysitter-er-maybe-killed/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Killed"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/so-it-was-surprising-that-i-killed-it-as-a-babysitter-er-maybe-killed/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb1/mindy-kaling-672_killed_so-it-was-surprising-that-i-killed-it-as_2794487.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb1/mindy-kaling-672_killed_so-it-was-surprising-that-i-killed-it-as_2794487.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb1/mindy-kaling-672_killed_so-it-was-surprising-that-i-killed-it-as_2794487.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“So it was surprising that I killed it as a babysitter. Er, maybe “killed it” is a wrong and potentially…” — Mindy Kaling",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Mindy Kaling",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“So it was surprising that I...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/so-it-was-surprising-that-i-killed-it-as-a-babysitter-er-maybe-killed/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/so-it-was-surprising-that-i-killed-it-as-a-babysitter-er-maybe-killed/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
