What does “Suit yourself” mean?

Question

I found this on SO and googled the idiom "suit yourself", but I couldn't find a matching translation. The context was that the questioner was nitpicking and the answerer lost his patience.

Answer 1

"Suit yourself" means, basically, "ok, do whatever you want; I'm done arguing". It implies that the speaker made some attempt (perhaps small) to get the listener to do something; it's not generally something you say out of the blue. It's a pretty common idiom in US English. I don't know the derivation.

Answer 2

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary gives the definition of "suit yourself" as follows:

suit yourself!
informal
an expression used either humorously or angrily to mean 'do what you want to do'

There is a nice discussion here as well. I'm copying that post below in case link rot can happen.

_{Posted by R. Berg on May 22, 2004}

In Reply to: Re: But why else posted by Word Camel on May 21, 2004

: : would it be said then? It is a context of 'if you don't won't to go my way or their way, then I guess you can go your own way'.

: : ""Suit yourself" doesn't always have a context of argument or conflict, any more than "Do what you want" does. It can be said neutrally. One has to listen for the tone."

: : I don't think this is suitable to be used in agreement. By all means, listen to the tone.

: : "Hey, we're all going to the game. Want to come?"

: : "Sure great." "Suit yourself"

: : or "Would you like more steak?" Yummy "Suit yourself"

: : how about "I would rather date Mary than Beth." Me too, I think Mary is prettier. "Suit yourself"

: : "Suit yourself doesn't work in any of these examples - as given. Switch the response to one that disagrees and "suit yourself" works in each example.

: Not so. Yes, it's probably more common these days to hear it used facetiously but there are plenty of instances in which it is used neutrally.

: "We have swordfish or steak, so suit yourself!" "There are three bedrooms available in the cabin so you can suit yourself."

I don't understand "Suit yourself" as having to do mainly with situations of agreement or disagreement. It's said when offering someone a choice or clarifying that the choice belongs to that person, not to oneself. It's a lot like "Up to you" and not a lot like "Up yours."

Answer 3

When someone says 'suit yourself', they mean "you decide for yourself" and there could be an implied meaning of 'I am not responsible for your choice".

It probably comes from the use of suit as in "It suits you" (It is good for you).

Answer 4

As reported by the NOAD, suit oneself means "act entirely according to one's own wishes."

I'm not going to help you.
Suit yourself.