What does 'take an arrow to the knee' mean?

Answer 1

It comes from The Elder Scrolls V, Skyrim. Every single guard in the game eventually says, "I used to be an adventurer like you, but then I took an arrow to the knee" as you walk by, ie, he/she was injured and had to give up the adventuring life.

The phrase has since become an internet meme. When people say 'Take an arrow to the knee' it means to change their answer or decision. Example:

1.) "I used to like that song but then I took an arrow to the knee."

2.) I changed my mind and took an arrow to the knee.

Lately, there's been the suggestion that it's some sort of Swedish slang for getting married, but since it came from American social networking sites and has yet to be verified by any actual Swedish folk, it's likely that somebody was just being creative. Given the wit of the writers of the Elder Scrolls, it's more believable to assume that guards in Skyrim are shot in the knee as an initiation rite.

Answer 2

It comes from the game Skyrim, part of the Elder Scrolls series. Many of the NPCs in the game will say a stock phrase when the player comes near. One of the things that's on the list of possible sayings for guards is "I used to be an adventurer like you - then I took an arrow to the knee." Because guards are pretty common, this phrase comes up a lot, to the extent that you could be forgiven for concluding that approximately ten percent of the population has at one time or another taken an arrow to the knee, and that the greatest problem facing adventurers in Skyrim is the lack of proper knee armor.