Money Smell
The "Money Smell" meme features Vince McMahon, the former CEO of WWE, intently smelling a stack of U.S. dollar bills. This iconic image originated from a 2008 WWE "Million Dollar Mania" segment where McMahon promoted a cash giveaway. The meme symbolizes an intense desire for financial gain, greed, or the deep satisfaction derived from wealth. It is often used to humorously convey an exaggerated appreciation for money, a lucrative opportunity, or anything perceived as highly profitable. It perfectly captures the sentiment of "following the money" or the almost primal attraction to financial success in various online discussions and contexts.
Sydney Sweeney Jeans
The 'Sydney Sweeney Jeans' meme, while this image highlights her expression rather than the jeans, originates from an interview featuring actresses Sydney Sweeney and Maude Apatow. In the clip, Sweeney describes her 'baggy jeans' in a somewhat detached manner, while Apatow listens. This two-panel format captures Sweeney's often deadpan, slightly confused, or indifferent expression in the bottom panel, contrasted with a speaker in the top. It is widely used as a reaction image to convey polite bewilderment, mild disapproval, or a 'side-eye' response to a statement or situation, often implying a disconnect in understanding or an unamused reaction to something someone else finds exciting or makes a bold claim about.
Black Guy Stopping
The "Black Guy Stopping" meme, also known as "Disapproving Black Guy," originates from a 2016 Vine video by Arnell Armon. In the original clip, a woman (Arnell Armon) walks past a man who is clearly admiring her. Her male friend then intervenes by subtly grabbing the admiring man's stomach and giving him a stern, disapproving side-eye, effectively stopping his gaze. This meme is used to humorously depict situations where someone is prevented or interrupted from engaging in an inappropriate, awkward, or unwanted action, often related to leering or questionable behavior. The meme highlights the intervention of a third party who uses a subtle physical gesture and a strong facial expression to convey judgment or disapproval, acting as a social correction. It's widely employed to represent stopping someone mid-action or to express a quiet but firm "no" to an unspoken thought or deed.
Guy In Corner Of Party
The "Guy In Corner Of Party" meme, often called "Wojak Party" or "Feels Guy at Party," originated from 4chan's /r9k/ board around 2011-2012. It features a minimalist, black-and-white drawing of Wojak, a popular internet character, wearing a party hat and standing alone in the corner of a party while others socialize. The meme's core meaning revolves around themes of loneliness, social anxiety, awkwardness, and feeling like an outsider in group settings. Wojak's somber expression conveys a sense of melancholy or quiet observation amidst a joyous environment, capturing the feeling of being physically present but emotionally detached. It is widely used to express relatable experiences of introversion, social discomfort, or observing others having fun while one feels isolated. Captions often accompany the image to describe specific scenarios where an individual feels out of place or struggles with social interactions.
Big Book Small Book
The "Big Book Small Book" meme is a popular visual format used to highlight a stark contrast between two related concepts or entities. Originating from a simple side-by-side comparison of a thick book and a thin book, its meaning is straightforward: the big book represents something extensive, complex, or significant, while the small book symbolizes something brief, simple, or trivial. This meme is widely employed for humorous effect, often illustrating disparities between expectations and reality, or the vast difference in effort, knowledge, or importance between two subjects. For instance, it might compare "Learning to code" (Big Book) with "Debugging one line of code" (Small Book), or "The manual for my new gadget" (Big Book) with "What I actually read" (Small Book). Its versatile nature makes it suitable for relatable situations across various topics, emphasizing humorous comparisons and differences.
Happy Star Congratulations
The "Happy Star Congratulations" meme features a vibrant, cartoonish certificate typically awarded to children for various achievements. Originating from generic school reward templates, the meme is primarily used ironically online. It's deployed to sarcastically "congratulate" someone for a trivial, obvious, or unearned accomplishment, highlighting its often exaggerated praise. Alternatively, it can be used genuinely, albeit with a humorous, over-the-top enthusiasm, to celebrate small wins. The blank lines are frequently filled with humorous or absurd text, making it a versatile tool for conveying both genuine excitement and subtle, comedic disdain for minor "victories."
Astronaut Meme Always Has Been Template
The "Astronaut Meme: Always Has Been" template features two astronauts in space, one looking at Earth and the other pointing a gun at the first. This meme originated from a 2020 webcomic by explosm.net titled "Ohio," where the first astronaut realizes Earth is entirely Ohio, and the second astronaut responds, "Always has been." The meme is used to humorously convey a "sudden realization" about an undeniable truth or a widely accepted but unacknowledged fact. It often highlights an ironic, absurd, or darkly humorous reality that, once revealed, makes the viewer question their previous understanding, reinforced by the unyielding "Always has been" response. It's popular for pointing out surprising insights or long-standing, often bleak, observations.
Makima Is Listening
The "Makima Is Listening" meme originates from the popular manga and anime series *Chainsaw Man*. It features the character Kishibe holding a notepad, which is typically edited to display the phrase "Makima is listening." The original panel shows Kishibe saying "I lost my fangs a long time ago," while the notepad initially says "is listening." The meme's meaning stems from Makima's pervasive and manipulative nature in the series, where she often seems to be aware of events and conversations, even when not present. It is used to humorously imply that a powerful or cunning individual (Makima or another entity substituted in the meme) is secretly monitoring a situation, conversation, or group. The meme highlights a sense of being under surveillance or the omnipresence of a controlling figure, often used for comedic effect in discussions or online interactions.
Trojan Horse
The "Trojan Horse" meme originates from the ancient Greek myth of the Trojan War. According to the Aeneid, Greek warriors constructed a massive wooden horse as a gift, secretly hiding inside it. The Trojans, believing it to be a peace offering, brought it into their city, leading to their ultimate defeat when the soldiers emerged at night. The meme signifies a deceptive tactic where a seemingly harmless or beneficial entity is introduced, but it secretly contains a hidden threat or agenda that leads to negative consequences. It's widely used to comment on situations involving hidden dangers, backroom dealings, or accepting something at face value without understanding its true, often malicious, intent. It highlights irony, naivety, or strategic infiltration.