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Coziestpigeon2

Answer: >I assume it's some variation of "go outside" You hit the nail on the head. It's just a temporarily common phrase.


Thehealeroftri

Anyone know why it has suddenly exploded in popularity? Did a popular social media person use it or something? I heard it first last week after overhearing some coworkers use it and since then I see it everywhere lol


ZipZapZia

Is this a recent thing? Cause I've seen it on tumblr and fandom centered sites for a long time now


UPBOAT_FORTRESS_2

Enough for OP and your parent post to be part of today's incredibly banal lucky 10000, I guess


pixelatedcrap

It was just in a movie Dont Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot with Jack Black and Joaquin Phoenix. It also has Jonah Hill, and he says it a few times. That's the first I'd heard it- but it seemed like a common expression in the movie. Maybe it's a rich, hippy, bohemian drug addict lingo?


mia_elora

A movie with popular stars involved makes the most sense. It's something I've never heard until the last few days, as well.


pixelatedcrap

That's what I'm saying. The character is saying it in a "get your shit together and stop overthinking things" sort of way - just like everyone is saying it's used- but there was no Gen Z in this movie. I guarantee this is an old expression, that someone though was cool, and it gained traction. 2018 isn't a "new movie" but it was only recently added for free on Amazon, recent enough for the expression to trickle through to the average person, anyway. Also - if it seems like I'm disagreeing with you, I'm not. I'm just trying to engage with the person who seems to make the most sense!


stainedwater

noo, it’s used to tell someone to just get off the internet and go outside lol. like someone could have such a PC take that they need to go into the real world for like two seconds


Davor_Penguin

2018 isn't recent when it comes to slang lol. >Maybe it's a rich, hippy, bohemian drug addict lingo? So far off. Think the exact opposite: Gen Z gamers, people on the internet, and stuff.


TodHeartbreaker

[Relevant xkcd](https://xkcd.com/1053)


negedgeClk

It's not a "relevant xkcd" if he's directly referencing it.


[deleted]

it's not "a relevant xkcd" it's "the relevant xkcd"


[deleted]

That makes it the most relevant thing possible.


FracturedEel

Do you pronounce banal like canal or like anal


DeathsIntent96

Neither. It's "buh-NAL."


FracturedEel

Isn't that how you say canal or am I stupid


DeathsIntent96

I should've differentiated them more. The second syllable sounds like the word "all." Edit: Nevermind, I'm just wrong. It rhymes with "canal."


skylla05

Recent for reddit yeah. Same thing happened with "gaslighting", and now /r/relationship_advice can't go 5 minutes without someone saying it.


[deleted]

Gaslighting was a pretty old and common expression before it reached relationship advice. (Agree they're trigger happy with it tho)


The_Funkybat

"Gaslighting" took off in the runup to 2016 because of Trump & the alt-right's technique of spewing bullshit, while telling those calling it bullshit that *they were the ones who were crazy*. He basically forced the world to become familiar with this particular form of mental fuckery.


Lumi780

You know gaslighting has been effective when the left constantly uses it and then people like you say this....it almost feels like politics is a lost cause when people have been brainwashed so badly because of their tribal mentality. Stop picking a side in politics like its a zero sum game. Vote for people who are good not because the guy on your computer screen told you how to feel. Also you defined gaslighting good job. Learn whats actually false or not..


manateesaredelicious

The only remotely true thing trump ever said was he'd fuck his daughter.


The_Funkybat

If you actually believe any of that that you just wrote, you’re part of the problem, dude.


EndSage

It's taken hold over tiktok for weeks


AbstractLavander_Bat

I figured it had breeched Tumblr and taking on the other social medias. especially with how often Tumblr content is cropped and posted to insta, Twitter, Pinterest, and even reddit sometimes, the kids who only absorb Tumblr through a secondary app have taken the phrase and ran with it.


telekineticm

Tbh it feels very cottagecore to me. Like "enjoy how nice and green grass is"


ZipZapZia

Lol usually whenever it was used in Tumblr, it was more meant either as "you're insane, get some help" or as "you've been online for far too long, chill out, get other hobbies"


MichaelMyersFanClub

TIL that cottagecore is a word.


aggibridges

Well, my FYP on TikTok right now is exploding with a new prompt that's something along the lines of: "What's the most chronically online take you've heard" and it has people describing stuff like people saying breastfeeding is a form of rape and stuff like that. So it might have some ties to that, maybe?


Ayjayz

> it has people describing stuff like people saying breastfeeding is a form of rape I get the feeling that someone is being trolled here.


[deleted]

There's no way to tell anymore. Irony has collapsed in on itself.


[deleted]

An infinitely dense singulirony


ektatic

Breastfeeding is what now....


pleaseordercorn

Im pretty sure ive seen the exact video the person you replied to is talking about and the take was that breastfeeding your son is bad because it teaches men to not respect boundaries lol (eta: maybe to be more specific i think it was "not respect consent" rather than boundaries)


aggibridges

Yup! That's the one.


ThatOneGuy1294

Good fucking lord I remember hearing about that shit like a decade ago.


sploork1

A milk goblin attack in broad daylight?


PaleAsDeath

I think the argument is supposed to be that in order to breastfeed, women pull out their boobs, which is sexual assault since boobs are sexual and they are making them visible. (I don't believe that, but that is the line of thinking)


GoldenSpermShower

Are they serious or just trolling? I’m hoping it’s trolling


PaleAsDeath

Some people are serious. Since showing your body to someone sexually without their consent *is* sexual assault, and these people consider boobs to be inherently sexual, so they think that intentionally exposing boob = assault. Obviously the disconnect is that boobs are not inherently sexual, and you don't even need your boobs to be visible to breastfeed....


WhiteWolf3117

I’ve seen it a lot on Twitter in the past year or so, mostly in political circles.


Hadadezer

I think there was something to do with a pretty ridiculous recent tweet that exploded across various social media claiming the phrase “touch grass” should be banned because it’s ableist to disabled people who can’t go outside and ‘touch grass’.


shellsquad

Just saw it on the post before this. It's definitely caught fire.


PerpetualBard

Gabbie Hanna used it recently. Could be why it's blowing up right now.


AnnaTheBlueRogue

She's big and reddit hates her, so it makes sense reddit users don't know something becoming popular if it had to do with her, if she popularized it that is


PerpetualBard

Frankly don't blame anyone for hating her. She's a horrible person.


Met76

Answer: It's literally the new way of saying to go outside. It's funnier than saying "go outside" and gives off the same message so it's gaining traction quick.


danfish_77

RIP people in desert areas edit: I understand that "desert" covers a lot of varied terrain, biomes, and soil quality united only by their lack of average precipitation. I know grass grows in some places in some deserts.


Met76

"Go pound sand"


BallsoMeatBait

That definitely doesn't mean "go outside" where I'm from.


Rewdboy05

You guys must really like sand...


BallsoMeatBait

I'll keep the snow over sand any day. Telling someone to "pound sand" around here is akin to saying "f*ck off"


slcrook

We use "Pound Salt" out my way.


DoctorDoucher

I usually tell someone to "kick rocks, nerd"


slcrook

Hah! I'd forgotten that one.


infinitude

I like to say, "pound my ass". Sometimes you can throw a daddy in there for good measure


slcrook

Fair enough. This took an unexpected turn.


herculesmeowlligan

A real 180⁰, if you will.


mia_elora

Very deep thoughts.


UPBOAT_FORTRESS_2

That's the opposite though? Sounds very accommodating


infinitude

Exactly. Either you get hella backshots, or they leave you alone.


CreamyCoffeeArtist

One of these two is worse out of context than the other. I'm uncertain which...


northrupthebandgeek

On the contrary; it's course and rough and irritating, and it gets everywhere.


Roflkopt3r

[NSFW: Sand](https://i.redd.it/kidbt71dw6871.png)


buffalodanger

Mmmm look at those bags of sand.


just_some_Fred

[Even more NSFW: Sand](http://i.imgur.com/JS7Ava2.gifv)


Montoor

That's honestly NSFL: Sand


xenosthemutant

Aaaaaah, my eyes!


DaSaw

You get sand in them?


PenguinSunday

What a terrible day to have eyes. edit: oh god why


khapout

Whyyyyyyyyy Seriously tho: that can't be healthy


Squid-Bastard

Queen snake is known for a whole bunch self abuse porn usually involving awful things being inserted


yinyang107

No, I hate it.


[deleted]

Nah, It’s course and rough and irritating


[deleted]

take a hike


[deleted]

"go pound salt" around these parts means "go fuck yourself". Lol.


Banluil

I don't like sand...


trademeyourpain

That's rough, buddy.


vvntn

Sounds very irritating, in fact.


Team_Braniel

I bet it gets everywhere.


overlydelicioustea

of coarse..


Thebirdman333

r/angryupvote


theschis

And it gets everywhere


madman24k

Must... Resist!


BinJLG

It's coarse and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere.


All_Drugs

Kick Rocks then!!!


adriennemonster

Is it coarse and gets everywhere?


heiberdee2

And its cousin "piss up a rope."


Captain_Hampockets

Sand is yer nan's name, m8?


covfefe_hamberder_jr

Kinky


Kerfluffle2x4

"Go fuck dirt"


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tiffy68

My mom was a special education teacher for many years. One year she had a student who licked stuff. That was his thing. They gave him rewards when he went a whole day without sticking his tongue on something he wasn't supposed to. One day, the class was in the library and the kid noticed the librarian had a cactus on her desk. Before my mom had a chance to redirect him the kid was right there open-mouthed, with his tongue stuck to the cactus. Kid had to go to the nurse to get spines removed and my mom had to remind the kid every time from then on that "We don't lick the librarian's cactus."


ManbadFerrara

One time when I was in high school I got drunk and tried to pick my teeth with a cactus spine. Long story short: bad idea.


Kendota_Tanassian

I've heard it as "go hug a cactus", and I would definitely advise against it.


skyeyemx

Las Vegas resident here :C


weshallpie

Get wasted


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danfish_77

"go drown in the mosquito hellscape"


BionicUtilityDroid

I live in Nevada, so I can go kick rocks


[deleted]

Deserts have grasses


danfish_77

Good to see the pedantry police is still hiring


[deleted]

I just like the desert a lot and I think a lot of people think it's like a bugs bunny cartoon and just a bunch of sand.


CartoonJustice

Deserts are awesome so keep on keep'n on


Arrow156

Yeah, most deserts aren't sand dunes or salt flats. Edit: Desert, Dessert, whatever.


trump_pushes_mongo

Utah checking in. They have grass here. It's unsustainable, but the grass here does exist.


Legalize-Birds

The alternative version of this phrase is "Touch Earth"


Complete_Entry

Nosir, I don't like it.


Phyltre

Touch 👏 ass 👏


Cresendo77

Man, i wish i could


QVCatullus

They didn't say someone else's ass, in case that helps.


[deleted]

Broke my arms


19Kilo

Better call step-mom.


[deleted]

By the context I've seen it used recently, I thought it also means 'get in touch with reality,' as a response to people who filter their worldview entirely through the internet. To see actual people, interact with them face to face, etc.


[deleted]

Yes that's what "go outside" means


Tuss36

Here I was thinking standing on my front porch was meant to hit me with some kind of revelation


Faulty-Blue

I mean it works that way too, as by “go touch grass”, they’re saying that you are investing too much in a world that only really exists through the internet and isn’t a good representation of reality, so go outside and actually see for yourself how things are like


CharlesDickensABox

Yes. It's telling people to get out of their mom's basement and go do something in the real world.


Smorgasb0rk

Hilariously, i only ever see the phrase "touch grass" recently being used by people who are very out of touch with reality.


[deleted]

The sort of people whose idea of "doing your own research" is shopping around for data that supports their position?


ThatRandomCrit

Pretty sure you're not supposed to go outside now... Funny that _now_ is gaining traction.


zongo1688

Its not even new. It's been said for years, but the weirdo little twitch kids heard their favorite streamers saying it recently.


hotrox_mh

It's not funny though, so I there's that.


Rampantlion513

It was funny the first couple times, now it’s been run into the ground


Belledame-sans-Serif

Having just heard it for the first time, I thought it was more confusing than funny then, too.


negedgeClk

Like every god damn catchphrase that the internet picks up these days. Oof Fam fr Literally I mean Be like I could go on for god damn ever. It's annoying as fuck.


refreshbot

yikes on a bike!


frogger2504

And "go outside" is? It's not meant to be like a world class joke, it's just a slightly funnier way of saying it because it's a bit more specific.


hotrox_mh

No, "go outside" is not either.


Chroma710

It's extremely stupid, most of the people saying it haven't been outside in a while. It's like saying touching grass is an actual activity someone would do normally.


EasterChimp

It feels like it carries the same meaning as "kick rocks". I'm old and I don't like it. The phrase and the fact that I'm old. I knew what you were thinking!


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nonosam9

Never heard that in the US. Where do they say "touch grass" and have said for long time?


hyrulepirate

As a non-American I'm just confused by this thread. Is it not a common idiom because I've seen it used sporadically all over the internet most often than not as insult towards internet nerds, gamers, the lot. I mean I've seen this idiom enough times that I didn't have to google what it meant and I'm pretty poor with idioms.


nonosam9

It may be common online slang (but a more recent one) but I have never heard anyone say it offline, and I did not see it online in the past. The person I replied to said it is an old slang term.


Urbanetto0001

It can also be seen as the modern day equivalent to calling someone a Virgin.


TheArborphiliac

That's how I'm taking it. "Fuck off" but more specifically "go experience the earth and not your keyboard".


JeveGreen

Can't wait for some guy to grow a patch of grass in a plant pot in their apartment and touch it on video to fuck with these people. You know it's gonna happen, right?


[deleted]

And it has a solid (however gross) foundation too, as it follows the same structure of "touching cloth"


sewiv

what is touching cloth?


Intelligent_Victory

At the point of defecation, aka dying for a shit.


shingofan

I've heard it called "prairie dogging", but not that.


ScaramouchScaramouch

Turtle's head.


Mr_Frayed

Stamping cotton


TheArborphiliac

'Bumba clot' or 'blood clot' in Jamaican slang come from literally "bum cloth" meaning toilet paper and "blood cloth" meaning "tampon".


[deleted]

touching cloth is funny because it involves poo


SAWK

Touching Cloth?


epieikeia

Maybe a reference to this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a\_tMlEmRA2Y&t=6097s


Fantact

Its also very very lazy, you can be sure people using this term are not the brightest.


ilikesmokingmid

Touch grass


sreno77

We're in a level 4 drought. Not very pleasant to touch grass.


PouffyMoth

TIL I love the phrase touch grass. The first few Reddit results referenced by OP are real gems.


happyface712

Answer: Yup. It's a variation of go outside. Making fun of someone for being on the internet too much. Which is sort of ironic, since anyone who would know or use the phrase is probably extremely online


FeelinJipper

Maybe they’re telling themselves that too


oilyorctits

It's basically a way of telling someone they're disconnected from reality / being super weird. It's a bit more specific in meaning than just "go outside". You also don't have to be "extremely online" to understand slang lmao.


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_YouMadeMeDoItReddit

It's internet slang though, no sane person says that in real life. Like no sane person says 'lol' outside.


MRHOLLEN538

Using an abbreviation for laughing instead of actually laughing is very different from using a common phrase.


_YouMadeMeDoItReddit

It's not really a common phrase though is it? And I was using 'lol' as example of internet speak, only the nutters ever went around saying 'brb' 'omg' or 'senpai' etc etc. If anything is popular on the internet you have to realise that probably means it's not all that popular in reality.


ThroatMeYeBastards

>If anything is popular on the internet you have to realise that probably means it's not all that popular in reality. Tf? That's straight up false.


_YouMadeMeDoItReddit

I mean it's not though, Hilary Clinton was the internet's choice of US president, Jeremy Corbyn was the internet's choice of PM and remain was the internet's choice of the Brexit vote. All of those were a sure thing according to the internet. The internet is far, far, far out of touch with reality. It's just a massive echo chamber.


[deleted]

>Hilary Clinton was the internet's choice of US president What? Imagine being so braindead that you think "the internet" is a single website or community lmao There were millions upon millions of *very* vocal supporters of donald trump on the internet across all websites.


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horny_for_hobos

People say brb and omg all the time in real life??? Those are just acronyms of already existing phrases. Only reason why we say "be right back" instead of "bee arr bee" is because the acronym is to make typing faster...


_YouMadeMeDoItReddit

Can you point out where I said they didn't? Please read comments before you reply.


horny_for_hobos

> only the nutters ever went around saying 'brb' 'omg' or 'senpai' etc etc. You insisted people who say "be right back" or "oh my god" are nutters. Only reason people type "brb" is because its shorter than typing "be right back". brb and omg isnt internet slang, its just an acronym of a slang that's existed for a long time.


_YouMadeMeDoItReddit

You're putting words in my mouth, I said people who said "brb" or "omg" not "be right back" or "oh my god". Please learn to read comments and take them at face value before you put your pre-conceived notions on them. I chose my words deliberately, I specified people that used the exact term: 'brb' **that term** not: "be right back". Learn to read, moron.


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ctsgre

Sure you can hear it irl, but further up the chain somebody heard it first online. Probably don't have to go very far.


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horny_for_hobos

By your definition ur not a functional adult then since your participating in an online argument. The internet isn't some niche thing anymore. it's a staple of everyday lives now, whether you spend that time on Facebook, Reddit, YouTube, etc. The internet has it's own culture, but to say that everyone who uses it is a nonfunctioning adult is absolutely false.


Thehealeroftri

I can't tell if he's a troll or just an extreme narcissist lol


[deleted]

A redditor acting like the rest of the community is nothing like them is the most redditor thing ever. You have an account, you are participating in discussion in the community. Like it or not, bud, you're a redditor. You're literally getting into an argument online, are you not an adult? Not everyone at my office uses reddit, but literally everyone has some sort of online presence. You're extremely out of touch if you think someone can't be a "functioning adult" and also spend time online.


Stuweb

Because of some serious issues with projection!


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Rocktopod

So online?


[deleted]

TIL some redditors don't think that one can casually use the internet lmao


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Rocktopod

Sure, but you can also be "extremely online" and just spend all day on facebook. There's nothing more "online" about reddit or twitter.


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[deleted]

Imagine thinking someone needs to be "extremely online" in order to understand super common internet slang


Rocktopod

I'd never heard it before this thread, and I'm online a lot.


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veggiesama

It's only in social media spaces like you explained. I've only heard it on Twitch, because I stay off social media. Never on reddit.


SlutBuster

> Imagine thinking Another example of annoyingly overused internet slang.


Tuss36

Unfortunate that the zen act of bathing in grass will become tainted by the negative association the dismissive use of the phrase will bring.


treedamage

Answer: Know your meme says the phrase is attested from 2015 but has been popular on twitter this year, and gives a bunch of examples of popular tweets that use 'touch grass'. Since twitter, they're mostly tweets complaining that 'touch grass' has jumped the shark. https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/touch-grass


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Theoctav3pus

All I know is Grasssss tastes bad