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If you’ve spent any time on social media recently, you may have come across the term “bombastic side eye.” This phrase has been used in a variety of contexts, from celebrity gossip to social media trends. But what does it actually mean?
In this article, we’ll explore the origins and meaning of “bombastic side eye,” as well as its usage in sentences and the psychology behind it. Whether you’re a social media user or simply curious about the latest slang, you won’t want to miss this deep dive into the world of bombastic side eye.
Bombastic Side Eye Meaning, Origin and Usage
Key Takeaways
- Bombastic side eye is a playful slang phrase that refers to giving someone a dramatic, exaggerated look of disapproval or judgment, typically involving an intense sideways glance. It combines bombastic—meaning overblown, theatrical, or extravagant—with side eye, which is a look someone gives out of the corner of their eye to express annoyance, skepticism, or judgment.
What Does Bombastic Side Eye Mean?
Bombastic Side Eye is a popular trend that gained traction on TikTok in January 2023. It involves using a specific audio clip while creating content, often based on memes and lip-dubbing, focused on giving someone a sidelong glance or gaze. The Side Eye expresses feelings of judgment, suspicion, disapproval, or contempt without needing to vocalize these sentiments.
The term “Bombastic” typically refers to language that is high-sounding, inflated, or pretentious. Combining it with “Side Eye” results in a powerful, lowkey gesture that speaks volumes without the need for words. This trend has been adopted by TikTok users to showcase their disapproval of statements by mouthing the words of the viral audio in their videos.
Origin of Bombastic Side Eye
Historical Roots
The concept of judging someone with a Side Eye has been around for centuries, with the first documented description of the act dating back to 1797. Over the years, side eyeing has appeared in various forms of literature, such as James Joyce’s Ulysses, and has been used to express suspicion, scorn, annoyance, jealousy, or veiled curiosity.
Pop Culture Influence
The Bombastic Side Eye trend has been widespread on popular culture. Being used not only on TikTok but also making appearances in movies and television series, the side-eye gesture continues to gain influence as an essential part of social media communication. Its quick comedic nature and relatable contexts resonate with users across the platform. Users on TikTok took the concept of giving a side-eye and exaggerated it, often complemented by the accompanying viral sound that has become an integral part of the meme.
Usage of Bombastic Side Eye
In various contexts, the Bombastic Side Eye can communicate different emotions and messages. Here are some examples:
- Disapproval: In a situation where a person might strongly disagree with someone’s opinion, they could use the Bombastic Side Eye to make their disapproval evident without directly saying it.
- Judgment: When someone feels that another person’s actions or choices are questionable, they could use the Bombastic Side Eye to silently express their judgment or criticism.
- Humor: The exaggerated nature of the Bombastic Side Eye makes it a fitting medium for lighthearted and comedic content as well. It can add a fun and playful spin on everyday situations or highlight the silliness in some scenarios.
Words Related to Bombastic Side Eye
- Stink Eye – A slang term for giving someone a disapproving or annoyed look.
- Eye Roll – Expressing frustration or disbelief by rolling one’s eyes.
- Death Glare – A strong, intense look of anger or judgment.
- Side-Eye Glance – A subtle or sideways look that conveys disapproval or skepticism.
- Judgy Eyes – Giving a judgmental or critical look.
- Disapproving Glare – A stern or disapproving look given to show displeasure.
- Sass – Showing attitude, often with a mix of humor and sarcasm.
- Look of Contempt – An expression that shows disdain or scorn.
- Shade – Subtle disrespect or criticism, often expressed indirectly or through looks.
- Scornful Look – A look that conveys anger or disgust, typically with a hint of superiority.
- Dirty Look – A harsh or annoyed expression directed at someone.
- Eyeroll Energy – A vibe that suggests an eyeroll is deserved or imminent.
Bombastic Side Eye Examples
Conversations
During a conversation, the use of a bombastic side eye can showcase feelings of disbelief, contempt, or skepticism. For example, when discussing a controversial topic or reacting to a bizarre statement.
- Person A: “Did you hear that Jack thinks the world is flat?”
- Person B: Gives a bombastic side eye “Seriously? You can’t be serious.”
The side eye in this case is used to emphasize Person B’s ridicule of Jack’s belief, demonstrating their disbelief and disdain without the need for additional words.
Social Posts
In social media posts, the bombastic side eye can be utilized to create humorous or sarcastic reactions to situations, events, or statements. Users might share a meme or an image featuring a bombastic side eye, or simply describe their reaction in text format.
- Caption: “When you’re supposed to be on a diet but your coworker brings donuts to the office.” inserts bombastic side eye meme
- Tweet: “My boss just asked me if I can work on the weekend. Bombastic side eye mode: activated.”
These examples showcase how bombastic side eye can be used in social posts to humorously express frustration, disappointment, or annoyance.
Texting
In texting, bombastic side eye might be represented by using emojis, gifs, or simply textually describing the expression. It’s a fast and effective way to convey emotions and reactions in a concise manner.
Text Message 1:
- Person A: “I saw Stacy and her new boyfriend today, they’re all over each other!”
- Person B: “Eww, bombastic side eye to that.”
Text Message 2:
- Person A: “I just aced that test I didn’t even study for.”
- Person B: “Sending you a massive bombastic side eye right now.”
In both examples, the bombastic side eye expression helps to convey the sender’s emotions and reactions, from disgust to disbelief, in a succinct and playful manner.
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