What does touch grass mean
What does touch grass mean
What Does ‘Touch Grass’ Mean? The Slang Term Explained
If you spend a lot of time online, you may have been told to «touch grass» before. Maybe it was by someone else online, maybe it was by your parent or relative, or maybe it was a significant other who really just wants to see you get up out of your gaming chair for once.
If you’ve been told to touch grass, you’re essentially being asked to get up and go outside. Here’s how the slang phrase became so popular.
Where Does «Touch Grass» Come From?
It’s unclear where exactly the slang term «touch grass» comes from. It first started popping up online, at least on Twitter, in 2015, where it was used to call people out for being online too much to the point where they’ve lost touch with reality.
It’s usually used in online arguments against people with passionate opinions that suggest they spend way too much time online, including hardcore gamers, Rule 34 lovers and people who seem generally out-of-touch with the real world.
It’s like saying «go outside» or telling someone to get a reality check but with a little more «oomph.»
How Is «Touch Grass» Used In Memes?
In memes, touch grass is used in conjunction with images or content depicting people displaying «chronically online» behavior to poke fun at those who spend too much time on the internet.
It might be in relation to a gamer who won’t stop raging, a weeb who’s found all the six-digit codes for the ahegao hoodie or a simp who can’t stop thirsting over a streamer.
Some memers take the phrase literally in ironic memes, purposely misunderstanding the term for the sake of comedy.
In late 2021, people started making memes suggesting that touching grass is not enough, joking that they tried to touch grass but it did nothing to help their internet-poisoned brains. If none of that suits you, simply using the phrase to tell someone to go outside is always a viable option, especially if you’re looking to start an argument on Twitter.
What Does «Touch Grace» Mean?
In February 2022, following the release of Elden Ring, the phrase Touch Grace started to spread around online. When the player reaches a checkpoint, they’re told to «touch grace» to activate it.
People who probably need to touch grass themselves saw the similarities in the two phrases and started using it in the same way in memes relating to the game. Along with phrases like No Maidens, Touch Grace became one of the most popular memes to come out of the game.
For the full details on Touch Grass, be sure to check out our entry on the meme here for even more information.
Touch Grass Meme
Popular:
Touch Grass
About
Touch Grass, or Touch Some Grass, is a popular online insult and alternative way of telling someone to «go outside,» implying they’re spending too much time online and it’s affecting their wellbeing. The exact origin of the phrase is unknown, but it started spreading significantly in 2019, becoming increasingly popular on Twitter throughout 2021.
Origin
It’s unknown when «touch grass» was first used as an alternative to «go outside,» with examples on Twitter [2] [3] dating back to at least 2015 (example shown below).
The phrase grew in popularity over the next five years, primarily on Twitter and 4chan, [5] seeing a significant rise in use starting in 2019. For example, on May 3rd, 2019, Twitter [1] user @flyhinata used «touch some grass» as an insult in a Twitter thread criticizing people who threaten others for shipping 2D characters, garnering over 1,400 likes and 700 retweets in two years (shown below).
Spread
Over the course of 2020, variations of the phrase «touch grass» began to spread across social media, used in a number of popular posts. For example, on February 11th, 2020, Twitter [4] user @revolvyrn used the insult in a post criticizing a company for using a deceased artist’s work after they said they could use it «in the future» before their death, therefore unable to consent to the official use of their artwork, garnering over 44,800 likes and 12,600 retweets in a year (shown below).
On November 28th, Twitter [9] user @radiantbutch posted, «yeah so the whole “touch grass” “go outside” “take a walk” brand of Twitter comebacks got old REALLY quickly. also they’re ableist. there I said it,» garnering over 1,000 likes and 180 retweets in six months. She further describes her issue with the phrasing in the comments (shown below).
On December 24th, Urban Dictionary [13] user steered-gay:0 defined «touch some grass,» garnering over 400 thumbs-ups in five months.
Throughout the first quarter of 2021, the phrase started popping up more frequently on other social media platforms, remaining the most popular on Twitter.
On March 18th, 2021, Redditor u/powfutality posted an image to /r/Cringetopia [6] showing all the 6 Digit Codes for the Ahegao Hoodie images titled «go outside touch some grass man😔✋» garnering over 1,800 upvotes in just under two months (shown below).
On April 6th, Twitter [14] user @HatianBhaddie posted a video with over 19 million views from TikToker [15] @michaeloftiktok showing how babies avoid grass instinctually, gaining over 300,000 likes and 67,000 retweets in a month. On April 7th, Instagram [16] page @wregon shared a screenshot of this tweet and the video captioned, «‘TOUCH SOME GRASS’ I don’t think I want to after seeing this» garnering over 400,000 views and 66,000 likes in a month (shown below).
On April 21st, YouTuber [7] Gianni Matragrano posted a voiced over meme in which he shouts, «No, that does it, go touch grass now!» garnering over 330,000 views in two weeks (shown below).
The phrase also gained significant popularity on TikTok, used in the same way and mostly in comments and captions to mock people who are «too online.» For example, on April 28th, TikToker [12] @gabeyfort posted a skit with the caption, «POV: Weeb Touches Grass,» garnering over 1.2 million views in five days (shown below).
On April 29th, Twitter [17] user and Twitch streamer Neekolul, best known for her «Ok Boomer» dance video, posted a screenshot from her DMs of a man asking to buy her clothes, writing, «pls touch some grass,» garnering over 28,000 likes and 540 retweets in four days (shown below).
Surprisingly, I Still Think X Is Bad
On April 29th, 2021, Twitter [8] user @Noelle_Boossy posted, «My gift to Twitter as ‘touch grass’ gets adopted by the worst people,» and a number of image macros of a hand touching grass with text implying the phrase is used by racists, transphobes, homophobes and ableists, garnering over 22,700 likes and 4,900 retweets in four days (shown below).
The post resulted in a number of replies [10] [11] and new variations of the meme making similar jokes about people touching grass, their opinions left unaltered (examples shown below).
Touching Grass Is Not Enough Meme
Popular:
Touching Grass Is Not Enough
About
Touching Grass Is Not Enough refers to an exploitable image macro of a Whisper-post that’s crudely doodled over by meme creators who replace the last part of the phrasal template, «touching grass is not enough i need X» — referencing the phrase “touch grass” meaning to get off the internet and go outside. The original meme was posted to Twitter in mid-October 2021 and was exploited across platforms like Instagram and Tumblr going into the rest of that year.
Origin
«Touching Grass» Precursors
The concept of «touching grass» was being used in memes as early as March 2021 on Instagram. For instance, Instagram [1] account @nyaakarii posted a meme about touching grass not working anymore on March 23rd, 2021 (shown below, left). The post received 144 likes over nine months. Instagram [2] account @aquarium.drinker also posted a notable «touching grass» meme on May 3rd, 2021, (shown below, right) that used an image of Ella Emhoff holding a gun. Their post received roughly 1,500 likes over seven months.
Both of the above memes, among others, [3] are likely precursors to the exploitable template that took off on Twitter later that year.
«Touching Grass Is Not Enough» Exploitable Origin
On October 13th, 2021, Twitter [4] user @Velvetworms_ tweeted the original meme (shown below). The text reads, «touching grass is not enough i need to be shot.» The tweet received roughly 179,900 likes over the course of two months.
Spread
The first known variant of the meme was posted on October 14th, 2021, by Twitter [5] user @notchaselyons. He doodled over the words, «to be shot,» and replaced them with the word, «HEAD.» The meme (shown below) received roughly 96,900 likes over the course of two months.
On October 14th, 2021, the original image was already being reposted on Instagram. [6] Memes also made their way to Tumblr [7] where they were also exploited. On October 17th, Instagram [8] users like @thisisafleshprison made deep-fried versions of the template (shown below, left). Other Instagrammers like @masturbatriarchy [9] placed the phrasal template on top of a newer, cleaner background image (shown below, right).
Overall, the exploitable trend stayed mostly on Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr going into December 2021. In November, Twitter [10] users like @caroreadstarot started referencing the meme without the image macro (shown below). Her tweet received roughly 5,600 likes over one month.
eating grass
person A : wanna start eating grass?
eat grass
Going outside, away from the internet.
Popular in certain politics communities on reddit and twitter, originated from «touching grass» being described as ableist and in a need of a replacement.
I’m ootl on X, what is up with it?
Way to humblebrag about eating grass chad
Didn’t you know
Go eat grass, you definitely need it
Eating Grass
Eat That Grass
«I kicked Todd’s ass so hard, he had to eat that grass all weekend»
Todd was beaten up and forced to partake in grass eating.
grass eating
Chubbs has been grass eating for years, it was only a matter of time before he got on Noreaga’s take.
cop1: «You need to cut that grass eating shit out Pat, you are going to get the whole force in some shit.»
cop2: «Relax, no one is going to miss one zipper when we turn in the two kilos. »
Grass eating hippo
Eat Ass, Smoke Grass and Sled Fast
1) The chant of the infamous «Sled Gang», this phrase is frequently used before severely injuring oneself, and ultimately ending up as an unforgettable meme that will forever float around the internet.
2) A phrase used by autistic teenage gypsy’s who have given up on life and come to terms with the fact that they will never amount to anything. A clear indicator of a degenerative Disease
1) Dan the Meme Man: «Hey it’s Dan the Meme Man. You know, you only live once, so Eat Ass, Smoke Grass and Sled Fast.
Mall Security: » If you go down this escalator, I will call the police on you»
Dan the Meme Man: *Sleds down the escalator anyway, not giving a single fuck*
Fellow Sled Gang Member: «Dan go run. Sled Gang! Sled Gang! Sled Gang!»
2) John: «Hey Michael, I heard you were the only one in our grade who didn’t get into college. I’m sorry bro.»
Michael: «It’s alright bruh, I’m just gonna Eat Ass, Smoke Grass and Sled Fast.»
John: «Oh no, it’s retarded.»
Touch Grass Meme
Popular:
Touch Grass
About
Touch Grass, or Touch Some Grass, is a popular online insult and alternative way of telling someone to «go outside,» implying they’re spending too much time online and it’s affecting their wellbeing. The exact origin of the phrase is unknown, but it started spreading significantly in 2019, becoming increasingly popular on Twitter throughout 2021.
Origin
It’s unknown when «touch grass» was first used as an alternative to «go outside,» with examples on Twitter [2] [3] dating back to at least 2015 (example shown below).
The phrase grew in popularity over the next five years, primarily on Twitter and 4chan, [5] seeing a significant rise in use starting in 2019. For example, on May 3rd, 2019, Twitter [1] user @flyhinata used «touch some grass» as an insult in a Twitter thread criticizing people who threaten others for shipping 2D characters, garnering over 1,400 likes and 700 retweets in two years (shown below).
Spread
Over the course of 2020, variations of the phrase «touch grass» began to spread across social media, used in a number of popular posts. For example, on February 11th, 2020, Twitter [4] user @revolvyrn used the insult in a post criticizing a company for using a deceased artist’s work after they said they could use it «in the future» before their death, therefore unable to consent to the official use of their artwork, garnering over 44,800 likes and 12,600 retweets in a year (shown below).
On November 28th, Twitter [9] user @radiantbutch posted, «yeah so the whole “touch grass” “go outside” “take a walk” brand of Twitter comebacks got old REALLY quickly. also they’re ableist. there I said it,» garnering over 1,000 likes and 180 retweets in six months. She further describes her issue with the phrasing in the comments (shown below).
On December 24th, Urban Dictionary [13] user steered-gay:0 defined «touch some grass,» garnering over 400 thumbs-ups in five months.
Throughout the first quarter of 2021, the phrase started popping up more frequently on other social media platforms, remaining the most popular on Twitter.
On March 18th, 2021, Redditor u/powfutality posted an image to /r/Cringetopia [6] showing all the 6 Digit Codes for the Ahegao Hoodie images titled «go outside touch some grass man😔✋» garnering over 1,800 upvotes in just under two months (shown below).
On April 6th, Twitter [14] user @HatianBhaddie posted a video with over 19 million views from TikToker [15] @michaeloftiktok showing how babies avoid grass instinctually, gaining over 300,000 likes and 67,000 retweets in a month. On April 7th, Instagram [16] page @wregon shared a screenshot of this tweet and the video captioned, «‘TOUCH SOME GRASS’ I don’t think I want to after seeing this» garnering over 400,000 views and 66,000 likes in a month (shown below).
On April 21st, YouTuber [7] Gianni Matragrano posted a voiced over meme in which he shouts, «No, that does it, go touch grass now!» garnering over 330,000 views in two weeks (shown below).
The phrase also gained significant popularity on TikTok, used in the same way and mostly in comments and captions to mock people who are «too online.» For example, on April 28th, TikToker [12] @gabeyfort posted a skit with the caption, «POV: Weeb Touches Grass,» garnering over 1.2 million views in five days (shown below).
On April 29th, Twitter [17] user and Twitch streamer Neekolul, best known for her «Ok Boomer» dance video, posted a screenshot from her DMs of a man asking to buy her clothes, writing, «pls touch some grass,» garnering over 28,000 likes and 540 retweets in four days (shown below).
Surprisingly, I Still Think X Is Bad
On April 29th, 2021, Twitter [8] user @Noelle_Boossy posted, «My gift to Twitter as ‘touch grass’ gets adopted by the worst people,» and a number of image macros of a hand touching grass with text implying the phrase is used by racists, transphobes, homophobes and ableists, garnering over 22,700 likes and 4,900 retweets in four days (shown below).
The post resulted in a number of replies [10] [11] and new variations of the meme making similar jokes about people touching grass, their opinions left unaltered (examples shown below).