Buzz
A comprehensive look at the viral meme that’s been taking over the internet
If the phrase 'Mom I threw up' sounds unfamiliar, you probably still remember the moment as a child when you had to wake your parents in the middle of the night to report that you’d been sick—and that’s essentially the premise of this meme! Now you’re in the know! Want to learn more? We’ll explore the meme’s origins and how you can use it in your own posts.
A Quick Overview of the 'Mom I Threw Up' Meme
'Mom I threw up' (sometimes spelled 'Mom I frew up') is a meme and catchphrase that captures the childhood experience of waking up your mom—or sometimes both parents—late at night to tell them you've thrown up. This phrase is often paired with an amusing image of a character in a doorway, adding a humorous spin to the situation.
How It Works
What is the ‘Mom I Threw Up’ Meme?
This meme is about a child waking up their mom after being sick. 'Mom I threw up' is a catchphrase and meme that humorously captures the experience of being a young child and waking your parents—usually your mom—in the middle of the night to tell them you’ve thrown up. The meme typically features an image of a small figure (not always a child) standing in a doorway with the words 'Mom I frew up.'
- The meme’s success highlights the common experience of kids needing their parents’ help when they’re sick, but it also taps into the comfort we find from our parents when we’re feeling unwell or upset.
- While 'Mom I threw up' is also commonly used, 'frew' is meant to reflect how a young child might say 'threw.'
- The meme usually appears as photos, though it’s also found in videos, particularly on TikTok.
Origins of the ‘Mom I Threw Up’ Meme
The meme first appeared on Twitter in late 2018. The earliest known post related to 'Mom I threw up' was shared by user @onyxrose9 in September 2018. The post featured an image of an alien walking through a dark tunnel, with the caption: 'Me walking up to my parents’ room at 3 am on a school night just to tell them I threw up on my pillow.'
- A more viral version of the meme came in October 2018 from user @Moristiko, who posted a now-deleted tweet with a picture of a small alien standing in a doorway with the caption: 'me walking to my parents room at 2am telling them i threw up.'
- The trend continued with user @dontperciveme00, who was the first to use the exact phrase 'mom, i threw up' as the caption for a post featuring a photo of a baby raccoon standing behind a sliding glass door.
The meme grew in popularity on Reddit, Instagram, and TikTok. As the phrase gained traction on Twitter, Reddit, and Instagram, users began incorporating different fictional characters or public figures into the meme (like Mike Wazowski). They also started replacing 'threw' with 'frew' to mimic how a young child might speak.
- The phrase spread to TikTok, where users posted videos acting as their younger selves, like this one by user @itstrevorabney, or featuring cats humorously embodying the meme, as seen in this compilation.
When to Use the 'Mom I Threw Up' Meme
Use the meme to highlight a cute, funny character, animal, or figure. This meme is often used as a standalone humorous image, and its success depends on the image you pair it with. Look for an adorable, funny, or surprising photo of your pet, a celebrity, or a popular fictional character, and add the catchphrase.
- For example, the next time you take an amusing photo of your dog standing on its hind legs, caption it 'Mom I frew up.'
- Stay up-to-date with trending social media content that can be paired with the meme, such as when someone paired it with the Robert Pattinson in a Tracksuit meme.
Create a TikTok video acting out the meme. TikTok users have embraced this meme by making videos where they reenact themselves as children, using the phrase 'Mom I frew up' to humorously engage with their parents. The videos capture the familiar, comforting, and often funny experience of turning to our parents when we're feeling upset or unwell.
Explore Other Hilarious Memes
'Mom I frew up' is just one of many entertaining internet trends. There are plenty of other laugh-out-loud or bizarre memes circulating online. Check out these articles to dive into similar trends:
