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The Keyword

Psh, think you can guess the top GIF expressions of 2019?

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LOL. Yasss. SMH. The internet has long been where words (and of course, acronyms) solidify their place in the English language. But the web’s breakneck pace can make it difficult to totally grasp what phrases are becoming popular, or even what they mean. 


A great way to get a visual education in internet lingo is by looking at how people use GIFs. Because GIFs are only a few seconds long and live in digital form only, they usually embody one specific emotion or expression. We looked at anonymized trends from Tenor, Google’s GIF search engine, to identify the top trending GIF expressions people used in North America this year. Even though the Ron Swanson GIF didn't make it into the top ten, it pretty much sums up how we feel about the GIFs below.

1. “Psh

Sure, it’s more of a sound than a word, but YouTuber Ed Bassmaster helped us communicate how excited we *weren’t* about things this year.

EdB.gif

2. “Oop

Reality TV star Jasmine Masters invented the phrase heard ‘round the internet.

jasmineoop.gif

3. “Hustle

This must be a sign that people picked up the pace this year (hopefully not while they were on scooters).

hustle.gif

4. “Oh man

Clearly, plenty of people needed to express exasperation.

ohman.gif

5. “Peasant

Perhaps “Game of Thrones” mania had something to do with this particular search term.

peasant.gif

6. “Dad joke

Puns from Pops were tops non-stop.

dadjoke.gif

7. “No regrets

Even poultry should live it up, amirite?

noregrets.gif

8. “Everything

This year was EVERYTHING (and especially hyperbolic).

everythinggif.gif

9. “Beast

Whatever it takes to get the job done, even if it involves claws and excess body hair.

beast.gif

10. “Not happy

Ah yes, a timeless sentiment that held its own in 2019.

nothappy.gif

Go ahead, "GIF" one of these expressions a try for yourself!

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