What Does “Hold My Beer” Mean?

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Everything you need to know about one of the internet’s favorite expressions
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You may have seen the phrase “Hold my beer” on social media, but what exactly does it mean? This famous phrase makes fun of someone doing something risky, dangerous, or ill-advised when negative consequences aren’t on their mind. In this article, we’ll teach you everything you need about the viral phrase, including its meaning, usage, and origins.

Things You Should Know

  • People jokingly say, “Hold my beer” when they're about to do something risky, dangerous, or stupid.
  • People also say, “Hold my beer” when criticizing and laughing at seemingly bad decisions made by public figures, brands, or organizations.
  • The abbreviation HMB appears in the comments of fail videos, where someone's mistakes or shortcomings are shared online for the amusement of others.
Section 1 of 4:

Hold My Beer Meaning

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    Have you ever had a friend who asked you to hold their beer before trying something risky or flat-out dangerous because they’ve had too much to drink? That’s where this expression comes from. Nowadays, people say, “Hold my beer,” as a joking way of saying, “I’m about to do something reckless.” [1]
    • “Hold my beer” may also appear in an abbreviated form: HMB.
    • It’s often seen in meme form to comment on someone doing something dangerous, like jumping from a roof into a pool.
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    Hold my beer is also commonly used as a meme to make fun of when one celebrity or brand makes an even bigger mistake than a different celebrity or brand, or when they manage to do something better. It’s like they’re saying, “Hold my beer, I can do something worse/better than them.” [2]
    • Nicki Minaj: I’m about to drop the biggest diss track of all time.
      Megan Thee Stallion: Hold my beer.
    • Tesla: We ruined our brand loyalty in just 2 months.
      Southwest Airlines: Hold my beer.
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Section 2 of 4:

When & How to Use “Hold My Beer”

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    Have you ever gotten the sudden urge to do something completely ridiculous? Instead of suppressing the feeling, make the night memorable by handing your drink to the person closest to you. They’ll get the hint! Whether that’s talking to an attractive woman at a bar who has a boyfriend or jumping into the ocean in the middle of winter, these are just some examples of risky behaviors that can warrant a “hold my beer” moment.
    • “Hold my beer while I try to ride this bike with no handles.”
    • “Hold my beer while I climb this tree.”
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    As you scroll through TikToks and shorts, it’s only a matter of time before you end up on the corner of the internet that highlights people’s painfully embarrassing fails. Let’s be real, though—it’s hard not to laugh! That’s the perfect time to leave an “HMB” comment and get plenty of likes in return. [3]
    • Fail videos depict someone’s mistakes, shortcomings, or unfortunate outcomes.
    • Leave a “hold my beer” comment on a video of something failing to hop over a firepit with a dirt bike and no ramp.
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    Have you ever skimmed a news headline and said, “Huh?” In situations where major events seem contradictory based on past historical events, you could highlight this irony in an “HMB” tweet. The format works best as two lines of dialogue between people, brands, or organizations where one does something “dumber” than the other.
    • “COMPANY 1: We just made the biggest PR mistake!”
      “COMPANY 2: Hold my beer.”
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Section 3 of 4:

Origin and Spread

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    Back in the mid-1990s, Southern comedian Jeff Foxworthy had a joke formula that poked fun at the “redneck” life he was exposed to. It went, “You might be a redneck if your last words before losing consciousness have ever been, “Hey, y’all, watch this!” before doing something dangerous. This eventually inspired the phrase we know and love so well. [4]
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    After the 2016 United States presidential election, “HMB” became a trending phrase on Twitter. It was a way for people to laugh during dark times. Users used the phrase to highlight the poor decisions of politicians, celebrities, and brands against one another to make an ironic joke. [5]
    • A popular example is the United States asking a post-Brexit United Kingdom to hold its beer before electing Donald Trump as president. [6]
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Section 4 of 4:

Related Terms

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    Ever found yourself getting extremely worked up about a test or chores and some says, “Hey man, don’t trip.” This popular phrase tells others to calm down and not worry. It can also signal staying out of a situation that doesn’t involve or concern you. Think of it as a polite way of saying, “Mind your business.” [7]
    • “Don’t trip over that test on Monday, bro; you got it.”
    • “I’m gonna be late but don’t trip. We’ll stick make it before the movie starts.”
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    GOAT is a popular term amongst Gen Zers, which means the Greatest of All Time. It describes someone who has performed better than anyone else. It’s most commonly associated with sports, specifically the boxer Mohammad Ali, known as “The Greatest.” [8]
    • “Mr. G didn’t give us homework again. I swear he’s the GOAT!”
    • “I’ve never seen anyone play soccer like you. You’re the GOAT!”
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    The term grew into popularity following an infamous Vine of a student throwing an empty soda can with force. It shows little regard for the object and expresses excitement about getting rid of it. [9]
    • “This soda is empty. YEET!”
    • “There’s no more gum? YEET!”
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    If you’ve ever been called extra, someone thinks you’re excessive or doing too much. This can include getting all dolled up for a casual hang out or doing basic tasks, like sprinkling salt on a pizza, with a dramatic flair. [10]
    • “Why are you wearing 6-inch heels? We’re just going to Target. You’re so extra!”
    • “Linda is always laughing so loud; she’s so extra!”
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      References

      1. ↑ https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/hold-my-beer
      2. ↑ https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2017/04/hold-my-beer-twitter-joke.html
      3. ↑ https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/fail-epic-fail
      4. ↑ https://www.mic.com/articles/173994/hold-my-beer-meme-explained-pepsi-united-sean-spicer-hitler
      5. ↑ https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2017/04/hold-my-beer-twitter-joke.html
      6. ↑ https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2017/04/hold-my-beer-twitter-joke.html
      7. ↑ https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=don%27t%20trip
      8. ↑ https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/goat
      9. ↑ https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yeet
      1. ↑ https://www.purewow.com/tech/what-does-extra-mean

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