What Does “Understandable, Have a Nice Day” Mean?

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Learn all about this internet-famous phrase and where it came from
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You’re scrolling through your feed and you see a post that says, “Understandable, have a nice day”—what does that mean? Is it just a polite way to end the convo or does it mean something deeper? This phrase comes from a meme from 2017 that has since then taken on a life of its own. Keep reading to dive into the entire history of the meme, including where it came from and how to use it online and in real life.

Meaning of the “Understandable, Have a Nice Day” Meme

“Understandable, have a nice day” is a catchphrase from a meme. In it, O’Neal drives up to a McDonald’s drive-through and says “Hello, food?” The drive-through worker says “Food broke,” and O’Neal holds a peace sign and says “Understandable. Have a good day.” The whole joke is that the meme is super direct and literal.

Section 1 of 3:

What does “Understandable, have a nice day” mean?

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  1. This meme is usually set up so that one person asks for something and the other person denies their request for a silly or outrageous reason. The other person responds with the punchline, “Understandable, have a nice day,” accepting the situation no matter how crazy it is.
    • When someone sends a message that says “Understandable, have a nice day,” it’s their way of ending the conversation while referring to a funny and wholesome meme.
    • Some jokes replace “nice” with “good” or “great,” but “nice” is the most common word used.
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Section 2 of 3:

Where does “Understandable, have a nice day” come from?

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  1. This phrase originated from a grainy meme posted by @liltusk on Twitter (X) in 2017. In the meme, former basketball player O’Neal drives up to a McDonald’s drive-through and says “Hello, food?” The drive-through attendant says “Food broke.” The last panel shows O’Neal leaning back, holding a peace sign, and saying “Understandable. Have a good day.”
    • Tumblr user Etica and Instagram user @filthyfranktv helped spread the meme to other platforms.
    • Later that year, the Facebook account @iwjamb (It was just a meme bro) posted a fake series of messages between a person and “Online Shopping” that moved the phrase off the original meme.
    • In the post, the user sends a few browsing (👀 🤔) emojis, and “Online Shopping” asks “uhhhhh may I help you sir.” The user responds with “just lookin,” and “Online Shopping” says “Understandable have a nice day.”
    • Since then, the phrase has spread everywhere on the internet and has even inspired merch like stickers, hats, and shirts.
  2. “Whoppy Machine Broke” is a dialogue text-based Tumblr meme made by user golfgalaxy where one person goes to a Burger King and asks for a “Whoppy” (which is slang for a Whopper). The employee interrupts them, saying “Whoppy machine broke.”
    • This joke quickly spread on Tumblr and in other variations, “Whoppy” was replaced by other items. For example, a post by sonypraystation simply says “heart machine broke.”
    • The “Whoppy machine broke” punchline is inspired by the internet inside joke that the soft-serve ice cream machines at McDonald’s restaurants always seem to be broken. [1]
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Section 3 of 3:

How to Use “Understandable, Have a Nice Day”

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  1. Whether a store clerk for a tie store tells you they’re out of ties or someone tells you they only took you out on a date to try Long John Silvers for the first time, this catchphrase can be a great way to gently make fun of the whole situation.
    • You: “Hey, can I get uhh—.”
      Them: “No, sorry.”
      You: “Understandable, have a nice day.”
    • If you lost to your friend in a video game after you confidently said you were going to win, you might say, “Understandable, have a nice day.”
    • The great thing about this meme is that it’s completely flexible. Try this phrase in different situations and see what sticks!
  2. Use this phrase if someone rejects you after sliding into their DMs . If you’re messaging the most attractive person you’ve ever seen online and they say they’re taken, sending “Understandable, have a nice day” can be a good way to defuse the situation and take the rejection in stride. They may even appreciate the reference!
    • You: “Do you like raisins? How about a date?”
      Them: “Sorry, I’ve got a boyfriend.”
      You: “Understandable, have a nice day.”
    • You: “Heyy!”
      Them: “Sorry, I prefer bad boys.”
      You: “Understandable, have a nice day.”
  3. Use a meme generator to add text to the simplified version of this meme and create your own running joke. Take inspiration from situations in the real world or make fun of situations in your favorite TV shows and movies. You can also change the punchline to make the joke even funnier.
    • Gravity: “This anvil is super heavy, it needs to come down.”
      Cartoon character: “I haven’t looked up at it yet, though.”
      Gravity: “Understandable, have a nice day.”
    • TV Villain: *Holds up a gun*
      TV Character: “No, I’m too young to die!”
      You: “Understandable, have a nice day.”
    • Me: “Time to watch Netflix.”
      Netflix: “Show broke.”
      Me: *Cancels subscription*
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      Tips

      • The McDonald’s inside joke also inspired the creation of the website mcbroken.com , which tells you which locations have working ice cream machines. [2]
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      • The Shaquille O’Neal meme is known as a “deep-fried” meme, which means the image has been run through so many filters that it looks grainy, washed-out, and strangely colored.
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      • Shaquille O’Neal referenced this meme himself in a Twitter (X) post in May 2024, where he wrote “Understandable. Have a great day. ✌🏽”
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.foodandwine.com/mcdonalds-ice-cream-machine-broken-8627641
      2. ↑ https://www.foodandwine.com/mcdonalds-ice-cream-machine-broken-8627641

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