If you’re an avid social media user, you’ve probably seen or heard the word “sheesh” somewhere. I’m not talking about sheesh, the word used to negatively express disbelief, surprise, or annoyance. This meaning is more positive and sometimes used as a compliment. So what does it mean?
According to Urban Dictionary, sheesh basically means “Dammmmmm.” Different from its original 1955 definition, it conveys how impressed someone is, is used to hype something/someone up, or is used to express excitement.
But the sheesh that we hear today is not new to 2021. In fact, its role in drip culture began in 2017. Professional NBA player, Lebron James, is known to use sheesh and #sheesh in his Instagram posts. He often uses it to show excitement or postive feelings, so you could say he helped modernize the use of the word. Soon after, other celebrities began to use it in social media, and even rappers in their music. You can technically use it in any context now, but in the past week, many people have been using it as either a compliment or with hints of mockery.
It blew up on TikTok when @meetjulio posted a video of a frog, while people in the background continuously yelled “sheeeesh.” Today, the TikTok has 3.7 million views and the sound has gone viral in multiple renditions of the sheesh trend.
@meetjulio
With the abundant employment of the word sheesh, the options of what to do with the TikTok are endless. Some have chosen to purposefully brag about accomplishments such as a new car or clothes, while many videos that can be found under the sound are memes.
These parodies often joke about something about the future. Let’s look at an example!
@brintmitchell
Additionally, there is a stance that people usually take when saying sheesh. It’s called the “ice in my veins” pose.
The phrase/pose which means “cold-blooded” actually originated from sports. In games, it is typically applied during the final minutes as a sign of using strength and determination to succeed. It began when D’angelo Russell started using it as a celebration pose.
In an interview with GQ, he said, “It’s something my dad said growing up. He always said you have to be prepared for big moments, you gotta have ice in your veins. You have to have no feelings. You have to go out there and play your hardest and do what you do. That was the celebration what I performed well and knowing he prepared me mentally.”
But TikTok has totally transformed it, to the point where the original pose has lost its meaning. On the app, it is just known as the “TikTok arm thing.”
@star4x
Well now you know about the interesting back story behind the sheesh/ice in my veins trend! Next time you hear someone yell it on campus (which I hear almost everyday now), you’ll be in on the trend!
