What is the “Bombastic Side Eye” Trend on TikTok? Meaning, Origin & More

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Flash someone a dirty look with this viral TikTok trend

Co-authored by Bailey Cho Reviewed by Candace Gasper

Last Updated: October 17, 2024 Fact Checked

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“Bombastic Side Eye” Meaning

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“Criminal Offensive Side Eye” Meaning

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Usage

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Meme Origin

You may have heard the term “bombastic side eye” on TikTok, but what exactly does it mean? This popular phrase refers to the sideways look that people give others when they hear or see something weird, questionable, or out of line. In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about the “bombastic side eye” trend, including when and how to use it, where it came from, and how it relates to the “criminal offensive side eye.”

Things You Should Know

“Bombastic side eye” is a dirty look that people give others to express disgust, disapproval, or judgment.
On TikTok, “bombastic side eye, criminal offensive side eye” refers to the trend of people uploading videos of themselves reacting to uncomfortable or cringe-worthy situations.
The “bombastic side eye” meme went viral on TikTok in January 2023, after user @lmfaomal posted a duet to a popular audio of someone repeating the term "side eye."

Section 1 of 4:

What does “bombastic side eye” mean?

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It’s a sideways look that people give to express disgust or disapproval. If someone does (or says) something out of pocket, give them the bombastic side eye—stare at them out of the corner of your eye, without turning your face. It’s a simple way to show that you’re judging them and that you don’t agree with their opinion or behavior.^{[1]
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- “Side eye” is basically a dirty look that someone gives others if they do something questionable or slightly weird.^{[2]
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- On TikTok, “bombastic side eye” refers to a viral audio that many people have used to post videos of themselves reacting to funny, controversial, or uncomfortable situations.

Section 2 of 4:

What does “criminal offensive side eye" mean?

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The term “criminal offensive side eye” comes from the viral “bombastic side eye” audio on TikTok. There’s not much of a difference between the two facial expressions, and they can be used interchangeably to describe a dirty look someone might give in response to something controversial or cringe-worthy.

Section 3 of 4:

When & How to Use “Bombastic Side Eye”

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Flash the bombastic side eye if someone is acting out of line. Did your loved one just say something that was high key offensive? Are your friends being embarrassingly loud in public? Is your professor acting a little too friendly toward a student? These are all appropriate situations where you could give someone the bombastic side eye and let it be known that you’re judging them hard.
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Make a funny video on TikTok with the “bombastic side eye” audio. Whether you’re attempting to go viral on TikTok or just trying to make a silly video with friends, think of a situation that calls for the bombastic side eye. Reflect on the times that you’ve been seriously annoyed, embarrassed, shocked, or upset by someone, or use any of the following prompts for inspiration:
- When your friend says she can “fix him”
- When your Uber driver takes a turn that wasn’t on the map
- When you run into your ex during Christmas break in your hometown
- When you accidentally break something in a store, and you’re trying not to get caught

Section 4 of 4:

Origin & Spread of the “Bombastic Side Eye” Meme

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“Bombastic side eye” became a viral sound on TikTok in January 2023. TikTok user @cynthiammasi uploaded a video of her reacting to someone texting her “yk u love me” (“you know you love me”). In the video, she repeats “side eye” in different tones, and many users began using the audio for their own videos.^{[3]
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- On January 22, user @lmfaomal posted a duet to the video, coining the phrase “bombastic side eye, criminal offensive side eye.” Her video gained over 9.6 million plays in a month, and user @whatareyoulookingatbabs added the Vine boom sound effect to the audio.
- From there, “bombastic side eye” became a viral audio and TikTok trend, and many non-English speakers began to upload videos of them translating the audio into their native languages. Other users began posting POV videos of themselves reacting to specific situations where they’d give someone side eye.