I See What You Did ThereResearching

added Feb 17, 2009 at 04:22AM UTC

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part of a series on Internet Slang

About

“I see what you did there” is a common phrase used in spoken English, text, and Image Macros, generally to convey a condescending or patronizing tone as a reponse to a banal joke. However, the phrase is sometimes also used to convey a genuine admiration for another person’s wit, or even as a threatening message akin to “I know what you did.”

Use

Acknowledging/Patronizing Wit

In the patronizing sense of the phrase, an image of the character Fry from Futurama is often used to more clearly portray the lack of sincerity. Fry’s character is known for being less than clever.


Accusation

Alternatively, the accusatory tone is often conveyed through images with a facial expression of shock or condemnation. This image of a pelican gets the message across.

Google Insights

Although common use of this phrase has been around for years, searches for the phrase began showing up in mid 2005. This is likely due to use of the phrase in many image macros.

Earliest Sightings

A precise online origin for this phrase has yet to be found. Some early uses prior to the start of the search trend include:

4chan

The phrase “I see what you did there” is so popular with 4chan, that the phrase shows up in over 24,000 threads on 4chanarchive.org

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11 Comments

Intertube Anthropologist
Jun 25, 2009 at 05:48AM UTC , Intertube Anthropologist wrote:

Would love to see some research on this.

meganphntmgrl
Jul 18, 2009 at 06:23AM UTC , meganphntmgrl wrote:

I’m pretty sure it started with Futurama.

ThatCoolDudeYouKnow
Sep 10, 2009 at 07:38AM UTC , ThatCoolDudeYouKnow wrote:

i agree, research please? where this come from hmm? thanks kym

prokadae
Sep 20, 2009 at 04:26AM UTC , prokadae wrote:

i do not see what you did there…
i never have understood this meme, it would be nice if you could do some resaerching on it.

Catt
Oct 06, 2009 at 06:48AM UTC , Catt wrote:

It looks like the ice cream guy in the main pic is “Mr.Tastee” from “the adventures of Pete and Pete”.
I put up a photo from the series as reference.

Begin
Nov 08, 2009 at 04:44AM UTC , Begin wrote:

i c wut u did thar

Palarran
Nov 19, 2009 at 08:28PM UTC , Palarran wrote:

Possible origin: Arrested Development, season 1, episode “Missing Kitty” (March 28, 2004). GOB, a magician, is showing his nephew George Michael a magic trick when George Michael’s father Michael walks in the room.

Michael, to George Michael: “…There certainly isn’t going to be any magic. It is a path to a lonely life where people mock you and you don’t even realize it.”
GOB: “But Michael, I’m a magi—oh, I see what you did.”

I don’t remember hearing it in Futurama.

Spoonular Orwok
Nov 21, 2009 at 08:55PM UTC , Spoonular Orwok wrote:

I don’t watch Futurama too often so I wouldn’t know if it came from there, but isn’t Arrested Development to under rated for it to spread so much?

zivilisation
Dec 11, 2009 at 03:34AM UTC , zivilisation wrote:

Possible earlier origin: 3rd Rock From the Sun (1998), season 4, episode 3 “Feelin’ Albright.”

Sally storms out of the kitchen, breaking a crockpot in the process.
Tommy:“We just lost one crockpot, and gained one crackpot.”
Harry:“I see what you did there.”

Komissar
Jan 13, 2010 at 08:02PM UTC , Komissar wrote:

Possible earlier sighting than 3rd Rock.

Mr Saturday Night (1992):

Repeated Line: “See what I did there?”

Bob K
Feb 22, 2010 at 04:02AM UTC , Bob K wrote:

Isn’t “I see what you did thar” worth at least a paragraph of this?

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