What Does 'Sheesh' Actually Mean? The Meaning Behind The Memes And Slang

Got a "sheesh" in your comment section and have no idea what to do about it? Is this good? Is this bad? Does "sheesh" even mean anything at all? It certainly does, and all the questions you had about it are about to go away: Here's our explanation for that nifty exclamation.

Where Does "Sheesh" Come From?

While the exclamation "sheesh" has only recently caught the public eye thanks to going viral on TikTok in 2021, you've probably heard it many times before. In fact, "sheesh" has been a part of the English language long enough to be first included in the Meriam-Webster dictionary back in 1955. The original definition for the word was "disappointment, annoyance or surprise," but today it has a slightly different meaning.

The "sheesh" we know and love today is almost synonymous with "daaaamn," and can be just what you need when you need to tell the person that you're impressed with their outfit or looks. The word has been used this way at least since the mid-2010s, with LeBron James being among those who particularly liked to use a "sheesh" or two in his Instagram posts.

But what really helped the word achieve public recognition as the way to compliment one's drip was "Sheesh" the TikTok sound, which had people sheeshing at cool stuff in awe.

"Sheesh" Usage In Memes

The initial use of the exclamation in memes happened in July 2020 when the TikTok trend parodying sneaker meetups in which people meet up to trade deadstock sneakers was popularized on the app. In the videos, which comically exaggerated every aspect of such meetups, could never be believable without a loud "sheesh" once the product is revealed.

https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/6867711677945613574

The sneaker meetups were funny, but they didn't launch "sheesh" into the mainstream quite like the "Sheesh Sound Effect" did in 2021. It all started with a video of some guys finding a cool-looking frog and voicing their sheer awe with it with … you guessed it, sheeshing unstopably. TikTok deemed the sound effect funny, and the communty started to use it in other videos in which they showed off some cool stuff.

https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/6929003663612562693

https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/6944021341485944069

https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/6944009425627778310

The trend was quickly followed by another one, with the new sound being a very beautiful choir of sheeshing, a perfect fit for drips that are angelic-level.

https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/6953669113805835525

https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/6955275501313297669

https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/6957399992331947270

As both trends achieved major virality, seeing "sheesh" on your timeline became a daily occurrence. Sheesh!

Why Do People Say Sheesh?

People say "sheesh" in the same meaning they say "daaamn!" and "wow!" Online slang changes all the time, and when old expressions get boring or fall out of favor, a new one often comes around to replace them. That's just the case with "sheesh" as well.

Does Sheesh Have a Positive Meaning?

More often than not, getting a "sheesh" means something about you is awesome. Unless you posted cringe, then it's most likely ironic.

Examples Of Sheesh In A Sentence

• Man, did you see Carlos' fit at the concert? Sheesh
• Haven't seen you in years! What a glow-up, I mean, sheesh!
• Sheesh! Where did you buy that?

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For the full history of sheesh, be sure to check out our entry on the exclamation here for even more information.