Meaning
What does Get a Load of This Guy mean?
Get a load of this guy is a popular idiomatic phrase used for ironically pointing out the wits of someone after a humorous remark, making fun of them after attempting to be droll, or seriously acknowledging their knack for comicality.
Online, the phrase is usually combined with some sort of reaction image, depicting someone who is pointing while talking, often Wayne Campbell from Wayne’s World (portrayed by Mike Myers) or Ross Geller from Friends (portrayed by David Schwimmer).
Another popular reaction image macro meme, using the phrasal template comes from SpongeBob SquarePants, depicting two fish from Bikini Bottom whispering to each other.
Origin
What's the origin of Get a Load of This Guy?
“Get a load of this guy” has been around as a slang phrase since the 1920’s, although its popularity started taking off with the approach of the new millennium.
The image macro that is the most popularly used with the phrase originates from the 1992 comedy, Wayne’s World, where the protagonist looks at the camera while articulating the words “Get a load of this guy”.
The expression was first defined on Urban Dictionary in 2007.
Various reaction image memes have been circulating online during the late 2000’s on sites like 4chan already.
Spread & Usage
How did Get a Load of This Guy spread?
Following 2010, the meme would appear on sites like 4chan and Reddit, as well as Facebook, and 9GAG, paired with image macros of iconic pop culture references, usually characters of classic movies or series, like the often memed Patrick Bateman (portrayed by Christian Bale) of American Psycho.
The popularity of “Get a load of this guy” shot up in 2020, when a new image macro, depicting Ross from Friends was spread around on a wide range of sites, ranging from Reddit to 9GAG, FunnyJunk to Instagram and Facebook to even YouTube.
“Get a load of this guy” is also a well-liked hashtag on Tumblr up to this date, as of March 31st, 2021.
