Meaning
What does Fool of a Took mean?
Fool of a Took is a memorable quote from the legendary Lord of the Rings trilogy, directed by Peter Jackson.
Online, the phrase is used in reaction images, image macros as well as GIFs to express anger toward someone who acts as a Halfling halfwit.
Origin
What's the origin of Fool of a Took?
“Fool of a Took” first emerged in J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” published in 1954.
The insult is uttered by Gandalf in the Mines of Moria, promptly after Pippin, aka. Peregrin Took accidentally knocked over an armored skeleton, awakening a horde of goblins, as well as a Balrog of Morgoth, starting a butterfly effect that would change the fate of Middle Earth.
It would be featured in the 1978 animated adaptation of the trilogy.
Spread & Usage
How did Fool of a Took spread?
The true breakthrough for “fool of a Took” came in 2001, when Peter Jackson’s motion picture adaptation of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring was premiered.
It was first defined on Urban Dictionary in 2005 and since that time, fans of the intricate fantasy universe have been using the phrase both online and in real life.
Following 2010, memes of the scene would also emerge, resulting in “fool of a Took” appearing on image macros, reaction images, as well as threads and discussions on forums and message boards.
External resources
- Quotegeek – Fool of a Took. Throw yourself in next time, and rid us of your stupidity.
- Reddit – r/lotrmemes
- Urban Dictionary – Fool of a Took