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1What does the ๐ (upside-down) emoji mean in texting?
2What does the ๐ (upside-down) emoji mean in flirting?
3How do you use the ๐ (upside-down) emoji?
4How to Respond to a ๐ (upside-down) Emoji
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Co-authored byJanice Tieperman
Last Updated: April 9, 2024Fact Checked
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Ah, the classic ๐ (upside-down) emojiโthis face seems to be popping up everywhere, from your social media feeds to your personal text convos. But what exactly does this enigmatic emoticon mean? Youโve come to the right article! Weโve put together a complete guide to explain the different nuances and uses for this multi-purpose emoji, so you can sprinkle it into your own social media posts and texts.
Section 1 of 4:
What does the ๐ (upside-down) emoji mean in texting?
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1
Sarcasm and irony: Dry humor is great, but itโs sometimes hard to pick up on in a text. To avoid any miscommunication, some people use the ๐ as a tone indicator to show that they arenโt being serious. Itโs a sleeker, less awkward alternative to the backslash tone indicators that some people end their messages with, like โ/sโ and โ/j.โ[1]
2
Humor: The ๐ emoji isnโt meant to be taken seriously. In fact, a lot of people toss a ๐ at the end of a blatantly silly or joking text to lighten the mood even more.[2]
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3
Exasperation: The ๐ emoji offers a subtle, more passive-aggressive way for people to share their annoyance without breaking out the heavy hitters like ๐ , ๐ก, or ๐คฌ. It sends a message like โIโm frustratedโ or โThis is inconvenient for me,โ rather than โIโm super pissed off.โ
4
Embarrassment: Few emojis can channel the sheer mortification of an embarrassing moment like the upside-down face. Falling asleep in class? Send a ๐. Texting the wrong person? Send a ๐. The more humiliating the moment, the more emojis people tend to use.
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Section 2 of 4:
What does the ๐ (upside-down) emoji mean in flirting?
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1
Theyโre trying to keep things cool and subtle. Flirting can be super nerve-wracking, especially if you canโt rely on the other personโs body language cues at all. If you recently sent a playful compliment or flirtatious remark, the other person might have sent the ๐ emoji to keep things cool.[3]
- You: โCounting down the minutes until I can see you again!โ
Them: ๐
- You: โCounting down the minutes until I can see you again!โ
2
Theyโre goofing around with you. In a flirty message, the ๐ emoji can carry the same weight as ๐ and ๐. So if they start sending a bunch of ๐ in a row, theyโre probably trying to keep things light, playful, and flirty.[4]
3
Theyโre trying to tone down the conversation. Maybe you start talking about taking your relationship to the next level. If the other person sends a ๐ back in reply, they may not be ready to have that conversation just yet.[5]
- You: โSo, are you ready to make things official?โ
Them: โIโm not sure. Maybe? ๐โ
- You: โSo, are you ready to make things official?โ
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Section 3 of 4:
How do you use the ๐ (upside-down) emoji?
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1
Use it to finish off a sarcastic quip. Let your friends know that youโre totally surprised to hear about the completely unexpected thing that happened to them. Better yet, stick a ๐ in a reply to your dad to let him know how super funny his jokes are.[6]
- โWow, Iโve never heard that one before. ๐โ
- โDid you come up with that all by yourself? ๐โ
2
Share an awkward or mortifying moment with this emoji. You canโt undo the humiliation, but you sure can channel it somewhere else! Dish what happened to your friends and loved ones, finishing off your message with a trademark ๐.
- โAccidentally walked in on someone in the bathroomโฆ๐๐๐โ
- โJust called my teacher โmom.โ Iโm ready to launch myself into the sun ๐๐โ
- โJust realized Iโve been wearing my shirt inside-out all day ๐โ
3
Vent your frustrations with a few ๐. Feeling ticked off but not totally furious? The ๐ emoji is a great way to get all that irritation out of your system with the tap of a finger.
- โThe bank told me theyโd send my check 2 months ago, and my mailbox is still empty ๐โ
- โA customer flipped out at me during my shift today. Iโm so done ๐๐โ
- โProf assigned a 10-page reading when thereโs already an essay due tomorrow๐โ
4
Drop a ๐ to express acceptance over an unfortunate fate. Overslept your alarm, or missed your train into work? The ๐ emoji has you covered in all sorts of unpleasant scenarios. Slap one at the end of your message to share the bad news; it is what it is, right?
- โForgot I had a paper due tomorrow. Guess Iโm not getting any sleep tonight! ๐โ
- โSpilled coffee on my shirt right before I left for work. Oh well! ๐โ
5
Strut your stuff with ๐ as your photo caption. No need to write out a whole paragraphโthe ๐ emoji lets your followers know that youโre feeling good, and you arenโt afraid to share it with the rest of the world. Post it alongside your next selfie, and see what people say![7]
6
Give your text some petty flair with a ๐. Okay, itโs never really a good idea to be petty in your texts. But if youโre really feeling passive-aggressive, you might as well be upfront about it. The ๐ emoji has you covered![8]
- โSure, I can cover for you. Itโs not like Iโve closed the store the last 3 nights in a row or anything. ๐โ
- โI heard she got into a really good college. Iโm so happy for her ๐๐โ
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Section 4 of 4:
How to Respond to a ๐ (upside-down) Emoji
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1
Offer a โsorryโ if theyโre having a rough time. If someone shoots you a text with the ๐ emoji, thereโs a good chance that theyโre feeling frustrated or embarrassed. Take a second to let them know that you feel their pain.
- โSorry to hear that. Sending you good vibes!โ
- โWow, thatโs rough. Wishing you the best!โ
- โThat really sucks. Iโm pulling for you!โ
2
Send a ๐ฌ, ๐คฃ, or ๐ in acknowledgment. The ๐ฌ is a perfect response to someone sharing an awkward or embarrassing moment with the ๐ emoji. If you canโt quite get a read on the conversation, stick with a classic ๐คฃ or ๐ instead.
3
Change the subject if things get weird. The ๐ emoji can definitely lighten the mood, but it canโt completely erase any weird, uncomfortable vibes from a conversation. If you donโt feel like addressing their original ๐ message, feel free to change the subject.
- โAnyway, did you catch that new TV episode last night?โ
- โHave you finished the Spanish homework yet? Iโm totally stuck.โ
- โI heard weโre supposed to get snow this weekend.โ
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References
- โ https://www.theverge.com/2016/1/17/10777102/upside-down-smile-emoji-sarcasm-ambiguity
- โ https://www.scienceofpeople.com/emojis/
- โ https://www.theodysseyonline.com/savage-smiles
- โ https://www.forgettingfairytales.com/flirty-emojis-guys-use-to-flirt/
- โ https://www.theodysseyonline.com/savage-smiles
- โ https://www.scienceofpeople.com/emojis/
- โ https://www.theodysseyonline.com/savage-smiles
- โ https://www.theodysseyonline.com/savage-smiles
About This Article
![What Does the ๐ Upside Down Emoji Mean? (37) What Does the ๐ Upside Down Emoji Mean? (37)](https://i0.wp.com/www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/e/e5/Janice_Tieperman.png/-crop-100-100-100px-Janice_Tieperman.png)
Co-authored by:
Janice Tieperman
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman. Janice is a professional and creative writer who has worked at wikiHow since 2019. With both a B.A. and M.A. in English from East Stroudsburg University, she has a passion for writing a wide variety of content for anyone and everyone. In her free time, you can find her working on a new crochet pattern, listening to true crime podcasts, or tackling a new creative writing project. This article has been viewed 462,865 times.
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Co-authors: 6
Updated: April 9, 2024
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Categories: Emoticons and Emojis
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