A new meme format is taking over TikTok and Instagram, and it is built entirely on terrible advice. The “Things To Say” meme presents ironic lists of lines meant to impress a partner, a boss, or a girlfriend’s dad, but the suggestions are intentionally awful. The format first appeared on TikTok in late August 2026 and has since racked up millions of views across both platforms.
The joke is a spin on hustle culture and the Sigma Grindset style of content, which often promotes hyper-masculine, self-interested advice. “Things To Say” mocks that genre by offering advice that would likely get you laughed out of the room. The format is comparable to the earlier Rare Fish Investment memes, according to Know Your Meme, which is currently researching the trend.
Origin Post by @cawkringinvestor
The format traces back to August 17th, 2026, when TikToker @cawkringinvestor posted the first version. The meme was titled “Things to say after cracking,” with “cracking” being slang for sex. The list offered ironic things to say to a partner after intercourse, and the post gained over 1.7 million views in a month.
The original post set the basic structure that others would follow. The humor relies on the contrast between the advice’s confident framing and its obvious uselessness. It is a direct parody of the earnest, alpha-male advice that populates certain corners of the internet.
The spread was fast.
Within two weeks, other creators were adapting the format to new situations, and the meme began to take on a life of its own across TikTok and Instagram Reels.
Spread Across TikTok
The meme spread over the following weeks, becoming notably popularized in late August through early September 2026. Several key posts drove the trend forward, each applying the “Things To Say” format to a new social scenario.
On August 30th, 2026, TikToker @therealuncle1 posted a version about meeting your partner’s dad. The post used an image of Matthew McConaughey next to the list of things to say, and it garnered over 1.1 million views in a week.
The next day, on August 31st, TikToker @richhomiethugger2867 posted a version about what you should say in a job interview. That post performed even better, garnering over 2.2 million views in a week.
The format proved adaptable, and creators kept finding new targets for the joke. Each new version kept the same structure but changed the context, which is the key to the meme’s rapid spread.
Instagram Versions and Key Posts
The meme did not stay on TikTok for long. It crossed over to Instagram, where it found a second wave of popularity. On September 2nd, Instagram user jack_sonsm48 posted a version of the meme that gained over 58,700 likes in a week.
A few days later, on September 5th, 2026, Instagram user _thebayharborbutcher posted a version featuring an image of actor Hugh Laurie as House M.D. That version gained over 69,000 likes in four days.
The Instagram versions showed that the format could travel across platforms without losing its edge. The meme’s simple structure made it easy to replicate, and the irony translated well to different audiences.
The two TikTok adaptations drove the biggest view counts, while the Instagram posts are measured in likes, so direct comparisons are limited. Here is how the major posts break down by platform:
- @richhomiethugger2867 — job interview version, 2.2 million views in a week (TikTok)
- @cawkringinvestor — original post, 1.7 million views in a month (TikTok)
- @therealuncle1 — meeting the dad version, 1.1 million views in a week (TikTok)
- _thebayharborbutcher — House M.D. version, 69,000 likes in four days (Instagram)
- jack_sonsm48 — version not specified in the source, 58,700 likes in a week (Instagram)
How the Meme Works
The “Things To Say” meme presents phrases as if they were winning strategies. The advice is often intentionally bad, similar to the Advice Dog meme. The format borrows the visual language of self-help content and hustle culture, then subverts it.
The irony is the point. The lists sound like they come from a confident, successful person, but the actual content is absurd. The humor comes from the gap between the advice’s self-assured tone and its obvious uselessness.
The format is part of the broader Sigma Grindset meme family, which satirizes the online persona of the lone wolf who rejects social norms in favor of self-interest. The “Things To Say” memes take that persona and push it to a ridiculous extreme, making the supposed wisdom of the grindset look foolish.
The meme’s success also relies on its shareability. The posts are short, the images are familiar, and the joke is immediately understandable. A viewer does not need context to get it, which is why it spread so quickly across both TikTok and Instagram Reels.
Timeline and Current Status
| Date | Platform | Creator | Version | Reach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 17 | TikTok | @cawkringinvestor | Original “after cracking” | 1.7M views |
| Aug 30 | TikTok | @therealuncle1 | Meeting partner’s dad | 1.1M views |
| Aug 31 | TikTok | @richhomiethugger2867 | Job interview | 2.2M views |
| Sep 2 | jack_sonsm48 | Not specified | 58.7K likes | |
| Sep 5 | _thebayharborbutcher | House M.D. | 69K likes |
Know Your Meme is currently researching and evaluating the trend, and it is asking users to contribute facts, media, and other evidence of notability and mutation. The entry is still being verified, and the view and like counts have been confirmed for the individual posts.
The format’s adaptability means it can keep being applied to new situations. The source notes the meme lists things to say to a teacher, friend, or spouse’s parents, alongside the specific examples of job interviews, meeting a partner’s dad, and post-intercourse scenarios.
The “Things To Say” meme is a sharp piece of internet satire. It takes the language of hustle culture and turns it against itself, producing advice so bad that it circles back to being funny. The format is simple, the irony is clear, and the spread has been fast.
The trend is a reminder that internet humor still works best when it is easy to understand and easy to share. A familiar face and a terrible piece of advice is all it takes.
Source: knowyourmeme.com
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