If you have been on websites like Reddit or any sort of site that shares a lot of memes, you likely have seen or heard “FBI Open Up” before. It is a popular piece of Internet meme culture and has grown to also be common in gaming culture. If someone has done something that you think is a little suspicious or weird, saying “FBI Open Up” may be a good way to tell them you did not like what they did.
This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.
Meaning
The phrase “FBI Open Up” is something that is said to another person when they are acting suspicious or doing something weird. This could mean any number of things and is often subject to the opinion of the person that uses the expression. This is typically a common response to people on the Internet that say or do creepy things.
If someone proclaims something along the lines of, “I’m 60 years old and I like watching kids”, another person may reply with “FBI Open Up!” to emphasize how creepy that person’s statement was. More information (and the video origin of this phrase) can be found in the video (here).
Example Usage
“Did you just say you like kids? FBI open up!”
“You like looking at the black market on the dark web? FBI open up!”
“FBI open up! I know you’re looking at weird photos on the Internet!”
“You better not be on Pornhub, FBI Open Up, I’m coming in!”
Origin
“FBI open up” as a meme originated because of a popular video game, Rainbow Six Siege, which was released in 2015. But the use of “FBI open up” did not become popular until 2020, when it became a common joke or reference in videos or skits on YouTube, or video game streaming platforms like Twitch.
This phrase is also credited as being very popular in the anime culture, as people who like anime often use the expression to refer to creepy or questionable things that characters from animes have done. In this context, the phrase is most commonly used to refer to older men who look at photos of young girls in a questionable manner. The phrase “FBI open up” is used as a response to this suspicious activity.
Phrases Similar to FBI Open Up
- “Sir this is a Wendy’s”
- “Change my mind” meme
- “Sus”, being short for “suspicious”
- Suspicious/weird/creepy/etc.
- Out of the ordinary
Phrases Opposite to FBI Open Up
- Normal/mundane/average/etc.
- Ordinary
- So Vanilla
- Square behavior
- Karenated
What is the Correct Saying?
- “FBI Open Up” is in itself the correct saying.
Ways People May Incorrectly Say FBI Open Up
It is difficult to use this phrase incorrectly, as it has a fairly straightforward meaning once explained, and the fact that, often times, it only means one thing. This phrase is used to call somebody out for doing something weird, suspicious, or questionable. Using this phrase to refer to something completely normal that someone is doing would be an example of the incorrect way to use it. Some ways that “FBI open up” is used incorrectly are:
- Mark took his trash out! FBI open up!
- FBI open up! You’re washing the dishes!
- Look at that mom feeding her cute baby. FBI open up!
Acceptable Ways to Phrase FBI Open Up
- That guy is looking at weird photos of kids on the Internet. FBI open up!
- He has a questionable search history on his computer. FBI open up!
- She gives me a weird vibe about what she does on that computer of hers. FBI open up!
- I think that guy who lives across the street takes photos of kids going home. FBI open up!
- Hmm, so you just take casual trips into all of the rooms on the dorm, FBI open up, we have a warrant for stalking!