Bing Bong – Meaning, Origin and Usage

Have you seen something on the internet that could mean everything and nothing at the same time, like thousands of comments and memes do every minute? You could use the term 'bing bong' to let someone know what you mean. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this popular internet term.

Meaning

The term 'bing bong' is used to refer to anything that can be considered average, or something that is both defined as being something and nothing at the same time.

The term 'bing bong' sounds like automatic doors closing behind someone, which is a seeming insignificant action

While it sounds like a paradox to say this, the term 'bing bong' can refer to things that are seemingly significant (but are not).

The term can be used to signify that something is effectively meaningless or after the fact.

The most common use of the term 'bing bong' is to indicate sarcasm or irony, but the term has also appeared in other contexts.

Generally, the 'bing bong' of automatic doors is something that is just an accepted part of life and something that people don't think much about. That is the emotion or thought that the term 'bing bong' describes.

The term 'bing bong' is a common expression on the internet today, where it is often used as a comment or hashtag on posts.

Example Usage

“I stood there at the airport with no idea what to think, and I was just like... Bing bong.”

“This is a pretty unimpressive video. I wouldn't give it two stars if I were a two-headed starfish. Bing bong.”

“The reviews all claimed that it was going to be great, but I didn't like the movie. #fails #razzieawards #bingbong”

“I don't know, the whole thing felt pretty #bingbong to me. #lame #fail #lamefail”

Origin

The term 'bing bong' is a sound-imitation that might have been around since at least the 1800s, although the term 'bing bong' used with an alternative meaning as people do on social media websites like TikTok has a different origin that is a little more modern.

References to the term 'bing bong' on social media websites like TikTok and Facebook are common in the late-2020s, but this specific cultural reference must have entered popular use sometime between 2018 and 2019.

The term 'bing bong' as a common element on social media began on a show called Sidetalk in 2019, where the content often contained the sound 'bing bong' together with references to things that are “good and not great” as the term can describe things being.

Once it was featured on Sidetalk, the term 'bing bong' would quickly become popular elsewhere on the internet and spread with its use as a hashtag, a comment and a part of many statuses.

The sound itself, as referenced on TikTok, is the sound of automatic doors closing behind someone – which can come with this odd, empty feeling that the term describes.

When people refer to something as 'bing bong' or add the term as a tag or comment, then they mean that something might not be as impressive as it seems.

Phrases Similar to Bing Bong

  • Meh

Phrases Opposite to Bing Bong

  • Boss

What is the Correct Saying?

  • Bing Bong
  • bing bong

Ways People May Say Bing Bong Incorrectly

There are several ways in which people might use the term 'bing bong' incorrectly, or in which someone might misunderstand the term if they have seen it mentioned somewhere on social media.

The term 'bing bong' is a reference to the original 2019 appearance, which uses this sound as the common sound of automatic doors opening and closing (as a particular humorous reference).

If you don't know the background behind the phrase 'bing bong' then it can be easy to use it in the wrong context.

Acceptable Ways to Phrase Bing Bong

The term 'bing bong' is there to let people know that something is inbetween, and not quite good – but also not quite great. Things that are average (or sometimes, things that are not as they appear) can be referenced with the term 'bing bong'.

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