๐ต
Face with Crossed-Out Eyes
feys with krost-out aiz
Definitions
1
Emotional ยท Distress
Very Common
Represents being knocked out, extremely dizzy, or stunned to the point of disorientation. Used to show being overwhelmed by information or emotion.
Often used humorously to express feeling mentally overwhelmed rather than actual unconsciousness.
Just finished my 12-hour shift and I'm ๐ต
Text message about exhaustion
That plot twist in the season finale ๐ต I wasn't ready!
Social media comment
Tried to understand quantum physics and now I'm ๐ต
Student chat
In digital culture, represents a metaphorical 'death' from shock, surprise, or being overwhelmed, not literal death.
2
Physical ยท Illness
Common
Indicates feeling physically unwell, dizzy, or faint. Used when experiencing or describing sickness, vertigo, or physical discomfort.
Less intense than ๐คฎ (vomiting) but stronger than ๐ซ (tired/exhausted).
Stood up too quickly and went ๐ต for a second
Personal health update
This migraine is making me ๐ต
Health complaint in messaging
Often used in health contexts to communicate symptoms without graphic description.
Evolution Timeline
2010
Initially designed as a 'dizzy face' to represent disorientation in early emoji sets.
Need for expressing physical discomfort in early smartphone messaging
2015
Evolved to represent being metaphorically 'dead' from shock or surprise in youth communication.
Rise of hyperbolic expression in social media communication
2018
Became widely used to indicate being overwhelmed by information, particularly in educational contexts.
Increased digital learning and information overload discussions
2020
Usage spiked during pandemic to express mental exhaustion from constant crisis information.
COVID-19 news fatigue and mental health discussions
Cultural Context
The 'X' eyes symbolize unconsciousness across many cultures, drawing from cartoon conventions where crossed-out eyes indicate a character is knocked out.
Represents the modern phenomenon of information overload, where people feel mentally 'knocked out' by excessive digital stimulation.
Younger users employ this emoji more metaphorically for emotional reactions, while older users tend to use it more literally for physical symptoms.
One of the few emojis that has spawned a derivative (๐ตโ๐ซ spiral eyes) due to its popularity and need for more specific expressions of disorientation.
Draws on comic book visual language dating back to the early 20th century, where 'X' eyes represented unconsciousness or death.
Regional Variations
Australia
Frequently paired with Australian slang like 'cactus' or 'buggered' to indicate extreme exhaustion.
United Kingdom
Often used with British slang like 'knackered' or 'gobsmacked' to indicate extreme fatigue or shock.
United States
Often used with slang terms like 'dead,' 'knocked out,' or 'floored' to emphasize emotional impact.
Generational Usage
Gen_X: Used more literally to describe physical symptoms like dizziness or exhaustion. Often appears in health-related conversations.
Gen_Z: Used hyperbolically to express being 'dead' from shock, humor, or emotional impact. Common on TikTok and Instagram to react to surprising content.
Older: Less frequently used; when employed, typically represents actual physical symptoms rather than emotional reactions.
Millennials: Often used to express work exhaustion, information overload, or parenting challenges. Common in workplace messaging and parent groups.
Common Combinations
๐ต๐ซ
Extreme dizziness or disorientation, often with a spinning sensation.
The addition of ๐ซ emphasizes the spinning/dizzy feeling, creating a more specific meaning than ๐ต alone.
๐ตโ๐ซ
Dizzy with spiral eyes (now a single emoji in newer systems).
Originally created as a combination, now standardized as a single emoji representing dizziness.
๐ต๐คฏ
Complete mental overload, being knocked out by overwhelming information.
Used in educational or work contexts when information becomes too complex to process.
๐ต๐
Humorously expressing being 'completely dead' from exhaustion or shock.
Hyperbolic expression popular among younger users to emphasize extreme reactions.
๐ต๐ฅด
Feeling both disoriented and slightly unwell, often alcohol-related.
Commonly used to describe hangover symptoms or medication side effects.
Related Emojis
๐ตโ๐ซ
Face with spiral eyes, showing dizziness with motion
๐ฅด
Woozy face showing disorientation but with less severity
๐ฉ
Shows exhaustion that might lead to feeling knocked out
๐
Often used interchangeably to express being 'dead' from shock or surprise
๐คฏ
Represents mind-blowing shock that can lead to feeling knocked out