🥸

Disguised Face

dis-GUYZ-d feys
Smileys & Emotion Unicode 13.0 common

Meanings

1
People · Disguise Common

A face wearing a disguise consisting of glasses with a fake nose, bushy eyebrows, and mustache. Used to indicate someone hiding their identity, being secretive, or pretending to be someone else.

Often used humorously to suggest being incognito or trying to maintain anonymity in a playful way.

Just created a fake profile to see if my ex is dating someone new 🥸 📋 Social media message
Going to my ex's wedding this weekend 🥸 Hope they don't recognize me! 📋 Group chat
Me checking my kids' browser history 🥸 📋 Parenting meme

Refers to the classic Groucho Marx glasses disguise, popular in comedy and as a novelty item since the mid-20th century.

2
Emotions · Deception Common

Used to indicate someone pretending to be something they're not, often in contexts of posing as an expert or authority without proper credentials or knowledge.

Frequently used sarcastically to call out someone's false expertise or pretentiousness.

Me giving relationship advice when I've been single for 5 years 🥸 📋 Social media caption
That guy in the comments acting like he knows everything 🥸 📋 YouTube comment

In digital culture, represents the concept of an 'imposter' or someone pretending to have skills or knowledge they lack.

Combos with 🥸

🥸👀
Spying or snooping on someone while trying to remain undetected.
Used to indicate stalking social media profiles or checking up on someone secretly.
🥸💼
Pretending to be professional or qualified for a job.
References 'fake it till you make it' workplace culture and imposter syndrome.
🥸🧠
Pretending to be intelligent or knowledgeable about a topic.
Used to mock pseudo-intellectuals or self-proclaimed experts without credentials.
🥸🎭
Deliberately taking on a false persona or identity.
Used in discussions about online roleplaying, catfishing, or creating fake profiles.
🥸🤫
Keeping one's identity secret while observing others.
Used to indicate covert observation or surveillance, often in a playful context.

Culture

The disguise depicted references the iconic Groucho Marx glasses, a novelty item popularized in the mid-20th century by the American comedian's distinctive appearance.

Represents the concept of 'passing' or temporarily assuming another identity, which has significance in discussions of social mobility, code-switching, and identity politics.

Gained relevance with increasing concerns about online identity verification, catfishing, and digital trust in social media interactions.

Popular in Gen Z humor about 'blending in' with different social groups or pretending to understand cultural references outside one's actual experience.

Often used as visual shorthand for concepts like 'imposter syndrome' and 'fake it till you make it' in digital communication.

Australia Often used in Australian contexts to indicate someone 'having a go' at something they're not qualified for.
United Kingdom Often used with British dry humor to indicate someone obviously pretending to be knowledgeable or sophisticated.
United States Often associated with the 'undercover boss' concept or someone pretending to be an expert, frequently used in meme culture.
Gen_X: Less frequently used but adopted for humor about parental surveillance or checking on children's online activities.
Gen_Z: Heavily used in self-deprecating memes about pretending to fit in or understand trends. Popular on TikTok and in Instagram stories.
Older: Limited usage, primarily to indicate playfulness or secrecy when communicating with younger family members.
Millennials: Often used to joke about imposter syndrome at work or pretending to understand younger generations. Common in workplace messaging.

History

2020

Introduced in Unicode 13.0 as part of Emoji 13.0, coinciding with increased online identity play during pandemic lockdowns.

Rising popularity of anonymous online interactions during COVID-19 pandemic.

2021

Gained traction in meme culture, especially for self-deprecating humor about pretending to have expertise.

Growth of 'fake expert' and 'imposter syndrome' discussions on social media.

2022

Became commonly used in discussions about catfishing, online dating deception, and social media authenticity.

Increasing concerns about online identity verification and digital trust.