Bombastic Side Eye – Meaning, Origin & Usage

If you use TikTok, or hang out with someone who does, there’s a good chance you’ve heard the phrase “bombastic side eye” complete with a matching video meme.

However, a bombastic side eye is not like a regular side eye, so if you want to be “down with the kids” you need to learn what it is. And this is just the place. In this article we will cover what it means and how the term originated and went viral before going on to clarify the difference between bombastic side eye and regular side eye.

After that we will be discussing how to incorporate “bombastic side eye” into your communication both in person and online. Finally, we will round off with similar and alternative phrases that you can use in its place if your recipient/s is/are unfamiliar with the term.

And without further ado, let’s get straight to it.

What does the phrase “bombastic side eye” mean?

The phrase “bombastic side eye” refers to a facial expression which is basically an exaggerated version of the more well known “side eye”.

Side eye is basically a facial expression where someone glances sideways, usually accompanied by a raised eyebrow, typically indicating skepticism or disapproval. Bombastic side eye, in its more exaggerated, dramatic and theatrical form, tends to express something similar but more intense, such as scorn or disbelief. 

The origins of the phrase “bombastic side eye” and how it went viral

Before the phrase “bombastic side eye” came the phrase “side eye”. Side eye is a facial expression used when someone is looking at someone else through the side of their eyes, rather than looking at them directly. This is also known as a sidelong glance or gaze, and it’s often accompanied by a raised eyebrow.

The meaning of “side eye” can vary according to the context. Many people consider “side eye” disrespectful and see it as a subtle form of passive aggressiveness. It can be seen as an expression of scorn, suspicion, disapproval, or veiled curiosity.

There’s even a side-eye emoji, 👀, which is usually used to draw attention to something the user wants to highlight, especially in situations that involve drama and interpersonal tension. 

One day, the online content creator Malaika Norman was watching a TikTok video where a young lady was demonstrating the look she gives when she sees someone attractive and gives him an admiring side eye, before realising that that person was her brother. To Malaika Norman, known as user @lmfaomal, this was certainly not a normal side eye, and she called it “bombastic side eye” and made her own TikTok video about it. It featured a duet to a popular audio of someone repeating the term “side eye”. This went viral overnight in January 2023. TikTok user @whatareyoulookingatbabs added the Vine boom sound effect to the audio. Malaika Norman is now formally accredited with both the phrase and the sound. 

“Bombastic side eye” became a viral audio and TikTok trend, and even non-English speakers began to upload videos of them translating the audio into their native languages. Many users began posting their own point of view videos of themselves reacting to specific situations where they’d give someone side eye.

The term has now become synonymous with a dramatic, exaggerated side-eye glance, often used to express strong disbelief, skepticism, or disapproval towards something that someone has either said or done.

How “bombastic side eye” differs from regular side eye

This was mentioned earlier on, but it bears repeating here. Whereas side eye is a facial expression which displays such things as scorn, suspicion, disbelief, skepticism, or disapproval; in contrast, bombastic side eye is a much more theatrical and showy version of side eye, expressing these same things but way more dramatically.

The terms “bombastic side eye” and “criminal offensive side eye” can be used interchangeably with one another. However, the phrase “criminal offensive side eye” is most often used to refer to a dirty look that someone might give in response to something controversial or cringe-worthy.

How to incorporate the phrase “bombastic side eye” into your communication

You can use the phrase “bombastic side eye”, or better still a visual of the expression in the form of a video, photo, cartoon, gif or emoji, in a wide array of contexts. This may include when someone says something that you don’t believe or at the very least are suspicious of. And it can be done in whatever media you have the ability to use, whether it’s in person, or on your favourite social media apps. 

You can also use the expression (in any form) to signal significant disapproval of someone’s words or behaviour. You can flash the bombastic side eye if someone is acting out of line. This is often more effective than using words, because a judgemental look is usually a more effective sign that someone is out of line. 

Similar and alternative expressions to “bombastic side eye”

Here follows some similar, synonymous and alternative expressions that you may be able to use in place of “bombastic side eye”:

• Dramatic side eye
• Flamboyant side eye
• Exaggerated side eye
• Criminal offensive side eye
• Dirty look
• Stinking look
• VERY skeptical look
• Over the top look of disbelief 
• Over the top look of scorn
• Over the top look of skepticism

Final word

So, to sum up, the phrase “bombastic side eye” is used to refer to the facial expression which is a heavily exaggerated version of regular side eye. It is typically used to express scorn, suspicion, disbelief, skepticism, or disapproval.

The term “bombastic side eye” is accredited to the online content creator Malaika Norman who made such a viral audio about it in 2023 that it became a TikTok trend, with TikTok users making their own video shorts where they are giving someone “bombastic side eye”.

Today, you can find memes about bombastic side-eye all over social media on many different and popular social media platforms and apps.