Get a Load of this Guy – Meaning, Origin and Usage
The phrase ‘Get a load of this guy’ comes up again and again, and while many native English speakers will know exactly what it means, if English isn’t your first language, you might struggle to understand it. But fear not, because that’s why I’m here to explain everything you need to know about the phrase.
I’ll explain the meaning of the phrase, how it originated and became popularised, as well as explain how and when to use the phrase and some alternative phrases that you can use in its place if you prefer to.
And without further ado, let’s get straight to it.
What is the meaning of the phrase ‘Get a load of this guy’?
The phrase ‘Get a load of this guy’ is a cheeky remark which serves to point to the witty behaviour of another person. It’s meant for casual conversation as a way to say that a person is causing you to chuckle, whether it be through their behaviour, something they are doing, or what they are saying or the way they are talking about it.
What is the origin of the phrase ‘Get a load of this guy’?
While we can establish that the phrase ‘Get a load of this guy’ is derived from the 1920s, the precise origin of how it came back is not yet certain.
But it wasn’t until much later, specifically around 2010, that the phrase went viral and really began trending on social media.
The relatively recent growth in popularity of the phrase began with its use in the comedy film Wayne’s World released in 1992, when Wayne, while covering his face from Garth who he is talking about, stares directly into the camera and says ‘Get a load of this guy’. This caused the phrase to gain traction in the 1990s.
When the time came, the phrase ‘Get a load of this guy’ started appearing on viral memes across various chat rooms, forums and websites including the likes of 4chan and Reddit. Later it would also be seen on several different social media platforms, including Instagram. The phrase even became a popular hashtag on dating apps such as Tumblr and the like, with gents trying to capture hearts with their photos overlaid with the caption.
How and when can you say ‘Get a load of this guy’?
You can use the phrase when in casual conversation with someone when you are walking past someone being interesting, impressive or funny, such as a street entertainer, magician or mime artist.
You can also use the phrase online, for example on chat rooms when someone is being particularly entertaining, or if you can’t believe someone’s behaviour. You can also use the phrase in memes to show that you can’t get over someone’s behaviour, for example as a caption to a photo of someone with a suitable reaction such as a shocked face and body language.
Here are some examples of the phrase in use:
- Get a load of this guy – he’s an entire one man band!
- Get a load of this guy – how on earth does he do that, amazing
- Get a load of this guy – I can’t believe he had the nerve to say/do that, it’s crazy
What are some other ways of saying ‘Get a load of this guy’?
Thankfully, there are several alternative phrases that you can use in place of ‘Get a load of this guy’. Here are several examples for you to consider using:
- Check this guy out!
- Check out this guy!
- Look at him!
- Look at that idiot!
- Watch this guy
- Watch what this guy’s doing
- Listen to this guy
- You’ve got to see this guy!
- You’ve got to listen to this guy
- So entertaining!
- You just have to stop for a second and marvel
- Stop what you’re doing and look at this
- How on earth does he do that?
- Over here, check this out
- Look what I/he/she/they can do
- You won’t believe what this guy can do, come see
- This guy has to be seen to be believed
Final word
So, to sum up, the phrase ‘Get a load of this guy’ didn’t become popularised through the film Wayne’s World in 1992 and it’s subsequent online use, despite the phrase coming into the English vernacular much earlier in the 1920s.
The phrase is used to simply suggest to the listener or reader that they should check a person out, usually because they are funny, but sometimes because they are being entertaining in some other way, perhaps by showing off, doing sports and such.
You can use the phrase in casual conversation and online in the form of memes, for example as a caption to accompanying a suitable gif with someone’s head turning.
