AboutWhat does the meme depict?
The 'If You Know What I Mean' meme features a still image of actor Rowan Atkinson portraying his well-known character Mr. Bean. This image specifically shows Mr. Bean with a suggestive, knowing expression, typically used within various meme formats to highlight a double entendre, often with a sexual undertone. It resembles the style of internet 'rage comics' where faces are used to express specific emotions or reactions. The template is used to communicate hidden meanings in seemingly innocent statements or to accentuate sexual innuendos.
OriginWho did it first?
The meme originated from a post on 9Gag by user aldik101 on January 28, 2012. The post titled 'Let's watch a movie, if you know what I mean' included a screen capture of Rowan Atkinson from the 2007 comedy film Mr. Bean's Holiday. Subsequently, the same day, another 9Gag user elyo11 shared an extended comic version of this meme, featuring a vectorized version of Atkinson's face coupled with the caption 'If you know what I mean.' The phrase 'if you know what I mean' has been used colloquially to suggest a sexual double entendre long before its integration into meme culture, as evidenced by the definitions and examples found on Urban Dictionary from August 1, 2003, and on TV Tropes under the Lampshaded Double Entendre trope. Additionally, here is a relevant YouTube video discussing the usage of this meme.[1]
Origin: 2012