Ever scrolled through TikTok and stumbled upon a video so weird you just had to comment “Only in Ohio”? Yeah, me too. At first, I was baffled, why Ohio?
What did this perfectly normal Midwestern state do to become slang for chaos? Let me pull back the curtain on this bizarre trend. Buckle up, it’s gonna get delightfully random.
Key Takeaways:
- In slang, “Ohio” refers to something weird, cringe, or downright absurd.
- The term originated from a 2016 meme and gained traction on platforms like TikTok.
- It has nothing to do with the actual state, just classic internet humor at play.
- Using “Ohio” is simple, just slap it on anything that feels bizarre or out of place!
What Does Ohio Mean In Slang?
When Gen Z says “Ohio,” they’re not talking about roller coasters at Cedar Point or LeBron James’ hometown. In slang, “Ohio” = weird, cringe, or straight-up absurd.
Picture this: A video of a dog riding a skateboard while wearing a top hat. The top comment? “Only in Ohio.” Translation: This is so unhinged, it feels like it’s from another dimension.
Slangwise Info: Ohio is the internet’s punchline for anything that makes you go, “Wait… what?”
Where Did the “Ohio” Meme Even Come From?
Let’s rewind. According to Know Your Meme (the holy grail of internet culture archives), this joke started in 2016 with a Tumblr post of a broken bus stop sign that read, “Ohio will be eliminated.” Cue the chaos.
Suddenly, Ohio became the butt of jokes like:
- “Ohio doesn’t exist.”
- “Ohio is a glitch in the Matrix.”
By 2020, TikTokers like @ohio.rizz (yep, that’s a real account) turbocharged the trend with videos tagged “Only in Ohio,” showcasing everything from raccoons stealing pizza to people using traffic cones as megaphones.
Dr. Jessica Davis, a pop culture analyst, puts it perfectly: “Ohio morphed into a metaphor for surrealism, a place where logic goes to die, according to meme culture.”
Why Ohio? Blame the Midwest Blandness
Okay, but why Ohio and not, say, Nebraska or Delaware? Here’s my theory: Ohio’s reputation as a “basic” state made it the perfect target. Think about it, it’s not flashy like California or historic like Massachusetts. It’s just… there.
As linguist Dr. Gretchen McCulloch explains in her book Because Internet, “Slang often flips the mundane into the absurd. Ohio’s ‘normalcy’ became a blank canvas for the internet’s weirdness.”
So when you call something “Ohio,” you’re basically saying, “This is so chaotic, it’s like Ohio—except Ohio isn’t even that wild. Wait, is it?”
How to Use “Ohio” Like a Pro (Without Offending Actual Ohioans)
Using “Ohio” in slang is easy. Just slap it onto anything bizarre. Here’s how I’ve seen it play out:
- Food crimes:
Your friend eats ketchup on ice cream.
You: “Bro, that’s so Ohio.” - Fashion disasters:
Someone wears socks with sandals… in a snowstorm.
Comment: “Peak Ohio fit.” - Glitchy moments:
A video game character T-poses mid-battle.
Chat: “Ohio physics, man.”
Pro tip: Pair it with other Gen Z slang for bonus points. Example: “Skibidi toilet in Ohio? That’s fanum tax behavior.” (Don’t worry, I’ll decode that mess in another post.)
How Ohio blends with other slangs
“Ohio” isn’t alone, it’s part of a bigger slang ecosystem. You’ll often see it mashed up with terms like:
- Rizz: “He’s got that Ohio rizz” = Charisma so weird, it’s charming.
- Sigma: “Ohio sigma grindset” = A productivity hack that makes zero sense (e.g., drinking coffee through a pretzel straw).
These combos thrive on randomness. As I always say: The less sense it makes, the harder it slaps.
What “Ohio” Teaches Us About Meme Culture
The Ohio trend isn’t just a joke, it’s a masterclass in how memes evolve. Here’s the pattern:
- Start absurd: A broken bus sign.
- Go viral: TikTokers add their own lore.
- Become a metaphor: Ohio = surrealism.
As journalist Kelsey McKinney noted in Vox, “Modern memes are inside jokes for millions of strangers.” When you say “Ohio,” you’re not mocking a state, you’re joining a community that laughs at life’s weirdness.
Final Take: Embrace the Chaos
So, next time you see a guy mowing his lawn in a dinosaur costume, hit ‘em with “Only in Ohio.” Will they get it? If they’re under 25, absolutely. If not, send them this post.
In my years tracking slang, I’ve learned this: Language evolves fastest where it’s funniest. Ohio’s slang makeover proves that even the most ordinary things can become legendary, if the internet says so.
Now go forth, and may your life be just the right amount of Ohio.
(P.S. Shoutout to actual Ohio. Your cornfields are lovely. Sorry we dragged you into this.)
Sources
- Know Your Meme, “Ohio Will Be Eliminated” (2016)
- Dr. Jessica Davis, Pop Culture Today podcast, Episode 42: “Midwest Memes”