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"Absolute unit" refers to jokes made on the Internet in which people caption images of large objects or beings with a variation on the phrase, "In awe at the size of this lad. Absolute unit." I know, this explanation sounds a bit clunky, but it's the best one I came up with. However, I assure you that the pictures are way better than my description of them. Whether it's a 67lb cabbage or a squirrel who has eaten 3 jack-o'-lanterns, I bet you didn't even know things can get so huge! Eventually, the meme got so popular, it even spawned a subreddit of the same name. And it's an absolute unit. Here are some of its top posts.

#1

The Ardennes Is One Of The Oldest Breeds Of Draft Horse, Dating Back To Ancient Rome

The Ardennes Is One Of The Oldest Breeds Of Draft Horse, Dating Back To Ancient Rome

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Internet meme database 'Know Your Meme' considers 2017 to be the origin of 'absolute unit'. Then, Twitter user @mrreptoid uploaded a picture of British hotelier David Morgan-Hewitt posing with the Queen of England and captioned it "In awe at the size of this lad. Absolute unit," referring to Morgan-Hewitt. The tweet gained over 3,500 retweets and 13,000 likes but the account it was shared from eventually got suspended for unknown reasons.

The meme really took off on April 9th, 2018, when The Museum of English Rural Life tweeted a photograph of a ram along with the caption "Look at this absolute unit". Within 72 hours, the tweet, which was submitted by the museum's program manager Adam Koszary, accumulated over 98,000 likes and 27,600 retweets.

The following day, the museum posted a follow-up tweet, featuring a photograph of a pink index card containing information about the ram. Then, on April 10th, The Museum of English Rural Life published an article titled "The History Behind an Absolute Unit," which provided additional information about the ram.

A week later, MIT Technology Review tweeted an article about the world's biggest airplane calling it an "absolute unit" and Elon Musk responded by saying, "I'm an absolute unit too" with a picture of the before-mentioned Museum of English Rural Life ram picture. His response gained over 6,000 retweets and 60,400 likes in just a single day, cementing 'absolute unit' in Internet history.

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Interestingly, that same day, Twitter user @Bryson_M dared Musk by saying, "Make this your profile pic" and the business magnate almost immediately changed his profile picture to the ram, adding the words "absolūt unit" in his bio. After noticing the change, The Museum of English Rural Life changed their profile picture to Elon Musk and renamed its account to The Muskeum of Elonglish Rural Life. To top it all off, Elon Musk has reportedly hired Koszary, the man responsible for the viral tweet about a giant sheep, to be Tesla’s social media manager.

#5

Riley Howell, 21. The Absolute Unit That Tackled The Uncc Shooter And Tragically Lost His Life

Riley Howell, 21. The Absolute Unit That Tackled The Uncc Shooter And Tragically Lost His Life

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#6

A Bad Dog Owner Dumped This Wolfdog At A Kill Shelter When He Got Too Big And Too Much To Handle. Luckily A Sanctuary Took Him, Instead And Saved His Life! His Dna Testing Came Back As 87.5 % Gray Wolf, 8.6 % Siberian Husky, And 3.9 % German Shepherd

A Bad Dog Owner Dumped This Wolfdog At A Kill Shelter When He Got Too Big And Too Much To Handle. Luckily A Sanctuary Took Him, Instead And Saved His Life! His Dna Testing Came Back As 87.5 % Gray Wolf, 8.6 % Siberian Husky, And 3.9 % German Shepherd

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nivmis22 avatar
Who? Me?
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The dog they tell you to beware of. But it's sooooo cute. Thank the gods it is safe now. 🖤

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#9

Absolute Unit Of A Cow, Over 6 Feet Tall

Absolute Unit Of A Cow, Over 6 Feet Tall

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#10

Been Asked To Share My 67lb Cabbage You You Lovely People. Hope You Enjoy And I Think Its Fitting For The Group

Been Asked To Share My 67lb Cabbage You You Lovely People. Hope You Enjoy And I Think Its Fitting For The Group

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troux avatar
Troux
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hope when they asked him to share, they all said "Lettuce see!"

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#12

Chronos, The Titan

Chronos, The Titan

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nivmis22 avatar
Who? Me?
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No wonder Egyptians worshipped them. So much floofff 🖤🖤🖤

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#13

Absolute Unit Fat Fred

Absolute Unit Fat Fred

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#14

Absolute Unit Guarding Lithuanian Declaration Of Independence

Absolute Unit Guarding Lithuanian Declaration Of Independence

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manon M
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

it is the baby "absolut unit baby Brother" who has grown well!

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#16

Hafþór Björnsson (Got The Mountain) Holding A Regular Mug

Hafþór Björnsson (Got The Mountain) Holding A Regular Mug

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#19

He Drinks Chonka Cola

He Drinks Chonka Cola

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#20

Sadie The Squirrel Has Eaten 3 Jack O’lanterns So Far

Sadie The Squirrel Has Eaten 3 Jack O’lanterns So Far

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#21

White House Chef Andre Rush

White House Chef Andre Rush

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#22

I Saw This In My Facebook And Thought It Belonged Here

I Saw This In My Facebook And Thought It Belonged Here

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#24

Rip Patrick, A True Unit

Rip Patrick, A True Unit

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#25

This Cucumber Mistaken For A Watermelon

This Cucumber Mistaken For A Watermelon

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#26

“Shrek" (1994-2011) Was A Merino Sheep From New Zealand. He Escaped And Avoided Shearing For Six Years By Hiding In A Cave

“Shrek" (1994-2011) Was A Merino Sheep From New Zealand. He Escaped And Avoided Shearing For Six Years By Hiding In A Cave

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wandiledludlu avatar
wandile dludlu
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Where are those people who downvoted me when I said a sheep looks like it will make a great sweater?

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#27

The Biggest Mac

The Biggest Mac

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troux avatar
Troux
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I believe this man flew economy to get to the Philippines.

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#28

Tony Been Hitting The Gym

Tony Been Hitting The Gym

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Ruby
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It makes me sad when tigers don't get to hunt. Such a big part of their instinct.

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#29

My Absolute Unit Of A Baby Brother. For Reference, My Sister Holding Him Was Four

My Absolute Unit Of A Baby Brother. For Reference, My Sister Holding Him Was Four

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#30

Check Out This Kind Bunbun Consoling My Friend When She Was A Wee Lass

Check Out This Kind Bunbun Consoling My Friend When She Was A Wee Lass

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troux avatar
Troux
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not sure if it's consoling when it has her pinned down.

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#31

Ferns Can Be Units Too

Ferns Can Be Units Too

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#32

Bill Gates Sr, The 6’7 Monster

Bill Gates Sr, The 6’7 Monster

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#34

Built To Last. This Is Not Winnie The Pooh

Built To Last. This Is Not Winnie The Pooh

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#36

This Cat-Loving Beard

This Cat-Loving Beard

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#37

Boat Thieving Units

Boat Thieving Units

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Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Gonna need a bigger boat. (Aussies should get this one). EDIT: Sorry, I didn’t realise the saying was from the movie Jaws, I was talking about a Jeep ad lol.

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#38

This Mountain Lion Is A Unit

This Mountain Lion Is A Unit

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#39

7'2" Man In An Economy Seat

7'2" Man In An Economy Seat

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#40

Absolute Unit Right Here

Absolute Unit Right Here

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#41

The Size Of This Other Baby

The Size Of This Other Baby

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#42

Here Is Hogarth My Absolute Unit Of A Snail

Here Is Hogarth My Absolute Unit Of A Snail

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#44

The Sheer Size Of This Monitor Lizard Climbing The Gate

The Sheer Size Of This Monitor Lizard Climbing The Gate

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#47

Abso-Friggin-Lute Tires Goddamn

Abso-Friggin-Lute Tires Goddamn

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#50

Double King

Double King

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Note: this post originally had 113 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.