ADVERTISEMENT

The internet world is fascinated by photos of “absolute units”. Try to imagine something extremely round and hearty compared to its peers: gigantic crabs, chonky cats or insanely huge hearts of blue whales. Whether it's animals, food or plants, things that are so out of proportion to its surrounding catches anyone's eye.

If you want to see it for yourself, there's a whole subreddit about it. It's called Absolute Units and its community has grown into almost 1M members over the last four years. As one of the rules there states, “Absolute units only. No normal units,” and it's true. We didn't even think things could get this big.

Bored Panda has compiled a list full of huge things you can find on the subreddit. And if that's still not enough, make sure to check out our previous posts here and here.

An “absolute unit'' is something or someone that is comically oversized. One Reddit user several years ago put it like this: "I don't know what an absolute unit is, but I know it when I see it.“ And that's absolutely true. The phrasing is hard to understand at first, but once you do get it, it can be applied to just about anything.

To teach people a bit more about the origin of it, Know Your Meme wrote that the very British term “absolute unit” emerged in the meme universe in 2017. A Twitter user @mrreptoid posted a picture of a British hotelier posing with the Queen of England. He titled the photo "In awe at the size of this lad. Absolute unit," referring to the hotelier. The tweet and its caption caught on over the following days and others started using it for pictures of various amusingly large objects.

#2

Take A Moment To Look At This Majestic Fluff

Take A Moment To Look At This Majestic Fluff

wervy52 Report

The phrase gives out a positive and celebratory vibe—you're in “awe“ at how big some things can be. The number one rule in the subreddit r/AbsoluteUnits—be nice, no reason to be a rude unit—show how the moderators try to maintain this pleasant feeling throughout the posts. Another one says that posts should include people, not public figures and no creepshots or fat-shaming pics are allowed. As the moderators say, “We're looking for animals mostly, particularly cute animals which happen to be very large.“

ADVERTISEMENT

And the Museum of English Rural Units found exactly that. They posted a photo on Twitter showcasing a ram and captioned it “look at this absolute unit.” The tweet is counting 103.9K likes and more than 27K retweets. Adam Koszary, the museum’s manager explained that this particular ram is the complete package, full of meat and wool.

#3

Pour One Out For Big Jake, At One Point Certified As The Tallest Horse In The World By Guinness, Who Crossed The Rainbow Bridge Today.

Pour One Out For Big Jake, At One Point Certified As The Tallest Horse In The World By Guinness, Who Crossed The Rainbow Bridge Today.

Old_Dig5845 Report

#4

"The Mountain" From Game Of Thrones (Actor Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson) Is 6'8, 430lbs, Seen Here With His Father And Grandfather

"The Mountain" From Game Of Thrones (Actor Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson) Is 6'8, 430lbs, Seen Here With His Father And Grandfather

StickyNode Report

Other livestock is not often as large and stocky as this ram. To explain this further, Koszary wrote that “size and a solid build were considered key attributes by the folks who designed our modern farm breeds.” The farming pioneers took breeds and began to design animals to suit particular climates, landscapes, and production aims. In short, they started super-sizing them.

#5

People Don't Realize Just How Huge Moose Can Get

People Don't Realize Just How Huge Moose Can Get

regian24 Report

Add photo comments
POST
juliaa1960 avatar
Julia Atkinson
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Animals this size were common in prehistoric Europe, which is one of the many reasons I'm glad I didn't live in prehistoric Europe

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

If you're brave enough, you can look for absolute units pretty much everywhere. The fashion world is full of creatives who cannot wait to bring new ideas to the game. And the trend that has been popular in the past few years is, you guessed it, oversized clothes. According to the Cut, men's fashion is all about proportion. Noah Johnson, a senior editor at GQ Style, said, “If the Balenciaga Triple S is the piece of the moment, it’s all about being oversized to the point of ridiculousness.”

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

And even though dad's sneakers and enormous jackets are very bulky, they look unmistakably fashionable. The “absolute unit” meme went as far as it did “not just because it was funny, but also because it hit a cultural nerve.“ Fashion world adopted it simply because the internet is where men feel comfortable talking about clothes.

#10

My Maine Coon Compared To My 5'5" Girlfriend

My Maine Coon Compared To My 5'5" Girlfriend

Paradisity Report

So as you can see from the compiled list of amusingly oversized stuff, “absolute unit” can be implied to nearly everything. After seeing real examples of it, you should understand the essence of what being an absolute unit brings about.

ADVERTISEMENT
#14

The Size Of The Bald Eagle Caught On A Trail Cam.

The Size Of The Bald Eagle Caught On A Trail Cam.

clarkkent34 Report

Add photo comments
POST
carolyngerbrands avatar
Caro Caro
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

WOW, coyote be like "nope" ..... Edit: Grumble O'Pug pointed out that it's a coyote not a wolf.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#15

These Absolute Units Of Antlers On These Red Stags

These Absolute Units Of Antlers On These Red Stags

regian24 Report

#16

Someone Said Cuddles Would Fit Here

Someone Said Cuddles Would Fit Here

YesleyHulshof Report

#17

Anyone Missing A Big Boy? This Guy Was Found Alone In The Forest And Is At My Local Humane Society.

Anyone Missing A Big Boy? This Guy Was Found Alone In The Forest And Is At My Local Humane Society.

Speedy_Greyhound Report

#18

Absolute Herb Unit

Absolute Herb Unit

omniwrench- Report

Add photo comments
POST
nfrlprdpr avatar
Mazer
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Green thumb gardener. Fun fact…gardeners are eternal optimists, like it or not. Anyone who routinely puts a dried up seed into a patch of soil just knowing something miraculous will happen in the near future.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#19

Very Thicc Floof

Very Thicc Floof

carrotyAngel Report

#20

Basically Everything About These Baobab Trees Is Fit For This Sub.

Basically Everything About These Baobab Trees Is Fit For This Sub.

MARIAS76 Report

#21

Behemoth Butter Cabbage Grown In Hedensted, Denmark

Behemoth Butter Cabbage Grown In Hedensted, Denmark

WideEyes369 Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#23

Absolute Unit Of A Tortoise

Absolute Unit Of A Tortoise

avalef Report

#25

When You Misplace A Point Ordering A Drill Bit

When You Misplace A Point Ordering A Drill Bit

JoachimG Report

#26

Some Units Need Trailers!

Some Units Need Trailers!

JimmyBags2 Report

#27

The Tallest Mallard Duck To Have Ever Lived (Since Records Began) Known As 'Long Boi' He Lives On The Campus Of The University Of York, England. He Stands Just Over 1m Tall (3.5ft).

The Tallest Mallard Duck To Have Ever Lived (Since Records Began) Known As 'Long Boi' He Lives On The Campus Of The University Of York, England. He Stands Just Over 1m Tall (3.5ft).

regian24 Report

#29

This Guinea Pig Is An Absolute Unit

This Guinea Pig Is An Absolute Unit

-stay- Report

#30

Green Bean Dad Grew, Banana For Scale.

Green Bean Dad Grew, Banana For Scale.

Clones_ontherun Report

#31

The Size Of Those Ears!

The Size Of Those Ears!

hconfiance Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#33

This 80 Year Old Saltwater Crocodile From Australia.

This 80 Year Old Saltwater Crocodile From Australia.

TafelZitter Report

#34

Quartz Crystal Cluster On Display In A Museum In Namibia. This Is The World's Largest Quartz Cluster, It Was Discovered In 1985 At The Bottom Of A 45 Metre Deep Cave In The Otjua Mine Near Karibib In Namibia. It Weighs 14,100 Kg And Took Three Years To Excavate And Remove.

Quartz Crystal Cluster On Display In A Museum In Namibia. This Is The World's Largest Quartz Cluster, It Was Discovered In 1985 At The Bottom Of A 45 Metre Deep Cave In The Otjua Mine Near Karibib In Namibia. It Weighs 14,100 Kg And Took Three Years To Excavate And Remove.

regian24 Report

#37

This Polypore I Found! Don’t Worry, It Was Already Detached And Wasn’t Picked For The Photo

This Polypore I Found! Don’t Worry, It Was Already Detached And Wasn’t Picked For The Photo

puritycontr0l Report

Add photo comments
POST
nfrlprdpr avatar
Mazer
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even if it was picked, to remove it from a tree does not harm either the tree or the fungi. Very cool find

View more commentsArrow down menu
#41

My Wife As A Baby. Absolute Unit.

My Wife As A Baby. Absolute Unit.

FlyingNerdlet Report

#42

Boy With His Pet Boar, Ca. 1930.

Boy With His Pet Boar, Ca. 1930.

DiosMioMan2 Report

See Also on Bored Panda
#43

Tasmanian Giant Crab. Absolute Unit

Tasmanian Giant Crab. Absolute Unit

HighlightExtension71 Report

#44

This Absolute Unit Of A Guard Captain At Castle Hochosterwitz In Austria. He Is Said To Have Been 2,25 Meters Tall (7'10').

This Absolute Unit Of A Guard Captain At Castle Hochosterwitz In Austria. He Is Said To Have Been 2,25 Meters Tall (7'10').

ObjektKarotte37 Report

#47

Largest Breed Of Chicken And Smallest Breed Of Chicken

Largest Breed Of Chicken And Smallest Breed Of Chicken

Overall-Click7286 Report

#48

I Thought That Was His Chin

I Thought That Was His Chin

Cause4concern27 Report

#50

Frog Turned Unit?

Frog Turned Unit?

outlawkylling Report

Note: this post originally had 102 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.