There are some phrases that just don’t make sense. They get printed on shirts, billboards, and street signs, and if you encounter one, you’ll know it. Looking thrice and turning your head upside down won’t help. Asking for a friend’s help in deciphering the message won’t do much either.
You may call these phrases cursed and you wouldn’t be wrong. But there is an online group that’s not only entirely dedicated to these nonsensical phrases, but has also defined them as a phenomenon worthy of our attention on its own. Powered by 603k members, the Don't Dead Open Inside subreddit is a place for “signs and media that read as nonsense if read normally: from left to right.”
It may sound tricky, but bear with me. Below are some of the funniest signs that require 0% common sense and to throw everything you know about sentence structure out the window. Who knew that there could be so much sense in such nonsense?!
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This Is Actually Pretty Clever
The confusion is literally the point of this one. It's supposed to be jumbled to get the message home.
Well yeah, but usn't it dangerous if people are trying to read the sign instead of looking at the road
Load More Replies...I hope this sign isn't posted somewhere that a person who is driving can see it. It may cause an accident.
You're also pretty likely to have an accident trying to read this sign.
Jesus Scares
When I was a kid, I sometimes slept at my great-grand mother's place. There was a very detailed crucifix (the dude seemed really in pain) above the bed, and it seemed really heavy. I don't know if I was more scared of the dying man himself or of the potential fall of the crucifix on my head during my sleep
Load More Replies...Yes, I'd totally invite him to din... supper! He also totally looks like he'd bring kombucha and enjoy vegan digs. (No offence)
Load More Replies...Quoting Gogol Bordello: "I think it may started the rumour That the Lord ain't got no humour"
Quoting Depeche Mode: "I don't want to start any blasphemous rumours but I think that god has a sick sense of humour"
Load More Replies...Will There Be Blood Or Not!?
Cruelty and suffering of the innocent beings does not make sense.
Load More Replies...Possibly, but we're not sure. It's unlikely, but weirder things have happened. Be prepared...just in case.
One where you got so drunk you wake up with a broken nose. ♡
Load More Replies...Just like most things on the internet, the subreddit Don't Dead Open Inside wasn’t created out of nowhere. The trope first came to internet users' attention when its name was used in a promotional poster for the TV series The Walking Dead. To this day, the Don't Dead Open Inside poster, revealed on July 2nd, 2010, stands as one of the most recognized examples of the trope in popular culture that caused the cult following on Reddit.
According to Know Your Meme, the infamous poster featured a photograph of a double door with the words "Don't Open" written on the left side and "Dead Inside" written on the right, which should be interpreted "Don't open, dead inside" if read in the correct order. The whole fun of the trope is revealed when the reader reads the phrase line by line instead, which sounds like "Don't dead open inside."
Well That Seems Unfair
They were in lockdown with their stress-out work-from-home parents.
Load More Replies...Choose Abortion Life Kills
Well if you think about it.... Life does kill at some point....(/s)
Guys! Scientists have found Oxygen to be toxic! Anyone who breathes it will die in about 80 years!
Load More Replies...Also, there's something about that bleak background that really speaks to me... it's almost artistic...
Thanks for your comment, Luna. What's saddest is that humans do NOT need to kill any sentient being in order to live, and by that they would preserve their health and the health of our planet. The win - win - win situation; when can we claim that?
Load More Replies...How to Trigger Both Pro-Life and Pro-Choice at the same time! xD, Mission Accomplished.
It sometimes is needed but it isn't awesome, ending an unborn child's life before they can live it is something serious. I'm sorry but abortion is not an easy topic for me. It's hard to think about without feeling bad. sry for the depressing comment.
Load More Replies...5 Extremely Slow Children Playing
My favourites are ones like 'Police Slow' Oh, good - I can speed!
Load More Replies...Knowing the speed things surf around social media, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that a couple of users on Twitter shared their reactions to the unusual poster on social media. In the following years, “the memes based on the joke were made, with Know Your Meme user irish_swede archiving one such example on March 12, 2013,” reported Know Your Meme.
On May 17th, 2014, the subreddit r/dontdeadopeninside was created, where the community collected cases of the trope found in popular culture, design, advertising, etc. Today, it’s home to 603k members that follow a strict set of rules for submissions.
Doesn’t Sound Like Fun
Don’t Save A Life Be Afraid To Give Blood
This seems so ridiculous I kind of think it's a joke. I mean, how would this have run through anyone with a normal reading style?
Shosple Colupis
I don't get it. My daughter loves getting her new shosple colupis each fall to start the year.
It's the spell that Tom Riddle used to rearrange the letters of his name in "HP & The Chamber of Secrets". :D
Load More Replies...They didn't even apply the colour fill to the inside of the letters 'o' and 'p'. How do they expect kids to learn anything in this environment?
Somehow, the sign seems completely appropriate, considering how the items are shelved.
The first and most important rule is that all posts have to comply to DDOI format. “Signs must be read correctly top to bottom, and incorrectly left to right, like any text, usually. Though it does not matter how easily you can read them, it is highly encouraged to only post images with little separation or spacing between the columns of words.”
The community doesn’t allow both reposts and memes, and encourages users to “put the 'correctly read' way in the title, like 'DONT DEAD OPEN INSIDE.'”
Guaranteed Reduced Quality
According to the study of the week, everything is a carcinogen
Load More Replies...And THIS is what happens when your company is too cheap to hire an actual graphic designer. The ability to purchase Photoshop doesn't make you a graphic designer.
Pshh... I don't care, I would still devour that chicken
Load More Replies...Maybe that's because it's "not ovenable"? Possibly "not edible" too...
Colonel Bucket's Chicken Blasphemy. An hour later you're on the toilet again.
.....on the toilet and lucky to be still alive.
Load More Replies...7 Surprising Black Ways To Use Beans
I feel half of it does sound gross. Black bean pancakes. No, just no.
Load More Replies...My given name is Benjamin Buford Blue, but people call me Bubba!
Load More Replies...They actually are brown, when they're wet they look black. <-- Encyclopedia George
Load More Replies...Aliectass
why the heck is assassin on the list to begin with? it's like an almost reformed Jason Bourne decorator show
Load More Replies...I'd think two are unlike --- four 9letter words that fit their 3x3 grid, two 8letter words. Wait, you're right, it's 5 nouns and 1 adverb, so Dedicated is the odd one out. Or no, wait, ...
Load More Replies...Ummm ... I read that aloud and now there's a scary monster in my room.
Load More Replies...Okay five of those are values someone might aspire to and one is the word for a contract killer? I'm so lost
I think someone was thinking of the word 'passion', but English wasn't their native language.
Load More Replies...It's an affectionate, sincere, dedicated assassin who believes in equality with a touch of adventure.
Load More Replies...Stolen From My Friends Snap Story
Get down David wait David? NOOOOOOOOOOO DAVID NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MY BROOOOTHER WHYYYYYYYY WHY CRULE WORLD WHYYYY 😭😭😭😭
Load More Replies...the fact that it's for 6 year olds and younger almost makes this seem intentional haha
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Load More Replies...It's supposed to be The Midtown Get down I'm assuming.
Load More Replies...6 years old and under--those midgets with midget the heck out of this town.
I Am Dond
I AM Dond.. trying to be women's best friend or trying to be forever..
Load More Replies...My best guess is that this guy is renouncing the self-deceptive label of "DIAMOND" and claiming the wiser declaration "I AM".
Thanks for the explanation. The older I get the dumber I get
Load More Replies...Yes. The letters IA and M are in pink. Factory defect.
Load More Replies...Stand Hong With Kong
Stand Hong with Kong! (Unless you are a Godzilla supporter)
Load More Replies...With computers, however, these things are kind of changing. Not saying it's a new standard, the standard is still the column, but the horizontal way is also very very common. Also, there's east Asian languages that use the horizontal + left-to-right as default, such as Korean.
Load More Replies...This is written normally for people of Korean, Japanese, and Chinese Cultures. They write top to bottom. In other words : Vertically - not Horizontally - like english speakers and 'MuriKKKa
Well If You Insist
It would take more than a confusing sign to keep me from sampling that.
If You Were In A Car, Would You Know What Accident To Do?
I usually go with spilling hot coffee on myself when the lid's not on properly.
Ohhh, and you just let car decide the rest? That isn't a bad idea.
Load More Replies...Depends on the day: Mondays are donut spillage, Tuesday is missing mask day, and Wednesdays, well they're just for fun!
Yes, bang my face against the airbags, but I don't think you need to know that, it happens automatically..
I'd just put on fresh lippy before starting my journey and left a perfect kiss in the centre of my airbag - the ambulance fellas thought it was hilarious.
Load More Replies...Well that depends. If I am hitting a speed bump, I spill my soda. If I am about to be hit by a train or a bus, then I will pee myself.
We're taught to read English from left to right. What part of that do these advertising morons just not understand? Proofread your work! (I worked for a silk screening company and the head graphic artist had some T-shirts made for his band. THREE people had signed off on the design. It was only after they were printed that I asked what the name meant. They had misspelled "Originals" as "Originials". They had printed 100 of them. Even at cost, it was a pretty expensive mistake.)
Well back in elementary school you had accident number 1 or 2 so pick your choice
If you were designing a business card, would you know what to do? No, oh okay. Thanks
Spread Cream Not Cheese Disease
HOLEY... I don't want to catch that. If I don't I'll be gouda. I bet cheddar I will. If I do, I'll be pretty blue.
Load More Replies....... and much more: arthritis, diabetes, heart diseases, clogged arteries, cholesterol, various cancers ......
Load More Replies...The State Of Washi Wangton
And to think that somebody got paid to do this and somebody, probably...gave it the go ahead!
It's a very clean Washington state, but it may also be a bit wishy washy.
lol but i WAS born in washington and i live here is fin hill kirkland, want me to go on 🙄
Dip Dip
Stop Earth The Denying Is Dying!
Don't worry if we stop everyone is getting off.
Load More Replies...How does this exist? Did they not get halfway through and realise and start again? How do they expect anyone to take them seriously?
The Denying will never die! Unless, of course, homo sapiens develops the capacity for critical thinking. Fat chance of that happening.
......critical thinking and compassion; even fatter chance of that.
Load More Replies...Don't Go Kill Vegan
There's a person tired of cauliflower "pizza crust" and smoothies that involve kale.
Saw This At Work Today And Immediately Thought Of This Sub
Always Forgotten - Missed Never
this almost feels like this person hated ray ray, but got it like this so they can explain it and not look like an asshole for hating a dead guy
Load More Replies...I kinda appreciate that if you spread the bottom "ribbon", it will look correct and in order.
I actually knew a Ray Ray when I was a teenager. Let me tell you. No one missed him when he left town and I had COMPLETELY forgotten about him until I saw this.
Drug Is The Free Key
Word placement. They key is drawn really well, better than I could do. If they had o ly written “Drug Free” in the top curve, “Is The” in the bottom curve, and left “Key” where it is, the message would’ve made sense.
Not nearly as bad as the "Take a bite out of drugs" poster from 8th grade. Got some seriously mixed messages from that one.
Was There Even An Intended Order To Begin With?
A guy named Laser quit smoking, then loss weight because of that and decided to do acupuncture afterwards
Are laser used for all 3? Cause laser acupuncture sounds like turning people in the swiss cheese. Scare to ask about the weightless laser.
How do you even read this??? There doesn't seem to be an order that makes sense.
They just decided to put random words in random order lol
Load More Replies...Quit smoking or/and we lazer then shoot you full of needles. Then you can have a drink on the outdoor patio.
Truly Inspiring
You are than you seem, stronger than you braver believe, and tan you think smarter you are.
"You are stronger than you seem, braver than you believe, and smarter than you think you are."
Using a pretty font doesn't make me feel any less crappier...just saying
My Hometown Parade. Dear God
Vote Dump Early Trump
Two signs. Couldn't they have put them a few feet away from each other?
as they say, early trump gets to dump. Or was it about a bird and a worm, I can't recall.
Friend Of A Friend Got A New Tattoo
Obviously, the tattoo artist was one of the living and therefore not to be trusted.
Is it supposed to be never trust the living, or trust the never living??
This Is A F**king Massacre. Thing Made Me Want To Dead
have one share and then a bunch of hearts & nonsense
Load More Replies...This is how I felt once when I was surprised by an unusually strong migraine.
Load More Replies...He love her, she love him, we love us, Shiva (Hindu God for destruction) love you. Have one love share love?
I'm not sure whether I an incompetent or not, but you thank explaining for. :)
Load More Replies...Huh, what am I reading. I have tried a few times to comprehend what I see but I just can’t.
So that's how King Kong beat Godzilla. Thanks for the spoiler bud. NOT.
Load More Replies...He love her, she love him, have one share, we love us, Shiva love you. Is that right?
I mean it seems right, but what is it supposed to mean?
Load More Replies...Who Thought This Was Acceptable
I see nothing wrong with Asstmchri. In fact, it really is the most wonderful time of the year
We don't even read things that way...what WERE they thinking??? Or were they? They were or?
I wonder if they finished this masterpiece, stood back, then realized their error and said, "Screw it. It's avant garde."
Enroll Your Russian Child Now
It's discriminatory. How many people in El Paso have Russian children?
Load More Replies...not to mention the legs. getting a photo of some rando walking by matching up with the legs would be priceless.
seemingly, this is one of the rare cases, where the attribute "russian" is assumed to be something good ...except wodka
Sure, there must be TONS of 3 y.o. Russian kids in El Paso for Olga to begin teaching ballet! She's gonna be REALLY busy!
Jesus Are Is Coming You Back Ready?
Shame on BP for not blacking out license plates. Most European countries and American states have anti-doxing laws
Anti-doxing laws wouldn't have anything to do with posting license plates, which is in fact completely legal. You can take photos of people illegally parked and post them online without any legal issue. Doxing laws are meant to prevent someone from posting your private information like your address or phone number with malicious intent. There is no public domain to get any information about someone based off a license plate, and this photo is clearly not meant to be malicious.
Load More Replies...I saw a car at graduation time that had " Congratulations senors " scribbled on the window
I been ready! You guys have been saying this for as long as I've been alive and frankly I'm a little upset he hasn't shown up. I had dip and everything for the first few years, but if he's gonna be like that, he can bring his own damn snacks.
You Think Some Tattooist Hate Their Own Work?
This Giant Poster In My University Dorm
The message may be unclear, but the craftsmanship isn't. That took a LOT of work and time.
I don't need the semester to mess with my head when I have this lovely sign.
Lowkey thought those were either creepypastas or the characters from IT.
Don’t let the grades and semester turn you upside down? ( take out the your )
Drugs May Kill You, But Never Your They’ll Hurt Feelings
For all of you who don't want to decipher it, I believe it says "Drugs may kill you but they'll never hurt your feelings".
No they actually mess up your feelings. So this text clearly came from the heart
I think it's "Drugs may kill you, but never your feelings. They'll hurt."
Teachers Who Love Teach Children Teaching To Love Learning
No, it OBVIOUSLY reads Teachers who love teach children teaching to love learning.
Load More Replies...if the children are teaching, who is learning? and why do the children need to love learning when they are already teaching? very confuze
Our public schools are in trouble. In MORE ways than this sign depicts.
Hear That Noise? We Are Growing. We Can Fix It Again. Apply Inside
My Girlfriends Kitchen Tiles. Forffee Coyou
Yes, is this what it's supposed to say? for Coffee You doesn't make sense either.
Load More Replies...Spicey Vaccine
Spice and shot. Will the whites of my eyes turn blue after exposure to the spice?
This Was In My It Class Today
A simple line | or two || drawn between the two sentences would separate these messages written “up-and-down”, making them a lot more readable. Drawing a box, around each one, like separate “frames”, would have the same effect.
umm yea, ok but why would i enter class and then immidiatly leave
I’m Call Pregnant Me
Now we know where those toddler sized toy cars come from!
Load More Replies...I Give Up
Hello, this is your normal dose of imagination, everybody has one........ I think....
"hello this is your normal dose of every body has one the Imaginarium a place dedicated to the imagination" boy that hurt
Even normal doses of everybody can spread Covid 19, stay socially distanced people!
They knew they screwed up so they added an arrow, but by then it was too late and the kraken was released.
Call Me Don’t
there should be a romance novel about how don't meets dond. it would be perfect.
It’s supposed to NOT be romantic but it is being screened in the theatres one day before Valentine’s Day.
Our To Help Trollies You Move
"you are not our trollies" how many accidents did they have before they put that up?
Ok, the format is super weird, but here's what it says: ATTENTION STUDENTS: You are no allowed to take our trollies to help you move
So.... is this a double negative? Can they take the trolleys or not?
Attention students you are not allowed to take our trollies to help you move... Please not comment...
Honey, I Think We're Supposed To Turn Right
Please Mask Wear
Don't Animal Open Inside
This one is understandable if you open one of the doors. It will read "Don't open" or "Animal inside".
OPEN IT! FREE THE ANIMALS! ALL ANIMALS WHO ARE CAPAPLE OF FARTING ATTACK!
Their Heart Is In The Right Place. The Words, Not So Much
Does “Take what you need” include the SUV too? Keys in it, or do I have to hotwire it?
take what, leave what.. just take something and leave something blindfolded
"Sorry, We Don't Over $20 Bills Accept"
Some of these sound vaguely Dutch or Germanic, with the verb at the end....
Why Did I Name My Show "The Joel With Mchale Joel Show Mchale"?
Some Marry Chicks Chicks
Snake Pit
Even if it said it right "what is life without goals", it should be put on one of those weird couch throw pillows. Not your back.
A Hearing Aid So Comfortable, You'll Sexy Asian Women In Los Angeles Never Want To Take It Off
Yes, but do Non-Sexy, Non-Asian people in places other than LA want to take it off?
i saw that comment first before i clicked more comments
Load More Replies...responding to that comment that has been downvoted, I'm pretty sure those don't have anything to do with the site, and probably give your computer a virus, I don't click on them
Not for you to tell people what they can and cannot say. If something is genuinely offensive, report it. People downvote and then it gets hidden. Don't do this pathetic 'covering a comment' crap.
Load More Replies...Meat Is Go, Murder Vegan
i don't hate MOST vegans, I just hate the ones that ONLY talk about how veganism is the best thing ever and people who eat meat are evil murderers who should be put in jail. the extremists suck
Load More Replies...I kind of hate when vegans do things like this because I wish they would just leave us meat-eaters out of it. Just let us eat what we want and stop shoving your lifestyle in our faces!
And stop kidnapping our dogs and murdering them!
Load More Replies...“What Does Learning A Foreign Language Say About You”, Supposedly
I'm gonna go with "I value creativity over functionality but I'm not creative".
Load More Replies...wh do lea ng fo gn ng ge y o at es rni a rei la ua sa ab. That's what I read... Whatever THAT means...
This is a bad start teaching a foreign language, for the students, at least
Oh my lord. #1, Landscape is a completely legit page orientation. #2, Margins can be adjusted to fit as much text as possible on a single page. #3, Many software packages have an option to print crop-marks for easily cutting, aligning and joining adjacent pages. #4, Scissors are a thing which exists.
Sat New Urd York Ays City
Carop Washen
Most likely included, but the carop waxen costs extra
Load More Replies...I like going to the Carop Washen because it's really loud, and also THAT'S NOT A THING.
Stay Save Home Lives
Lets Fight, Keep Us Corona, Safe Virus
How do you get from, "Let's fight coronavirus. Keep us safe," to this?!
Men Because Women
Hope this isn't a bathroom sign, someone will pee themselves before figuring out with way to go.
I've seen this quote used for bathrooms. It was readable, though
Load More Replies...To Plastic No Say Straw
Plastic straw- hey kiddo, you want some drugs? Say NO to plastic straw kiddos he leading you on the wrong path
Load More Replies...Say yes to decently built paper and bamboo straws. Metal straws are awful.
Keep Minimum Please The Distance
a school near me keeps saying to keep one panther length apart. they do not have a zoo. or a panther.
Buddy Found This At Our Uni
Yep. Another Don't dead, open inside. Being a whole issue with it's own knw your meme page, I'd think there's a lot of nods to it. I would be right.
Load More Replies...Owo Men's Day
are they just disrespecting women like this now? Idk is there a men's day?
seriously?? geez. what would make you put WO MEN'S day? why put MEN'S seperately?
Our We Use Chickens Good Oil Eat
Our Chickens Eat Well // We use good oil // Our oil contains 90% unsaturated fatty acids // Fresh // 11 Herbs & Spices // British Farming // Taste // Prepared Fresh Every Day
See, a graphic designer would know, if the customer insisted on this insanity, to make each message a different color or a radically different font. These fonts are too similar.
The only part that makes sense is the "prepared fresh everyday" part
Santa Please No!
Rip My Last Brain Cell
I'm Sick Of This
So many of these are due to people not understanding that westerners read left to right, not top to bottom
If they know English, they must know how the Westerners right.
Load More Replies...The ones that just kill me are the signs posted at schools BY TEACHERS!
Me too; too much stupidity and, unfortunately, hate as well.
Load More Replies...Who thinks it's a good idea to have two vertical phases right next to each other?
Why is it that when we make signs we completely forget that we read left to right?
Urgh it's too early for such torture!!!! (its midday) My poor brain hurts after all of this!
So many of these are due to people not understanding that westerners read left to right, not top to bottom
If they know English, they must know how the Westerners right.
Load More Replies...The ones that just kill me are the signs posted at schools BY TEACHERS!
Me too; too much stupidity and, unfortunately, hate as well.
Load More Replies...Who thinks it's a good idea to have two vertical phases right next to each other?
Why is it that when we make signs we completely forget that we read left to right?
Urgh it's too early for such torture!!!! (its midday) My poor brain hurts after all of this!
