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What gets a laugh from someone differs based on various factors that make up their identity. While some might appreciate sarcastic humor that is more ambiguous and takes more thinking to unravel, others enjoy good old literal jokes that are so straightforward their simplicity makes them uncontrollably chuckle. If you (sometimes) delight in the latter, we have great news for you! Today, we’re featuring a list of literal memes collected by the ‘Memes so literal they aren't even memes’ Facebook page. Scroll down to find them below, and make sure to upvote the most effortlessly funny ones.

#1

Literal meme showing a tall "National Portrait Gallery" and wide "National Landscape Gallery" under a sun.

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Auntriarch
Community Member
8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is so terrible I had to inflict it on Mr Auntriarch

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    #2

    Venn diagram hilariously illustrating "squash" as a vegetable, sport, and a way to die. Literal memes humor.

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    Panda-sized Potato
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Squash is technically a fruit, even though we eat it like a vegetable.

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    Previously, Bored Panda was lucky enough to get in touch with the people who run the Facebook page ‘Memes so literal they aren't even memes,’ and they told us that their small team has been making memes together since 2018. 

    "We all ran different OC meme pages of varying themes on our own but enjoyed working together on group projects. This was one of those. One of our admins who helped pioneer the 'birds aren't real' meme trend came up with the idea. We figured it was such an absurd concept that it wouldn't go anywhere, but then a Megamind meme just took off, so we kept going,” they shared.

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    #5

    Person rubbing back with olive oil and Epsom salt in a literal meme, highlighting a humorous pain relief tip.

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    #6

    Two-part meme showing "Original image" of a wheat field and "Cropped image" of a harvested field.

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    BrunoVI
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's a Canadian high school. It's de-grassy.

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    The memes that can be found on the page are a combination of the team’s original works and things they have discovered online. "Every so often, one of us finds a repost on Reddit that works with the concept but we make the majority of our own stuff," they explained. "Anything with 'arbitrary watermark' somewhere on it was made by one of us."

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    Since the last time they spoke with Bored Panda almost 4 years ago, the team’s page has grown to 112k followers (almost 2.5 times). At the time, they mostly attributed their success to their name.

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    “The individual memes aren't usually that funny but the fact that we're beating a dead horse kinda makes it funnier," one of the team members said. "Like sometimes the joke is just that we're still making this same general joke and it keeps being funny. Meta on several levels."

    #11

    Police officer examines sinkhole on London street; literal meme humor.

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    Cindy Brick
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why am I laughing -- I can't help it!!! (Husband is going to LOVE these.)

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    They also think that literal memes work because their straightforwardness catches people off guard. "The world has been so messed up this past year... Maybe people just want something simple to digest that isn't trying to change their mind about something."

    #13

    Literal meme about receiving one Amazon shipping notification for 12 items, featuring a smirking cartoon character.

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    Mike F
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Or the other 11 are coming USPS...

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    #14

    Julius Caesar statue with a literal meme text stating he passed away over three years ago, humorously literal.

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    Mike F
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Under suspicious circumstances. Film at XI.

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    However, such a kind of humor might not be for everyone, as even the creators of the page are surprised it even took off. "It may surprise people to know that they can take more work than the average OC post. Sometimes, there is even research involved. For instance, I wouldn't know Young Thug's legal name had we not started this page."

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    #16

    Sketch of a vintage carriage with four wheels and curtains, humorously implying a horse couldn't have drawn it. Literal meme.

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    General Anaesthesia
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If a million monkeys end up typing Shakespeare why couldn't horses draw Michelangelo?

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    #17

    Band on stage with speech bubbles for literal meme humor.

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    Raymond Core
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    ... Girl, you really got me goin' You got me so I don't know what I'm doin' Yeah, you really got me now You got me so I can't sleep at night

    Lotekguy
    Community Member
    Premium
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I really don't wanna know how many Pandas won't get this reference. I already feel old enough.

    Christina Keenan
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I love the Kinks also. This is an old picture

    tameson
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "So are you a Beetles or a Rolling Stones fan?" Husband: "The Kinks."

    sbj
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I love their jackets

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    #18

    Literal meme featuring keyboard keys spelling "SUCE" as a humorous take on success.

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    Marie
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In French, it says "suck" (as in the action, not something not being good). It makes for an interesting point.

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    These literal memes that the page features are quite similar to dad jokes, as both rely on simple and direct humor that is generally unoffensive and easy to understand, making them appealingly funny to a broad audience. Or they could be assigned to the anti-humor and anti-joke category, which is a type of alternative humor that is based on the absence of a joke in a narration that is set up to be one.

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    These anti-jokes are in their own humor league. While the person at the end of a short joke, pun, and one-liner sees the punchline coming from a mile away, anti-jokes are funny because they are unpredictable. The humor usually comes from the literalness of the joke, as it could be dry or logical instead of predictable. They can be just as hilarious as the jokes we’re used to, they’re just a little bit different.

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    #22

    Sailboat silhouette with large crescent moon in background, captioned as a literal meme about "Sailor Moon."

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    #23

    Person in cowboy hat, seated with caption "Me at my second rodeo" humorously pointing out a literal meme.

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    Panda-sized Potato
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Is it just me, or does that chair look huge on them?

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    #26

    Literal meme comparing Finland and "Foutland" with humorous map error depiction.

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    MetaMom
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    🎶 you put in your right Letter F,.... ....and then you take it out; that's what Foutland's about!!!

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    #27

    Crew filming a literal meme scene from Interstellar on Earth, showing an astronaut in water with a cameraman.

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    Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa)
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Well to be fair a lot of those scenes were CGI so they were technically shot in CYBERSPACE. OK I'll see myself out.

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    #28

    Horse stands at a bar with text: "A horse walks into a bar. The bartender asks why call animal control." Literal memes humor.

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    Mike Rodrick
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A skeleton walks into a bar; orders a beer & a mop.

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    #30

    Cat meme about Schrödinger's box; the cat isn’t in quantum superposition.

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    #31

    Ancient archer humor meme, highlighting bows invented in 9000 BC, depicted in a literal and funny way.

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    Lotekguy
    Community Member
    Premium
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Arrows invented in 9001 BC, but no one knew what to do with them.

    #32

    Car humor meme with a car stuck vertically in a narrow pit, illustrating literal mishap.

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    #33

    Literal meme of a leek with an angry face under the sink, resembling a plumbing issue.

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    Floeckchen
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ratsatsaa ja ripidabi dilla beritstan dillan dellan doo. A baribbattaa baribbariiba ribiribi distan dellan doo.

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    #34

    Dartboard in place of a ceiling fan, part of a literal meme collection.

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    BrunoVI
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I thought this game had no point, but then it struck me.

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    #35

    Man using scissors to literally cut out the word "drinking" from paper, embodying a literal meme concept.

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    Floeckchen
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If you can't do it, stop drinking

    #36

    Chemical structure of cortisol with text saying, "GUYS, this is stressing me out," creating a literal meme.

    MemesSoLiteral Report

    Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa)
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Well technically cortisol is a response to stress and not something to stress you out. In fact it makes you feel better.

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    #38

    Captain meme with literal humor: Officer says, "Captain, the ship is sinking," and captain responds, "must be the water."

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    Talis
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "What it is thinking about?" (Kind of a reference to "German Coast Guard", search for it on YouTube)

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    #41

    Literal meme of a character panicking as hands appear and reappear on its head, illustrating humor.

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    #42

    Young boy meme with the text "The mortician in the mortuary: I see dead people," conveying a literal meme.

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    Earthquake903
    Community Member
    Premium
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    But are they walking around like regular people?

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    #43

    Literal meme featuring a car battery terminal labeled as a "positive post" amid online negativity joke.

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    kzys59pcrp
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Finally some relief ! I felt this in my soul, my Kia Soul

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    #44

    Comic of two people surprised as literal time flies whirl around them.

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    Raymond Core
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

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    #45

    Literal meme showing a supportive coach, a man lifting weights, and winning a bodybuilding contest.

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    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Aww ;_; I need a friend like this! Will anyone be my friend? I'll do the same for you!!

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    #46

    Lion and house in a literal meme, humorously labeled "Find the 4,846,514 differences."

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    Auntriarch
    Community Member
    8 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Every time for me , I'm just really rubbish at them

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    #48

    Literal meme of a person pointing to their palm, captioned "This is palm," exemplifying hilariously straightforward humor.

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    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I mean, he's really touching the ball of his thumb and not his palm.......

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    #49

    A literal meme shows a hand using a Blade DVD to open a box labeled "Do not use blade to open."

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    #54

    Astronauts in space meme humorously illustrating a mix-up about Earth's location, featuring literal caption jokes.

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    #55

    Boba pearls in a wooden spoon with an arrow pointing to bubble tea, questioning if it's worth it.

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    Billo66
    Community Member
    Premium
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Hit me with the downvotes but yuck. It's a texture thing. I don't like slurping semi solid objects through a straw with my drink. sorry.

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    #56

    Superman meme humorously failing to block the sun, highlighting literal meme humor.

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    #57

    Literal meme with a labeled nitrogen tank and text "one of the coolest things I found online."

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    #59

    A meme showing a man gesturing humorously with text "Kleptomaniacs BE LIKE" and "and I took that."

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    kzys59pcrp
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If it’s not to be taken then why does it fit in my purse?? Explain

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    #60

    Raccoon meme highlighting the literal cold outside with a humorous caption on icy background.

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    RamiRudolph
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes, that happens sometimes. Mostly when it's cold outside.

    #61

    Cartoon showing literal memes about work rules with two people wishing happy birthday to a coworker in different settings.

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    #65

    Cartoon meme with a character ordering a whopper, worker replies, "Sir, this is a Wendy's." Literal memes humor.

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    Billo66
    Community Member
    Premium
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Remember when you could hit any drive through with your kids and ask for a crabby patty and they knew what you meant?

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    #66

    Photoshop box under text "Haters will say it's Photoshop," illustrating a literal meme joke.

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    #67

    The Sun in a literal meme responding to "do u think the world revolves around u?"

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    Todd Kirkwood
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That joke is way too heliocentric

    #69

    Open dictionary showing text about prophecy, illustrating a literal meme for humorous effect.

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    #70

    Cartoon character reads note, "Look behind you," showcasing literal meme humor.

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    #71

    A pile of literal signs humorously illustrates the lottery meme about showing wealth without telling anyone.

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    Clown fish
    Community Member
    8 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yep mine would be signs that say "private property keep out" "private property dogs petrol (patrol)" "f#ck off" "go away"

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    #73

    Two service windows, one labeled "we're open" with a long line, and the other "we're closed" with no line. Literal meme humor.

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    kzys59pcrp
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A break isn’t really a break unless you watch your coworkers suffer

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    #74

    Literal meme featuring drum and bass, with images of a drum, guitar, and fish placed around a grid.

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    Lyone Fein
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Um , aren’t some of these drum and drum, and bass and bass?

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    #76

    Literal meme featuring a man saying, "Congratulations, you played yourself," with text "Charlie Rose as himself" above.

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    #77

    Stick figures crowd into a therapy room, illustrating a literal meme with humorous text.

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    kzys59pcrp
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ah I see, going to therapy can be dangerous, it’s best I just stay home

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    #80

    Man singing with sunglasses, delivering a literal meme about knowing rules in love, with a chain-link fence backdrop.

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    Crystalwitch60
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Oo Rick Astley made bp lol n he’s not American either , eugh I def fell my 60 yrs old now 😂🙈

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    #82

    Literal memes with labeled cherry, apple, pumpkin pies; cutie pie missing with text explaining absence.

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    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes there is! The only ingredient needed is this puppy potato pictured below. His name is Stilgar. stiltato-6...2ccd64.jpg stiltato-67eb70e2ccd64.jpg

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    #83

    Literal meme of a mammoth hidden among popcorn with a caption, "can you find?"

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    #84

    Ash in four literal memes, each showing signature hat and joyful expressions.

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    DowntownStevieB
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Not that I care that much, but is it me or is the new Ash incredibly lame? Also, I tried to watch the new series for nostalgia and it was like a preschool version.

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    #86

    Stick figure meme hilariously identifies Bulbasaur in Pokémon guessing game.

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    Becca not Becky
    Community Member
    8 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I haven't seen that cereal guy meme in a long time!

    #88

    Woman drooling in sleep with text highlighting literal meme humor.

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    #89

    Anime character hides under a desk from a T-800 Terminator, embodying a hilariously literal meme scenario.

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    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I... don't get this one, but then again, this is a "Literal Memes" list, so I... guess it's ... literally just an image of the T-800 and an anime character called Nono Morikubo, and there's no deeper meaning than that XD

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    #90

    Eagle with caption "the bird flew," illustrating a literal meme humor.

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    Mike Rodrick
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Haven't you heard that birds aren't real?

    #91

    Tweet meme with Thor's hammer on the ground, referencing a fictional character challenge.

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    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    He-Man can lift it up!! XD Attached photo is of one of my favorite shirts I own - I loved the He-Man cartoon as a kid, and I'm also a big fan of classic/old school Marvel comic book characters (...the movies were good at first, and then became mega-cringe. Alas.) But anyway, here's a pic of a t-shirt where He-Man is holding Mjolnir aloft, because He-Man is a god amongst men. .........okay, so Thor is too, technically, but he doesn't have a rad giant tiger that he can ride. And for all we know, Thor might not be able to handle the Sword of Grayskull XD HE_MANZ-67...c6058a.jpg HE_MANZ-67ebaedc6058a.jpg

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    #93

    Literal meme of birds on branches, one tweets softly while others loudly caw, humorously straightforward communication.

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    #95

    Photographer capturing man holding photo, creating a literal meme moment.

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    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Okay, short (and hopefully somewhat funny) story. I was at physical therapy last week (lifelong intermittent hip issue that suddenly became chronic) and the therapists were all giving commands to the Alexa to "skip this song" or "Alexa, play something more like xyz". They seemed to be having a good-natured war over the music that was playing XD Finally a song by The Killers came on, and I was (quietly) singing along. My therapist was like "oh gawd, ugh, The Killers, they were so trendy back in the day!" I then overheard one of the other therapists (around my age) saying that they actually liked "trendy" bands like Nickelback. I looked over at him, made full eye contact, and said in a deadpan voice, "But did you look at the photograph? And every time, did it make you laugh?" He laughed, and then a much-younger intern walked by, paused, and said "OMG! I got the joke! I actually got a joke about Nickelback! They're such an old band!" I proceeded to feel decrepit and extremely old XD

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    #100

    Animated character and pilot both observe jets, highlighting the literal humor in comparing their power.

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    #101

    Literal meme: One person washing hands, another offering handshake with caption "Sorry, my hand is wet, I just washed it."

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    #105

    People queuing in line, meme text below reads "He's out of line... but he's right," showcasing a literal meme.

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    #107

    A literal meme showing a map of Europe with text about traveling.

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    #108

    Two rabbits with plants, one with a long parsnip root labeled humorously as parsley, cilantro - a literal meme.

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    #109

    Artist paints a literal reflection of a person on a canvas, humorously literal approach.

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    Ravenkbh
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I guess you have to be there

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    #110

    Cartoon meme of a man on a ladder changing a sign to "0 days without the Earth rotating."

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    squid eric Haney
    Community Member
    4 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We would all instantly die otherwise.

    #111

    Lego minifigure meme humorously commenting on body shape with emojis.

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    #112

    Anime character with literal meme of tiny hand emerging from watch face, providing a humorous twist.

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    #113

    Homer Simpson climbing through a window in a literal meme about dinner.

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    #114

    Literal meme about six-figure income, highlighting the amount $103,837.

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