“Put the Fries in the Bag” Meaning
The phrase is an insult that implies you’re better than someone else. It originated from a meme posted on Facebook in 2022 depicting a fictional exchange between an employee and customer at a fast food restaurant. The employee says, “I ain’t seen you since high school,” and the customer replies, “Just put my ketchup in the bag bro.” As the phrase grew in popularity, the word “ketchup was swapped out for “fries.” The phrase is a pretty clear insult, since it dismisses the employee as unimportant and implies that they’re inferior to the customer. It’s essentially a way to say that you think someone is a loser, so it’s a pretty low blow.
In 2023, “put the fries in the bag” went viral on TikTok. Some users began to post skits based on the original meme, while others riffed off the concept. For example, user @coopermitcchell posted a video in which he acts like a talented basketball player getting recruited by top schools, but he’s actually an NBA2K player. The other character in the skit ends the interaction by saying “just put my fries in the bag, bro,” as a way to put the original character down and imply he has no prospects beyond an eventual fast food career.
How the Phrase is Used
To put others down for lack of success or career prospects If someone shares a business idea or career plan that seems unlikely or far-fetched, another person may reply, “just put the fries in the bag, bro,” to imply that this path will end with them working at a fast food restaurant. For example: “The TikTok I posted last week went hugely viral, so I think I’m going to drop out of my master’s program to become a full-time content creator.” “What? How are you going to support yourself with that? Just put the fries in the bag, bro.”
As a belittling spam comment on TikTok Users comment “just put the fires in the bag, bro” on TikTok videos to belittle or shame the original poster. This often occurs when users feel like the poster is speaking on something they’re not qualified to talk about, sharing a business idea that makes no sense, or simply saying something the commenter doesn’t agree with.
To remind someone to stay on topic In the context of the original Facebook meme, the customer uses the phrase to convey that they aren’t interested in reminiscing with their old high school classmate at the fast food restaurant—they just want to get their food and go home. As a result, “just put the fries in the bag” can also be a way to tell someone to stop going off on tangents and get to the point, so both parties can move on. For example, if someone is taking way too long to explain something or they keep rambling about unrelated things, their friend might say, “just put the fries in the bag, bro,” to bring them back to the topic at hand.
Is it mean to say “put the fries in the bag?”
“Put the fries in the bag” can be a hurtful insult. The phrase is used to belittle someone, imply that you’re better than them, and insinuate that they have no career prospects. This is pretty harsh! It’s also problematic that the phrase compares someone to a fast food worker as a way to put them down. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with working at a fast food restaurant, and it’s unkind to imply that this career path makes someone inferior to you. Although it’s possible to say “put the fries in the bag” in a lighthearted, joke-y way, you never know who might be genuinely hurt by this insult. Additionally, this phrase doesn’t just insult the person on the receiving end—it also insults fast food workers in general, which is not very nice. Because of all this, it’s a good idea to think twice before using it.
Responding to “Just Put the Fries in the Bag”
If someone says this phrase to you, it can be pretty hurtful. Maybe you were sharing an idea about your future, and a friend said “put the fries in the bag” to dismiss your plan as silly or stupid. Even if they were joking, this insult can be very upsetting, and you’re well within your rights to let them know that you’re offended. Focus on your feelings and use “I” statements to explain how their comment impacted you. Here are some examples: “I was trying to share a plan I was excited about, and I feel like I was immediately dismissed and made fun of. I know you were joking around, but I actually feel upset.” “I already feel stressed about my career plans, so that comment was extra hurtful. It made me feel like you think I have no potential.”
Related Memes & Phrases
Sir, this is a Wendy’s Like “put the fries in the bag,” this phrase comes from a fictional fast food interaction. A customer tries to strike up a conversation or goes on a tangent about something irrelevant, while the employee is just trying to do their job and move on. In response, the employee says, “Sir, this is a Wendy’s.” The slang phrase is now used to shut someone down or bring them back to earth when they’re rambling about something unimportant or beside the point. For example, if you're working on a project with a coworker and they randomly go off on a tangent about whether or not ghosts are real, you could respond, “Ma’am, this is a Wendy’s,” to bring them back to the task at hand.
I just want my fries bro This phrase comes from a meme depicting a Chik-fil-A employee doing an impressive split leap in the air with the caption, “I just want my fries bro ????♂️????♂️????♂️????♂️.” It’s a riff on the original “put the fries in the bag” meme. In both fictional scenarios, the customer just wants to get their food and go home, rather than reminiscing with an employee or watching them do a split jump. In other words, it means you want someone to get to the point so you can both move on.
It’s in the bag The common idiom “it’s in the bag” means that something is already taken care of, or that it’s certain you will win or succeed at something. For example: “Don’t worry about the meeting tomorrow. The boss told me that your promotion is already in the bag.” “When the game started and we saw how poorly the other team was playing, we knew we had the championship in the bag.” “I’ve studied so hard for this test that I’m not even worried at all. That A+ is in the bag.”
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