What Does the 🙃 Upside Down Emoji Mean?

Last Updated: February 4, 2023

Ah, the classic 🙃 (upside-down) emoji—this face seems to be popping up everywhere, from your social media feeds to your personal text convos. But what exactly does this enigmatic emoticon mean? You’ve come to the right article! We’ve put together a complete guide to explain the different nuances and uses for this multi-purpose emoji, so you can sprinkle it into your own social media posts and texts.

Section 1 of 4:

What does the 🙃 (upside-down) emoji mean in texting?

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Sarcasm and irony: Dry humor is great, but it’s sometimes hard to pick up on in a text. To avoid any miscommunication, some people use the 🙃 as a tone indicator to show that they aren’t being serious. It’s a sleeker, less awkward alternative to the backslash tone indicators that some people end their messages with, like “/s” and “/j.”^{[1]
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Humor: The 🙃 emoji isn’t meant to be taken seriously. In fact, a lot of people toss a 🙃 at the end of a blatantly silly or joking text to lighten the mood even more.^{[2]
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Exasperation: The 🙃 emoji offers a subtle, more passive-aggressive way for people to share their annoyance without breaking out the heavy hitters like 😠, 😡, or 🤬. It sends a message like “I’m frustrated” or “This is inconvenient for me,” rather than “I’m super pissed off.”
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Embarrassment: Few emojis can channel the sheer mortification of an embarrassing moment like the upside-down face. Falling asleep in class? Send a 🙃. Texting the wrong person? Send a 🙃. The more humiliating the moment, the more emojis people tend to use.

Section 2 of 4:

What does the 🙃 (upside-down) emoji mean in flirting?

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They’re trying to keep things cool and subtle. Flirting can be super nerve-wracking, especially if you can’t rely on the other person’s body language cues at all. If you recently sent a playful compliment or flirtatious remark, the other person might have sent the 🙃 emoji to keep things cool.^{[3]
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- You: “Counting down the minutes until I can see you again!”
  Them: 🙃
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They’re goofing around with you. In a flirty message, the 🙃 emoji can carry the same weight as 😏 and 😈. So if they start sending a bunch of 🙃 in a row, they’re probably trying to keep things light, playful, and flirty.^{[4]
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They’re trying to tone down the conversation. Maybe you start talking about taking your relationship to the next level. If the other person sends a 🙃 back in reply, they may not be ready to have that conversation just yet.^{[5]
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- You: “So, are you ready to make things official?”
  Them: “I’m not sure. Maybe? 🙃”

Section 3 of 4:

How do you use the 🙃 (upside-down) emoji?

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Use it to finish off a sarcastic quip. Let your friends know that you’re totally surprised to hear about the completely unexpected thing that happened to them. Better yet, stick a 🙃 in a reply to your dad to let him know how super funny his jokes are.^{[6]
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- “Wow, I’ve never heard that one before. 🙃”
- “Did you come up with that all by yourself? 🙃”
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Share an awkward or mortifying moment with this emoji. You can’t undo the humiliation, but you sure can channel it somewhere else! Dish what happened to your friends and loved ones, finishing off your message with a trademark 🙃.
- “Accidentally walked in on someone in the bathroom…🙃🙃🙃”
- “Just called my teacher ‘mom.’ I’m ready to launch myself into the sun 🙃🙃”
- “Just realized I’ve been wearing my shirt inside-out all day 🙃”
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Vent your frustrations with a few 🙃. Feeling ticked off but not totally furious? The 🙃 emoji is a great way to get all that irritation out of your system with the tap of a finger.
- “The bank told me they’d send my check 2 months ago, and my mailbox is still empty 🙃”
- “A customer flipped out at me during my shift today. I’m so done 🙃🙃”
- “Prof assigned a 10-page reading when there’s already an essay due tomorrow🙃”
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Drop a 🙃 to express acceptance over an unfortunate fate. Overslept your alarm, or missed your train into work? The 🙃 emoji has you covered in all sorts of unpleasant scenarios. Slap one at the end of your message to share the bad news; it is what it is, right?
- “Forgot I had a paper due tomorrow. Guess I’m not getting any sleep tonight! 🙃”
- “Spilled coffee on my shirt right before I left for work. Oh well! 🙃”
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Strut your stuff with 🙃 as your photo caption. No need to write out a whole paragraph—the 🙃 emoji lets your followers know that you’re feeling good, and you aren’t afraid to share it with the rest of the world. Post it alongside your next selfie, and see what people say!^{[7]
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Give your text some petty flair with a 🙃. Okay, it’s never really a good idea to be petty in your texts. But if you’re really feeling passive-aggressive, you might as well be upfront about it. The 🙃 emoji has you covered!^{[8]
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- “Sure, I can cover for you. It’s not like I’ve closed the store the last 3 nights in a row or anything. 🙃”
- “I heard she got into a really good college. I’m so happy for her 🙃🙃”

Section 4 of 4:

How to Respond to a 🙃 (upside-down) Emoji

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Offer a “sorry” if they’re having a rough time. If someone shoots you a text with the 🙃 emoji, there’s a good chance that they’re feeling frustrated or embarrassed. Take a second to let them know that you feel their pain.
- “Sorry to hear that. Sending you good vibes!”
- “Wow, that’s rough. Wishing you the best!”
- “That really sucks. I’m pulling for you!”
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Send a 😬, 🤣, or 😂 in acknowledgment. The 😬 is a perfect response to someone sharing an awkward or embarrassing moment with the 🙃 emoji. If you can’t quite get a read on the conversation, stick with a classic 🤣 or 😂 instead.
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Change the subject if things get weird. The 🙃 emoji can definitely lighten the mood, but it can’t completely erase any weird, uncomfortable vibes from a conversation. If you don’t feel like addressing their original 🙃 message, feel free to change the subject.
- “Anyway, did you catch that new TV episode last night?”
- “Have you finished the Spanish homework yet? I’m totally stuck.”
- “I heard we’re supposed to get snow this weekend.”