catchphrase warning slogan used in political left circles

Fuck Around and Find Out / FAFO

Part of a series on Catchphrases. [View Related Entries]
[View Related Sub-entries]

Updated Nov 08, 2023 at 02:52PM EST by Zach.

Added Nov 11, 2020 at 02:42PM EST by Adam.

PROTIP: Press 'i' to view the image gallery, 'v' to view the video gallery, or 'r' to view a random entry.

About

Fuck Around and Find Out, abbreviated as FAFO, is a slang catchphrase warning that taking negative steps will result in unwanted consequences. In 2020, the phrase has become associated with online leftist circles as a warning to liberals that ignoring progressive movements and candidates could lead to unwanted consequences such as a Trump reelection.

Origin

While the origin of the phrase is unclear, it appears to have first been associated with parodies of the Gadsden Flag featuring a crocodile saying "fuck around and find out" as an antonym to the Gadsden snake saying "don't tread on me" (shown below, left).[1] On September 13th, 2019, Redditor pm_me_your_foodzzz posted a parody Gadsden Flag with the same phrase to /r/nosteponsnek.[2]


F--- AROUND AND FIND OUT F--- AROUND AND FIND OUT

Spread

In 2020, the phrase saw increasing use among online leftists with regards to less-progressive democrats, particularly with regards to fears that running a centrist democratic candidate would yield another general election loss. On February 9th, Redditor jenkybluestuff[3] posted an image macro of Bernie Sanders saying the phrase to /r/BirdieSanders,[3] gaining over 140 upvotes (shown below, left). On February 16th, Twitter user @RobinSkyLeigh[4] posted an object labeling meme with the phrase mocking Democrats for toying with the idea of nominating Michael Bloomberg for President, gaining over 30 retweets and 100 likes (shown below, right).


ie Bernie Bernie ATE Bernk BernieSanders.com OF TH Bernie om LIVE from MANCHESTER, NH 308rM> F--- AROUND AND FIND OUT BITCH WE WILL BURN THIS WHOLE COUNTRY TO THE MOTHER F------ GROUND TO STOP YOU AM Robin Leigh @robinskyleigh 000 f--- around and find out nominating Michael Bloomberg Democratic Party

In November of 2020, the phrase became a rallying cry among leftists in Philadelphia, as some Republicans expressed desire to protest there after it appeared the city's votes would help Joe Biden win the state of Pennsylvania in the 2020 Election. These were often expressed with Gritty, the Philadelphia Flyers mascot who has become a mascot for left-wing ideas in the city. User @kidblue[5] called Gritty the "Future secretary of Fuck Around and Find Out," gaining over 300 retweets and 1,100 likes (shown below, left). User @melaniemoore[6] made a similar joke with Gritty, gaining over 40 retweets and 200 likes (shown below, right).


Noah Segan @kidblue 000 Future Secretary of F--- Around and Find Out 0000 9:34 AM · Nov 6, 2020 · Twitter for iPhone Mistress Emma Evans 000 @MelanieMoore Gritty's jam is 'F--- around and find out' SOMETIMES ANTISOCIAL ALWAYS ANTIEASCIST ★

Roger Skaer's "Fuck Around and Find Out" Chart

On September 27th, 2022, TikToker[7] @rogerskaer posted a comedy video where he shows off a chart demonstrating how much someone has to fuck around to find out what they want to find out, saying, "the more you fuck around, the more you're gonna find out," garnering over 3.9 million views in two days (shown below).


https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7147844411915783470

The video gained viral spread over the following days. On September 28th, it was reported to Twitter[8] captioned, "this is my favorite clip on the internet," garnering at least 160,000 likes before it was limited by the user. On the same day, Twitter[9] user @maiyajambalaya reposted the video, captioned, "there are tears in my eyes LMFAOOOOOOOOOO," garnering over 349,000 likes and 79,000 retweets in a day. On September 29th, Dexerto[10] published an article on the virality of the video.

Various Examples


i bless the rains down in castamere @Chinchillazllla 000 there are decades where we f--- around and there are weeks where we find out 12:02 AM · Nov 4, 2020 · Twitter for Android Jamesgames2k is my name, and games is my game, k? @jamesgames2k 00 "f--- around and find out" engraved on my wall in the "live, laugh, love" font 12:08 PM · Nov 11, 2020 · Twitter Web App Dan Campbell @headabovewater 00 My stomach is constantly doing flips but I gotta say all of the great "f--- around with Philly and find out" content on the timeline has been reassuring. 3:12 PM · Nov 5, 2020 · Twitter for iPhone F--- AROUND AND FIND OUT imgflip.com Moxie *F--- Around And Find Out* McSassyPants @IGetShitDun 00 GOP: We're coming to start a WAR in Philly. PA Lt. Gov.: F--- around and find out. 6:37 PM · Nov 5, 2020 · Twitter Web App 000 $ $ 7 @avignon161 · Nov 8 Pittsboro racist Alan Hall decided to f--- around and find out in Raleigh today Jones 00 LICE IC 323 27 82 23

Search Interest

External References

[1] Amazon – FAFO Flag

[2] Reddit – /r/nosteponsnek

[3] Reddit – /r/birdiesanders

[4] Twitter – robinskyleigh

[5] Twitter – @kidblue

[6] Twitter – MelanieMoore

[7] TikTok – rogerskaer

[8] Twitter (wayback machine) – annamelissa

[9] Twitter – maiyajambalaya

[10] Dexerto – TikToker Roger Skaer goes viral with his ‘Find Out’ chart video

Recent Videos 1 total

Recent Images 24 total


+ Add a Comment

Comments (31)


Display Comments

Add a Comment


Namaste! You must login or signup first!