Sheesh

Sheesh is an interjection used to express surprise, disbelief, admiration, or exasperation. In written form, it is commonly rendered as sheesh; elongated spellings such as sheeeesh or sheeessh are also used for emphasis. Some dialects use it in casual speech; the term is informal slang rather than standard vocabulary.

In the digital era, sheesh gained prominence as an internet meme in the 2020s. On social media platforms such as TikTok and Twitter, users employ the term in captions, comments, and reaction images to respond to displays of skill, wealth, or unexpected events. The meme often accompanies a particular gesture or facial expression used to signal disbelief or admiration, though the visual element is not required.

Origins of the word are not tied to a single source. It has existed in English informal speech for decades, but its current meme form is largely a product of online culture. Spelling variants and intensifiers reflect the tone of the reaction, with longer forms indicating greater emphasis.

Today, sheesh is widely recognized across English-speaking online communities and has permeated mainstream social platforms to a limited extent. As with many memes, usage is context-dependent and may be perceived as ironic or performative in some contexts.