Late last year, a Dr. Phil episode went viral after the show featured a rebellious 13-year-old. The teen had an accent that a lot of folks — Dr. Phil included — couldn't easily decipher. The episode debuted in mid-September and the YouTube clip amassed over 10 million views.
View this video on YouTube
The segment focused on the tumultuous relationship between a mother and her "out-of-control" teen daughter.
At the top of the episode, Dr. Phil asked the daughter, "You have an accent of some sort?"
"From the streets," she replied.
People who watched the clip laughed about her unique "from the streets" accent, but it was really one sound bite that caught on. The 13-year-old responded to the studio audience by saying, "Catch me outside, how about that?"
This is literally my favorite video ever
And somehow — randomly, and gloriously — in 2017, it's become a meme. The infamous line has been transcribed as "cash me outside, how about dat?"
You can cash me outside how about dat ?
But it's quickly evolved (or devolved) into "cash me ousside, howbow dah."
cash me ousside howbow dah
The "howbow dah" part has hit a special poetic nerve with people. The jokes quickly started rolling in.
Roses are red Your eyes gon be black If you cash me outside Howbow dah
THIS IS THE FUNNIEST THING I HAVE EVER SEEN BAHSJAJSHSJSSMXKDD CASH ME OUSSIDE HOWBOW DAH
"Howbow dah" was soon co-opted into everyday language.
Stop telling people we "used to talk". Don't claim me period. Howbow dah
Give me constant love and attention howbow dah
But then, in a subtle shift, the meme became much more pure. People used it to express sincere thoughts — especially in relationships and loyalty.
Fall in love with me howbow dah
Support me mentally, physically and emotionally howbow dah
Come catch this faithfulness howbow dah
Lemme love you unconditionally howbow dah
"Save the bees howbow dah." 💀
Save the bees howbow dah
Basically, "howbow dah" can be extremely versatile and malleable.
Kiss me hard before you go howbow dah
let me pass these semester exams howbow dah
And it proves, as far as interneting, that we're off to a strong 2017 start. Well howbow dah.
text me back and fall in love with me howbow dah