Have you ever seen someone post about an unfortunate situation, followed by the letters “FML”? This is what a start means and how you can use it in your next frustrating moment.
F *** my life.
FML means “Fuck my life.” This is an acronym that you use when you are under a lot of pressure, or someone is very unlucky with you. It usually comes after a story about a recent unfortunate incident that indicates how bad someone feels about what happened. Depending on the situation, FML can be either hilarious or really annoying.
You can write abbreviations in both lowercase “FML” and uppercase “FML”. You can often see it in chats, texts and other informal forms of communication. For example, someone might send you a message saying, “I decided to go out for a walk for the first time in a week, and it started to rain. FML.”
This abbreviation is similar to “TIHI”, which means “thank you, I hate it,” because both abbreviations refer to something that disappoints or hurts you. However, while TIHI is often about an external object, such as a picture or situation you have just seen, FML is specifically about something that has happened in your own life.
Where is the FML from?
FML can be found in early internet message boards, where users often shared unfortunate stories from their lives. These stories often contain “FML” to highlight their misfortunes.
The first definition of FML on the Internet Slag Archive Urban Dictionary dates back to 2005. Since its rise to the Internet, it has become an important part of conversations and stories, often appearing on social media and instant messaging.
FML is a very common term on Twitter. Because of the short word count on the platform, users often use abbreviations to express their feelings about something. FML often appears at the end of tweets.
Disappointing situations.
The types of situations that can make one “FML” can vary from person to person. It can range from a simple hassle, like accidentally leaving your wallet at home, to an example of a frivolous misfortune, like breaking your leg with three flights of stairs.
A common way to use FML is to try to accomplish something over and over again without letting go of your frustration. For example, you have been trying to finish the last level of a video game for the last 12 hours. Not only are you overwhelmed by the difficulties of the game, but you are also a little crazy that you have spent half your day playing the same fight over and over again. So, you can be disappointed and tweet, “I absolutely hate this game. FML.”
FML stories.
You can often find FML at the end of a story. These stories can vary in length from a short tweet to the full count of one’s life. However, what they all have in common is something embarrassing or unfortunate, and the author wants you to know that they are not happy about it.
There are a few places online where you can find interesting stories about FML. One of them is fmlife.com, a website where users can post stories anonymously, which is why they became “FML”. Users can then vote between two options: “I agree, your life is useless” or “You deserved it.” The website even has a reputation for some famous and wild stories.
How to use FML
Unlike other abbreviations, we hope you’ll never need to use “FML” to describe how you’re feeling. However, if you find yourself in a particularly frustrating situation and are looking for the right words to describe it, FML can be a great way to tell your story.
When you can put FML at the beginning of your sentence, it is more powerful when it interrupts the end of a story. Here are some examples of FML in practice:
- “I completely forgot to bring a birthday present. FML.”
- “I couldn’t get a ticket because I slept too much, FML.”
- “I was hit by a bus. I escaped, but then the ambulance I was in was struck by lightning. FML!”
If you want to learn more interesting internet abbreviations, check out our pieces on IDC, RN and LMK. You will become arrogant online in no time!
Related: What does “RN” mean, and how do you use it?