Original artwork, not a still
Clean ALL the things!
— Hyperbole and a Half · 2010
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
The line pins down a burst of misplaced enthusiasm: the sudden, total commitment you half suspect will not last. The 'ALL THE THINGS' template turned it into a grammar of its own, where any task plus 'all the things' means a plan too big to carry out. It is the blog's most reused phrase.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for Hyperbole and a HalfShow the scene
Allie Brosh's webcomic Hyperbole and a Half posted 'This Is Why I'll Never Be an Adult' on 17 June 2010. In it her crudely drawn avatar contrasts different motivations for doing adult chores, and the 'Clean all the things' panel is the burst of enthusiasm. The single panel was remixed on Canvas, became a Reddit image template, and led to the r/AllTheThings subreddit in July 2011. Brosh began the blog in 2009.
Sources (2)
- Hyperbole and a Half, Know Your MemepageReference checked
- Even When It Hurts, NPRprofileReference checked
Context reviewed