“Touch grass” is internet slang telling someone to go outside, step away from devices, or reconnect with real life. Online, it often serves as a teasing or dismissive rebuke to someone seen as too absorbed in internet activity—but it can also be a lighthearted nudge.
What “touch grass” means
Literally, the phrase evokes going outside and touching or enjoying grass. Figuratively, it means taking a break from online activity and reconnecting with the offline world. Dictionary.com records both the idea of going outside and the sense of spending less time on electronic devices.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
For example: “After arguing about the game all night, someone replied, ‘Go touch grass’”—a joking way to suggest logging off and getting some perspective. This is an illustrative example, not a quotation from a source.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Is “touch grass” an insult?
Often, yes: it is used online as a put-down implying that someone is overly invested in internet arguments, trends, or discourse. Know Your Meme describes it as an alternative way to tell someone to go outside. But the phrase is not always hostile. It may be a sincere reminder, playful teasing, or self-deprecating joke; the surrounding conversation determines the tone.
#1 Best Overall
- SUN AND SHADE GRASS SEED: This combination lawn seed, grass fertilizer, and soil improver thrives in a variety of conditions
- WHEN TO APPLY: Use this sun and shade lawn grass seed mix to seed a new lawn or overseed an existing lawn in the spring or fall when daily average soil temperatures are consistently between 55°F and 70°F, or air temperatures between 60°F and 80°F
- GROW THICK, GREEN GRASS: Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Sun & Shade Mix features Root-Building Nutrition crafted to help establish deep roots to build a better, stronger lawn
- WHERE TO USE: This grass seed for lawns is designed for full sun and moderate shade, and has medium drought resistance with medium to high durability
- COVERAGE: One 5.6 lb. bag of Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Sun & Shade Mix has a new lawn coverage of 745 sq. ft. and an overseeding coverage of 2,240 sq. ft.
Where did the phrase come from?
Its exact origin is not established by the consulted references. Know Your Meme reports examples on Twitter dating to at least 2015 and says the phrase began spreading significantly in 2019. Dictionary.com gives a first-recorded period of 2015–20. Those are documentation windows, not proof of the first use, a definitive inventor, or a confirmed origin story.
Why does the phrase still resonate?
In an Atlantic podcast discussion about people renegotiating their relationship with phones and online attention, artist and author Jenny Odell told staff writer Julie Beck that the phrase’s obviousness helps make it “both funny and annoying.” That is cultural commentary on the expression’s appeal, not evidence that it measures screen use or proves a particular effect of being online. The Atlantic episode provides the broader context.
Rank #2
- Sun and shade grass seed for use in full sun to medium-shaded areas
- This bag of tall fescue grass seeds for lawns covers up to 4,000 sq. ft.
What the phrase does—and does not—claim
“Touch grass” is a social expression, not a diagnosis or a precise recommendation about how much time someone should spend online. It suggests a change of perspective or a break from internet activity; by itself, it does not establish that a person’s online habits are harmful.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Kentucky 31 Tall Fescue grass seed is the original turf for your home
- Tall fescue seed provides a durable, economical lawn
- A grass seed for lawns that grows thick blades of grass that stand up to hot summers and heavy rains
- Fescue fast growing grass seeds for lawns produce a lighter green, drought-resistant turf
- Fescue fast growing grass seeds for lawns produce a lighter green, drought-resistant turf
Rank #3
- WHEN TO APPLY : This lawn seed mix of Kentucky bluegrass seed, perennial ryegrass, and fine fescue grass seed germinates best when daytime temperatures are between 60°F and 80°F with no danger of frost
- PATCH & REPAIR: Scotts EZ Seed Patch & Repair Sun and Shade is a revolutionary grass seeding product that makes grass patch repair for lawns easy; it's designed to fill in bare spots and repair lawn damage
- COVERAGE: One 3.75 lb. jug of EZ Seed Patch & Repair lawn grass seed mix covers up to 85 sq. ft. in 3 easy steps: prep the area, evenly apply the seed and water until no more water is being absorbed
- WHERE TO USE: This sun and shade lawn repair grass seed mix is guaranteed to grow anywhere with proper care including in full sun, dense shade, high traffic areas and on slopes
- SUN AND SHADE GRASS: Contains a combination of high performance grass seed for lawns, mulch that expands to surround the seed, controlled release fertilizer, tackifier to help keep seed from washing away and a protectant to help keep seedlings safe
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
