If You Know What I Mean Bean Meme Template

Know Your Meme records the first known rage-face use on 9GAG on January 28, 2012: a still of Rowan Atkinson as Mr. Bean from the 2007 film “Mr. Bean’s Holiday.” A vectorized version with the phrase circulated the same day. The phrase predates the image and is commonly used to flag a double entendre. The image signals a cheeky second reading, usually mild innuendo, without spelling it out.

A black-and-white line-art portrait of Mr. Bean with a raised eyebrow and knowing expression. The two active text fields sit above and below the image.

Top: write a natural, plausible sentence with an innocent surface meaning and a clear suggestive or otherwise cheeky second reading. Bottom: add “If you know what I mean” or a short knowing cue. The cue should point back to the setup without explaining the innuendo. Keep the ambiguity legible and non-explicit.

1. Top setup: a concise, natural sentence that reads innocently but also has a recognizable cheeky second meaning.
2. Bottom tag: “If you know what I mean” or another brief knowing cue; do not explain the second meaning.

• a harmless double entendre in ordinary workplace language
• a hobby or technical phrase with a cheeky second reading
• a subtle implication only some readers will catch
• a knowing reaction to someone else’s suggestive but non-explicit wording

• Do not use a purely literal setup with no second reading.
• Do not explain the innuendo in the bottom caption; let the audience catch it.
• Avoid explicit sexual descriptions; the format relies on implication.
• Do not use an unrelated tag that does not refer to the setup.
• Keep the setup conversational and concise.