Internet Coined 2020
rent free
What does rent free mean?
Describing something that occupies your thoughts constantly, unpaid and uninvited — it "lives in your head rent free".
"That embarrassing thing I said in 2019 still lives in my head rent free."
Origin
A landlord metaphor for an intrusive thought, spread widely through meme captions from 2020.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "rent free" mean?
Describing something that occupies your thoughts constantly, unpaid and uninvited — it "lives in your head rent free".
How do you use "rent free" in a sentence?
For example: "That embarrassing thing I said in 2019 still lives in my head rent free."
Where does "rent free" come from?
A landlord metaphor for an intrusive thought, spread widely through meme captions from 2020. It's generally dated to around 2020.
Is "rent free" internet slang?
Yes — "rent free" is classed as internet slang on FreeDict. Describing something that occupies your thoughts constantly, unpaid and uninvited — it "lives in your head rent free".
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