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“Things That Leave Britain Reeling” meme: meaning, origin and common card

Things That Leave Britain Reeling is a 2017 Twitter hashtag poking fun at hyperbolic news coverage.

MyMemeCards editorial teamPublished 8 min read
Things That Leave Britain Reeling meme
The “Things That Leave Britain Reeling” meme, 2017

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In MyMemeCards, the meme card game, “Things That Leave Britain Reeling” is a common card of the Memes World series 75, number 22344 of the collection, and the 201st best-known meme of its 300 cards. Here is what the meme means, where it comes from, and how to get its card.

What does the “Things That Leave Britain Reeling” meme mean?

The trend reflects quintessential British stoicism and self-deprecating humor during challenging times. By pushing back against foreign headlines that labeled the country as shaken or terrified, participants sarcastically argued that only trivial social faux pas—such as poor tea etiquette or broken queue etiquette—could actually rattle the nation. It serves as a lighthearted weapon against sensationalism.

Where does the “Things That Leave Britain Reeling” meme come from?

The movement surfaced on Twitter on June 4, 2017, following the London Bridge attack. It gained momentum specifically in response to a tweet by The New York Times claiming the country was “still reeling.” While the hashtag’s original creator remains officially unconfirmed, user @AndyGilder is credited among the earliest participants with a post about pouring milk before tea. In parallel, user @A_V_M_L replied to the newspaper with an image of a woman calmly drinking tea amidst rubble. The phenomenon swiftly reached late-night television that same day when John Oliver highlighted the tweets on Last Week Tonight.

  1. June 4, 2017The hashtag takes off on Twitter to counter hyperbolic news reports.
  2. June 4, 2017John Oliver features the viral tweets on Last Week Tonight.

How to use the “Things That Leave Britain Reeling” meme

  • Posting a picture of someone cutting in line to demonstrate true national distress.
  • Mocking an over-dramatic foreign headline by lamenting an incorrectly brewed cup of tea.
  • Replying to an alarmist report with jokes about accidental eye contact during public transit rides.

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The “Things That Leave Britain Reeling” card in MyMemeCards

Things That Leave Britain Reeling card
NumberNo. 22344
RarityCommon
CollectionMemes World series 75
Fame57/100 · #201 of 300
Recycle value5 MemeCoins (15 in Shiny)
Rarities of the Memes World series 75: 300 cards
  • Common21371%
  • Rare5418%
  • Epic3110%
  • Legendary20.7%

How to get the “Things That Leave Britain Reeling” card

Every pack holds 5 meme cards, the first 3 of them Common; Things That Leave Britain Reeling comes out of the Memes World series 75 as a common card. The pack odds say what each rarity weighs.

Your first pack is free and needs no account. After that a new free pack lands every 10 minutes, up to 3 waiting for you. You can also buy the card with MemeCoins on the market, bid for it at auction, or trade it — and a double recycles into 5 MemeCoins.

Open your free pack

5 meme cards, one of them at least Rare. One free pack per person.

Free · no account needed

Odds per card, averaged over a pack: Common 72%, Rare 23.9%, Epic 3.2%, Legendary 0.56%, Mythic 0.3%, Full Art ≤ 0.1%, Shiny 0.2%. Cards 1 to 3 are always Common, cards 4 and 5 climb the rarities. Rates drop for cards that circulate a lot. Details

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Frequently asked questions

What is the Things That Leave Britain Reeling meme?

It is a viral 2017 Twitter trend mocking sensational news coverage by listing trivial everyday grievances that ironically upset British people.

Where did Things That Leave Britain Reeling come from?

It started on Twitter on June 4, 2017, as a sarcastic collective response to a New York Times tweet using the phrase.

Who created the Things That Leave Britain Reeling hashtag?

The definitive original author is not known, though user @AndyGilder posted one of its earliest documented examples.

How do I get the Things That Leave Britain Reeling meme card?

Open a pack of MyMemeCards: “Things That Leave Britain Reeling” is a common card of the Memes World series 75. Your first pack is free, with no account, and you can also buy, trade or win the card at auction.

How rare is the Things That Leave Britain Reeling card?

It is a Common card. Rarity decides which pack slot can deal it, and what it is worth on the market.

Sources: #ThingsThatLeaveBritainReeling: Hashtag Origin · Tirar sarro da ideia de baixar a cabeça é a melhor coisa que Londres poderia fazer - Outra Cidade · John Oliver: Media Coverage of London Attack ‘Insulting’ · checked on October 17, 2026.

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