Etymology Journal · W
Who pissed in your Cheerios?
Meaning
- A slightly more specific and breakfast-oriented version of the grumpy-person inquiry. It is a common way to confront someone who is being unnecessarily sour or pessimistic.
Irreverent, blunt
Used in a sentence
- She has been complaining all day; I finally asked her who pissed in your Cheerios?
- You were happy yesterday, so who pissed in your Cheerios this morning?
- My coworker gave me a death stare, so I whispered, who pissed in your Cheerios?
The backstory
Cheerios are a quintessential American breakfast staple, making this phrase a culturally resonant way to express morning annoyance. It likely gained traction in the late 20th century.
Heard in
Nationwide
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