go brrr

English

Etymology

In reference to the "Money Printer Go Brrr" meme, created on March 9, 2020, in which a Boomer Wojak representing the United States Federal Reserve uses a literal money printer (which is making the sound brrr like a traditional printer) to create large amounts of money to counter the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, despite the possibility of increasing inflation.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡoʊ bɝː/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

Verb

go brrr (third-person singular simple present goes brrr or go brrr, present participle going brrr, simple past went brrr, past participle gone brrr) (all rare except go brrr)

1. (Internet slang, humorous) To go out of control; to increase or thrive despite opposition.
   • 2020 May 12, Jeff John Roberts, “'Fed go brrr': Federal Reserve meme strikes chord with Bitcoin believers”, in Fortune‎^[1]:

     The government, in his view, has simply printed too much money—and that "Fed go brrr," is not just funny, but dangerous.

   • 2020 August 21, Matthew Gault, “'Marvel Strike Force' Lootbox Printer Accidentally Goes Brrr”, in VICE‎^[2]:

     (title)

   • 2020 December 23, Justine Harper, “2020 Was The Year Bitcoin Funding Went Brrr”, in Bitcoin Magazine‎^[3]:

     (title)

   • 2021 January 31, Matthew Neale, “GameStop Redditors buy playful Times Square billboard ad”, in NME‎^[4]:

     The ad, which ran for an hour on Friday (January 30) courtesy of digital billboard maker Matei Psatta, shows symbols indicating vastly rising stock prices with the caption "$GME GO BRRR" – alluding to the stock's ticker symbol on the NY Stock Exchange.

   • 2022 January 12, Leonard Sengere, “Zimbabwe should brace for economic turbulence as USD set to strengthen – IMF”, in Techzim‎^[5]:

     The multicurrency regime should reduce the RBZ's capacity to print money but we saw how within just a few years of the reintroduction of the Zimdollar, the printers had already gone brrr. Now, the RBZ is trying to mop up the excess local currency in the market that’s driving up inflation.

   • 2022 January 18, Stephen Punwasi, “Over 1 In 5 Canadian Dollars Created Didn’t Exist Two Years Ago”, in Better Dwelling‎^[6]:

     Canada's central bank has been going Brrr, and it’s not because of the frigid winters in Ottawa. Bank of Canada (BoC) data shows that the money supply is still expanding rapidly in October.

   • 2022 March 16, James Ramsay, “Early Addition: Ranger fans, you really booed the governor on Women's Empowerment Night?”, in Gothamist‎^[7]:

     The money printer is about to stop going brrr.

Usage notes

• Often used in reference to money printers or stock prices.

References

• “Money Printer Go Brrr”, in Know Your Meme, launched 2007