Nerdfighter lexicon & callbacks

A dated glossary of the channel's in-group language, 2007–2026: 204 words, memes and running bits heard in at least two videos (132 of them tracked as running bits with origin and callbacks), plus 232 heard only once. 66 of the 244 running bits are merged with the word, meme or named thing they are about (derived match). For each: what it is (from its origin on air, or the first video that names it), when it was first used, how often it came back, its peak year and when it was last heard. Each name opens its page: a word's entry with every use, linked to the moment in the video, or the story of a running bit.

How to read this

"First in the videos" is the earliest video in this wiki where the item is recorded (the thing itself may be older); recorded as a callback means that video already refers back to something older that the analysis did not catch. Counts are videos where the analysis recorded the item — for everyday words such as nerdfighter that is when the word itself is used or discussed, not every time it is said. "Last heard" means within 2007–2026; still in use means heard in 2026.

Where the links are: “link in the sidebar” → “doobly-doo”

The pointer to a video's links changed name with YouTube's page layout, from the sidebar to the description box: the two overlapped for 21 days.

year	link in the sidebar	doobly-doo
2008	17
2009	12	5
2010		25
2011		28
2012		12
2013		6
2014		14
2015		11
2016		8
2017		14
2018		7
2019		10
2020		4
2021		2
2022		7
2023		3
2024		11
2025		3
2026		10

• First “link in the sidebar”: 2008-02-19 · Your Spying Thieving Valentine: Hank 00:00:58
• Last “link in the sidebar”: 2009-11-01 · NaNoWriMo!!! 00:02:45
• First “doobly-doo”: 2009-10-11 · Puppy Elephant Defends Capitalism 00:00:33

Born and last heard, by year

How much of each year's output uses the lexicon, which items first appear that year, and which are heard for the last time.

2007 — 168 of 258 videos (65 %) use at least one item.

• Born (42): John's wife Sarah as 'the Yeti', The brothers known as each other's brother: 'John Green's brother' and 'Hank Green's brother', tiny chickens, Hank's 'Lady, lady, lady… John Green' romance-shelf song, in your pants, The brothers' 'movie magic': footage shot on another day presented as today's, nerdfighter, Hank's 'Wikipedia in your brain' idea, secret sibling, myriad, world suck, made of awesome, fishing boat proceeds, guilt-free three, Hank's crush on Helen Hunt, Gaiman's Law, the Puff, Evil Baby Orphanage, wiki, John's 'senator' haircut and the political spectrum of hair, Hank's 'Good morning John, it's Wednesday' song and dance, Decepticon, NAFADOYBIMSCOM, nit, senior executive nerdfighter, jokes, Lolcat, Cooking with John, Winner, South Dakota: the brothers' midpoint and a Nerdfighter commune, The brothers' 'no I in brotherhood' explanation for the I missing from 'communication' in the 2007 intro, pwned, DFTBA, nerdtastic, The 'Party Blower Solo' from Hank's Tetris song, nerdfighterlike, John's Venn diagram jokes, the social order, Hank punches the camera, Leet, n00b, w00t, Who the Eff Is Hank
• Last heard (9): Hank's 'Lady, lady, lady… John Green' romance-shelf song, myriad, guilt-free three, wiki, Hank's 'Good morning John, it's Wednesday' song and dance, The 'Party Blower Solo' from Hank's Tetris song, Winner, South Dakota: the brothers' midpoint and a Nerdfighter commune, Hank punches the camera, w00t

2008 — 84 of 130 videos (65 %) use at least one item.

• Born (21): YouTube tag, puppy sized elephant, Taking the Hobbits to Isengard, link in the sidebar, John's giraffe-love bit ('people love giraffes who love giraffes'), best wishes, LOLbook, The brothers miscount the parts of their multi-part videos, Willy as the Dread Pirate Fireball Wilson Roberts, Pirates versus Ninjas, nerdfightastic, Hank's 'all we are is monkeys with pants' song, Tobian, trivia, Peanut Butter Face, non-existent Nerdfighting Prize of the Day, All your base are belong to us, spoon fingers, John throws himself against a wall to prove he's not an octopus, Numa Numa, imagine others complexly
• Last heard (1): Tobian

2009 — 112 of 185 videos (61 %) use at least one item.

• Born (28): Hank's 'Auto power off, still some glitches to work out' line from the first vlogbrothers video, The brothers' argument over the Rock-afire Explosion (Chuck E. Cheese) band, Google Verb, Ningmaster, Hank's talking Hank Sock ventriloquist act, Fail Boat, brain crack, Epic fail, Rickrolling, First post, oinkbarf, John's Chewbacca for President 2012 bit, with Han Solo as running mate, giant squid of anger, The brothers' 20Q (20q.net) bit: the AI guesses Hank is Perez Hilton, The island of Nerdfighteria: subscribers buying the brothers a private island, Death panel, Willy's secret shame: his downward-bent tail, Severed hands in Star Wars: Hank's count of 13, revisited in John's 'Zero Severed Hands', doobly-doo, asshole propagation program, Neanderthal November, Hank's 'I'm on a plane. No, I'm on the ground' cutting routine, Pizza John, Konami Code, win kitty, French the llama, Fail Puppy, notsome
• Last heard (16): YouTube tag, Google Verb, The brothers' argument over the Rock-afire Explosion (Chuck E. Cheese) band, nerdtastic, best wishes, The brothers' 20Q (20q.net) bit: the AI guesses Hank is Perez Hilton, Lolcat, LOLbook, senior executive nerdfighter, asshole propagation program, link in the sidebar, oinkbarf, Hank's 'I'm on a plane. No, I'm on the ground' cutting routine, win kitty, The island of Nerdfighteria: subscribers buying the brothers a private island, Leet

2010 — 78 of 157 videos (50 %) use at least one item.

• Born (14): writing is rewriting, Geddan, bucket list, hug bucket, The Game, Shane Dawson 'inscribed his name upon my balls': Hank's signed playpen-ball double entendre, Hank's 'demon four-year-old' nephew, The brothers' agreement never to use the L-word about each other, PEN15 Club, The cake is a lie, Let them eat cake, space pasta, I slit the sheet, Answering Google autocomplete questions
• Last heard (9): Hank's 'Wikipedia in your brain' idea, hug bucket, John's Venn diagram jokes, Shane Dawson 'inscribed his name upon my balls': Hank's signed playpen-ball double entendre, PEN15 Club, Hank's 'demon four-year-old' nephew, The Game, Epic fail, non-existent Nerdfighting Prize of the Day

2011 — 97 of 155 videos (63 %) use at least one item.

• Born (15): headdesk, the truth resists simplicity, 'Warner Chilcott' used as a swear word, John (name), Humpy Hank: Nerdfighter animations of Hank humping things, John reading his new novel's audiobook in a young woman's voice: 'And then I took off my bra', John: Tumblr is the top destination for images of Paula Deen riding him, Hanklerfish, signing madness, Keep Calm and Carry On, First World problem, Maureen Johnson's unrepeatable dirty texts during John's live shows, John's 'amazing Lectro Jog of Amazing' paper jogger, It's Over 9000!, Sharpie Face
• Last heard (14): headdesk, space pasta, The cake is a lie, Willy's secret shame: his downward-bent tail, Pirates versus Ninjas, Hank's 'all we are is monkeys with pants' song, 'Warner Chilcott' used as a swear word, John: Tumblr is the top destination for images of Paula Deen riding him, pwned, signing madness, Neanderthal November, John reading his new novel's audiobook in a young woman's voice: 'And then I took off my bra', Maureen Johnson's unrepeatable dirty texts during John's live shows, Gaiman's Law

2012 — 53 of 111 videos (48 %) use at least one item.

• Born (8): Hank's 'Dude, no edge!': his obsession with the universe having no edge, Friend zone, Wholock, GIF pronunciation, time nanny, John 'attacked' by a squirrel inadequately afraid of humans, in his Washington, D.C. Thoughts from Places, YOLO, Hank's 'Spicy Summer Camp Story': a racy-sounding camp story that is literally about hot sauce, with the moral 'vote'
• Last heard (11): Hank's talking Hank Sock ventriloquist act, bucket list, Friend zone, nit, Konami Code, Ningmaster, jokes, time nanny, John's Chewbacca for President 2012 bit, with Han Solo as running mate, brain crack, Hank's 'Spicy Summer Camp Story': a racy-sounding camp story that is literally about hot sauce, with the moral 'vote'

2013 — 43 of 107 videos (40 %) use at least one item.

• Born (5): What is air?, John unexpectedly finds himself in an airport ('Am I in an airport?'), Hank's mock-serious critique of cat GIFs as a 'professional internet cat critic', Hank's 'Rants in Four Minutes' videos, Hank's 'million dollar idea' phone calls to John
• Last heard (9): Keep Calm and Carry On, Wholock, Geddan, Numa Numa, Hank's mock-serious critique of cat GIFs as a 'professional internet cat critic', n00b, What is air?, Hank's 'Dude, no edge!': his obsession with the universe having no edge, Cooking with John

2014 — 51 of 114 videos (45 %) use at least one item.

• Born (7): Hank's 'naughty professor' (for 'nutty professor') in John's glasses, Dave Green, John's 'I gotta go' sign-off, borrowed from radio commentator Ian Shoales, slay, octothorpe, None pizza with left beef, Fartmas
• Last heard (5): John's 'I gotta go' sign-off, borrowed from radio commentator Ian Shoales, YOLO, Rickrolling, octothorpe, The brothers' 'movie magic': footage shot on another day presented as today's

2015 — 47 of 115 videos (41 %) use at least one item.

• Born (7): Hank declared winner of the 'International Competition for Nerdiest Nerd', Hank's 'we are all bat-people' line, songified by the Gregory Brothers, Blue Steel, #wallofcow, cool, Goat-themed Question Tuesday with Hank: 'The Goat Edition', Cheez Doodles Guy, the screaming man of Pizzamas 2015
• Last heard (9): Hank declared winner of the 'International Competition for Nerdiest Nerd', Death panel, John's 'senator' haircut and the political spectrum of hair, nerdfighterlike, Blue Steel, slay, The brothers miscount the parts of their multi-part videos, #wallofcow, nerdfightastic

2016 — 35 of 114 videos (31 %) use at least one item.

• Born (4): John eats his cereal with water instead of milk, John's 'easier than IKEA' video in only two parts, #goals, Nathan Zed's 'you're a pretty good burrito' metaphor: you needn't be the best at anything
• Last heard (6): Severed hands in Star Wars: Hank's count of 13, revisited in John's 'Zero Severed Hands', John unexpectedly finds himself in an airport ('Am I in an airport?'), John's 'easier than IKEA' video in only two parts, Humpy Hank: Nerdfighter animations of Hank humping things, Hank's 'naughty professor' (for 'nutty professor') in John's glasses, Cheez Doodles Guy, the screaming man of Pizzamas 2015

2017 — 42 of 113 videos (37 %) use at least one item.

• Born (9): Sheeple, What goes up must come down, John's thumbs ups to fellow runners, in 'The Life Changing Magic of Thumbs Up', John's boxes: opening one reveals another box (in a Question Tuesday, 2017), Cheyenne, Wyoming, Hank's 'behind the sides' for backstage, which John tells him to stop trying to make happen, Hank's star-rated reviews of things not normally reviewed, borrowing John's Anthropocene Reviewed idea, John and Hank abandon one opinion every day, begun on the Turtles tour, Hank's made-up 'bizarro' history of Black Friday as a lights-off Lighthouse Maintenance Day
• Last heard (7): I slit the sheet, John's thumbs ups to fellow runners, in 'The Life Changing Magic of Thumbs Up', Evil Baby Orphanage, Nathan Zed's 'you're a pretty good burrito' metaphor: you needn't be the best at anything, John's boxes: opening one reveals another box (in a Question Tuesday, 2017), Taking the Hobbits to Isengard, Hank's 'behind the sides' for backstage, which John tells him to stop trying to make happen

2018 — 31 of 109 videos (28 %) use at least one item.

• Born (7): 420 (cannabis culture), Old Man Yells at Cloud, John's luxury pea dish: cooking his tiny pea harvest as a gourmet snack, John's prime numbers: a Question Tuesday of a prime number of questions, novels with prime-minus-one chapters, John's burning-robot car chase scene that he can never write, Hank's 'I can't dance' fashion-shoot dance break, John's 'hairmergency': hair that suddenly needs an emergency haircut, his analogy for burnout
• Last heard (6): What goes up must come down, Sheeple, trivia, John's luxury pea dish: cooking his tiny pea harvest as a gourmet snack, John 'attacked' by a squirrel inadequately afraid of humans, in his Washington, D.C. Thoughts from Places, John's burning-robot car chase scene that he can never write

2019 — 31 of 110 videos (28 %) use at least one item.

• Born (1): Hank's 'butt is legs' controversial opinion
• Last heard (2): First post, #goals

2020 — 57 of 108 videos (53 %) use at least one item.

• Born (3): Vlogbrothers videos titled with Smash Mouth's All Star lyrics, third thing, Three Wolf Moon

2021 — 35 of 106 videos (33 %) use at least one item.

• Born (9): Superior fish beings: 10-year-old Hank's prediction for 2012, Beanie Sanfurbs, Hank's rebranding away from being the corndog-loving brother, Hank's enthusiasm for Metamucil (bit), Days Since Hank Green Last Started a New Thing, John's inside joke of using the word 'deadpan' exactly once in every book since An Abundance of Katherines, lowering barriers to learning, The doctor who said 'sneezing is not normal, I never sneeze', nicknamed Dr. NeverSneezer Scrooge by Hank, An AI chatbot built from the brothers' words answers as Hank and John
• Last heard (12): John's 'hairmergency': hair that suddenly needs an emergency haircut, his analogy for burnout, Hank's rebranding away from being the corndog-loving brother, The brothers' 'no I in brotherhood' explanation for the I missing from 'communication' in the 2007 intro, Hank's star-rated reviews of things not normally reviewed, borrowing John's Anthropocene Reviewed idea, Hank's 'Rants in Four Minutes' videos, John's prime numbers: a Question Tuesday of a prime number of questions, novels with prime-minus-one chapters, An AI chatbot built from the brothers' words answers as Hank and John, Old Man Yells at Cloud, Hank's 'I can't dance' fashion-shoot dance break, John (name), GIF pronunciation, writing is rewriting

2022 — 35 of 108 videos (32 %) use at least one item.

• Born (8): Crank Green, John Purple, The brothers' chip butty ('chippy butty') saga, sad gap, John asks his Turtles set-interview guests their favourite Beatle and favourite colour, Cars vs., commit to the bit, touch grass
• Last heard (6): The brothers' chip butty ('chippy butty') saga, sad gap, lowering barriers to learning, John asks his Turtles set-interview guests their favourite Beatle and favourite colour, Let them eat cake, Cars vs.

2023 — 46 of 107 videos (43 %) use at least one item.

• Born (7): John's Tumblr persona: the Awesome Coffee Club and its 'unpaid intern', John's 'take it down a notch' and 'take it up a notch', Format videos titled after an existential crisis at a time of day, The P4A livestream as 'the internet's hottest club', in Stefon's style, tier list, John's 30-foot microphone cord in his Format videos, Hank's antique Garfields sent in Cancer Socks orders
• Last heard (25): Answering Google autocomplete questions, Format videos titled after an existential crisis at a time of day, Fartmas, Vlogbrothers videos titled with Smash Mouth's All Star lyrics, John eats his cereal with water instead of milk, John's 'take it down a notch' and 'take it up a notch', John's giraffe-love bit ('people love giraffes who love giraffes'), touch grass, Three Wolf Moon, NAFADOYBIMSCOM, Hank's made-up 'bizarro' history of Black Friday as a lights-off Lighthouse Maintenance Day, John's Tumblr persona: the Awesome Coffee Club and its 'unpaid intern', Willy as the Dread Pirate Fireball Wilson Roberts, John and Hank abandon one opinion every day, begun on the Turtles tour, Goat-themed Question Tuesday with Hank: 'The Goat Edition', Decepticon, Fail Boat, Fail Puppy, French the llama, giant squid of anger, in your pants, notsome, puppy sized elephant, secret sibling, Who the Eff Is Hank

2024 — 34 of 114 videos (30 %) use at least one item.

• Born (4): P4A slogan about a dangerous day to get paid, from the song Look at Hank's Face (c. 2012), Jarrod, content machine, Beef day
• Last heard (11): John throws himself against a wall to prove he's not an octopus, Hank's antique Garfields sent in Cancer Socks orders, The P4A livestream as 'the internet's hottest club', in Stefon's style, John Purple, It's Over 9000!, All your base are belong to us, First World problem, Superior fish beings: 10-year-old Hank's prediction for 2012, Peanut Butter Face, nerdfighter, John's inside joke of using the word 'deadpan' exactly once in every book since An Abundance of Katherines

2025 — 29 of 107 videos (27 %) use at least one item.

• Born (2): content creator, John and Hank's coffee-versus-tea rivalry
• Last heard (16): John's wife Sarah as 'the Yeti', John's 'amazing Lectro Jog of Amazing' paper jogger, world suck, John's 30-foot microphone cord in his Format videos, third thing, imagine others complexly, the Puff, Dave Green, 420 (cannabis culture), John and Hank's coffee-versus-tea rivalry, content machine, cool, Hank's 'million dollar idea' phone calls to John, made of awesome, spoon fingers, The brothers known as each other's brother: 'John Green's brother' and 'Hank Green's brother'

2026 — 31 of 95 videos (33 %) use at least one item.

• Born (3): Hank lengthens his P4A announcement video by playing Connections and TimeGuessr, Hank's bit that the 2026 Project for Awesome is already in 2027, with every problem solved, YouTuber

Activity by year (items in 6+ videos)

Videos per year; bold = peak year (every year tied for it).

item	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026	total
John's wife Sarah as 'the Yeti'	47	19	8	2	4	2		1	2										1		86
tiny chickens	2		5	2		1		2					1				1			1	15
in your pants	57	9	13	11	9	2	1										1				103
The brothers' 'movie magic': footage shot on another day presented as today's	8						1	1													10
nerdfighter	33	13	8	4	2	1	2	1		1		1			1		1	4			72
secret sibling	22	7	6	1	1		3			1	1						1				43
world suck	30	6	8	6	17	13	9	13	5	2	4	5	1		2	3	2	1	1		128
made of awesome	11	11	13	2	3							1					2		1		44
fishing boat proceeds	2	1		1	2		1	1								1				1	10
Hank's crush on Helen Hunt	6	2	1	1	3	1	1	1	1								1			2	20
the Puff	8	9	13	1	3			1	3		1				2		1		1		43
Evil Baby Orphanage	13	3	5		4	9	2				1										37
Decepticon	3	2	2	1													1				9
jokes	8	6				1															15
Lolcat	2	2	4																		8
Cooking with John	2		2		1		1														6
pwned	5	14	3		1																23
DFTBA	4	5	14	6	9	4	10	2	5	5	2	4	3	1		3	3	1	1	4	86
nerdfighterlike	3	2	5		1				1												12
the social order	1					2				2	1	2	3	1		1	1	2	2	1	19
Who the Eff Is Hank	1	4	3	2	3	2	2			1							1				19
puppy sized elephant		8	6	2	3	2		2	2							1	1				27
link in the sidebar		17	12																		29
John's giraffe-love bit ('people love giraffes who love giraffes')		5	6	8	7	1	1			1					1		1				31
best wishes		4	2																		6
The brothers miscount the parts of their multi-part videos		2	1	1					2												6
Willy as the Dread Pirate Fireball Wilson Roberts		2	4	2	2					1		1					1				13
nerdfightastic		1	4	1	4	1			1												12
Peanut Butter Face		3	2		2	1		2		1	1							1			13
imagine others complexly		2	2		2		2	2	2	1	1		1			1			1		17
Ningmaster			7	3	3	1															14
Hank's talking Hank Sock ventriloquist act			5	1	1	1															8
brain crack			3		4	1															8
Epic fail			3	3																	6
John's Chewbacca for President 2012 bit, with Han Solo as running mate			5			1															6
giant squid of anger			4	7	4	1						1					1				18
doobly-doo			5	25	28	12	6	14	11	8	14	7	10	4	2	7	3	11	3	10	180
Pizza John			1	7	8	2	4	7	7	7	5	5	5	3	7	10	7	4	4	5	98
French the llama			2	8	7	3		2	3	1						1	1				28
The brothers' agreement never to use the L-word about each other				2	3	1	1		1	1	1		1		1	1	2	1	1	1	18
space pasta				3	3																6
Answering Google autocomplete questions				1	7			1				1	1		1		3				15
the truth resists simplicity					5	1		1									1			1	9
John (name)					1		1	2	1						1						6
Humpy Hank: Nerdfighter animations of Hank humping things					6				1	1											8
Hanklerfish					5	4	3	3		1	1	1			2	3	5	3		6	37
signing madness					8																8
Sharpie Face					2	1	2	1	1								1			1	9
Hank's 'Dude, no edge!': his obsession with the universe having no edge						8	1														9
GIF pronunciation						2	2	1	1		1	1	1		1						10
John unexpectedly finds himself in an airport ('Am I in an airport?')							4	1	2	2											9
Hank's 'million dollar idea' phone calls to John							1						1		2	1			4		9
Dave Green								2	1	1	1	1			1		1		1		9
None pizza with left beef								1					3	1		1				4	10
Hank's 'we are all bat-people' line, songified by the Gregory Brothers									3		1		1		1					1	7
Cheez Doodles Guy, the screaming man of Pizzamas 2015									4	3											7
Cheyenne, Wyoming											2						1			3	6
Vlogbrothers videos titled with Smash Mouth's All Star lyrics														49		1	1				51
Beanie Sanfurbs															3	2	1	1	2	3	12
Days Since Hank Green Last Started a New Thing															3	1	1		1	1	7
The doctor who said 'sneezing is not normal, I never sneeze', nicknamed Dr. NeverSneezer Scrooge by Hank															4		1	1	1	3	10
Jarrod																		1		6	7

Words, mottos & catchphrases (69)

Coined or adopted by the brothers and Nerdfighteria.

First used in 2007

• tiny chickens — 15 videos, peak 2009 (5 videos), still in use. Hank blames his illness on a tiny chicken from Detroit whose tiny eggs hatched in his head, the chicks eating his brain and pooping out his nose. First: 2007-01-11 · Brotherhood 2.0: January 11th 00:00:00. Last: 2026-07-10 · How Status Destroys Us 00:00:58.
• in your pants — 103 videos, peak 2007 (57 videos), last heard 2023. Hank introduces the 'in your pants' suffix from a conversation John, Maureen Johnson and E. Lockhart had on Johnson's blog, and adds it to book titles. First: 2007-01-23 · Brotherhood 2.0: January 23rd 00:02:28. Last: 2023-12-24 · John and Hank Hanging Out but they Keep Getting Younger and More Pixelated 02:18:41.
• nerdfighter — 72 videos, peak 2007 (33 videos), last heard 2024. John finds an airport arcade game that 'seems to be called Nerd Fighters', his 'favorite kind of fighters', and plays a Viking nerd killer. First: 2007-02-01 · Brotherhood 2.0, February 1, 2007 00:00:54. Last: 2024-11-01 · Working Through a Crisis with My Brother 00:00:29.
• secret sibling — 43 videos, peak 2007 (22 videos), last heard 2023. Right after mentioning the video surveys, Hank asks who Tom is and says he did not know they had a secret brother; Tom introduces himself as their third brother. First: 2007-02-20 · Brotherhood 2.0: February 20th: Computer Trouble 00:01:48. Last: 2023-12-24 · John and Hank Hanging Out but they Keep Getting Younger and More Pixelated 02:18:41.
• myriad — 2 videos, last heard 2007. Wondering whether he never got Hank a wedding present, John asks Hank, if so, to put the word 'myriad' in his next video. First: 2007-03-01 · Brotherhood 2.0: March 1, 2007: Sophistication. And balls. 00:02:46. Last: 2007-03-02 · Brotherhood 2.0: March 2nd: Politics and Butt Explosions 00:01:48.
• world suck — 128 videos, peak 2007 (30 videos), last heard 2024. Hank thanks everyone who has taken his plea to put stuff on their heads seriously and says it is, at least in part, an opportunity to decrease world suck. First: 2007-03-05 · Brotherhood 2.0: March 5, 2007: Hank's Punishment 00:02:34. Last: 2025-01-17 · How the P4A is Changing in 2025! (in the description).
• made of awesome — 44 videos, peak 2009 (13 videos), last heard 2025. John thanks the Nerdfighters, saying they are made of awesome. First: 2007-03-27 · March 26th: Thanks 00:01:18. Last: 2025-12-09 · Hank Green, from A to Z 00:02:55.
• fishing boat proceeds — 10 videos, still in use. Inspired by Hank's video, John proposes that by April 2008 he and Hank find a way to put some fishing boat proceeds into their tax return. First: 2007-03-28 · March 28th: Taxes 00:00:40. Last: 2026-02-15 · Project for Awesome 2026 part 5! 03:15:26.
• Gaiman's Law — 2 videos, last heard 2011. Having watched John go through it, Hank attests that Gaiman is right, and says John fell victim to 'Gaiman's Law': on first publication you open the book straight to its only typo. First: 2007-05-01 · May 1st: Neil Gaiman in Helena 00:00:40. Last: 2011-12-05 · 5 Worst Typos of History 00:00:29.
• the Puff — 43 videos, peak 2009 (13 videos), last heard 2025. John introduces 'the puff' he does when stressed and says his puff level tracks his stress level. First: 2007-05-08 · Brotherhood 2.0: May 8th: House Hunters 00:02:10. Last: 2025-06-10 · 90,000,000 Lives for $20 00:05:21.
• Evil Baby Orphanage — 37 videos, peak 2007 (13 videos), last heard 2017. John introduces commenter Brooke's 'evil baby orphanage': rescue evil babies by time travel and raise them as heroic nerdfighter babies. First: 2007-05-14 · Brotherhood 2.0: May 14: The Evil Baby Orphanage 00:00:40. Last: 2017-05-30 · What Should We Keep? 00:02:52.
• wiki — 3 videos, last heard 2007. John teases Hank's pronunciation of Wikipedia and urges him to say it John's way. First: 2007-05-16 · Brotherhood 2.0: May 16: Beating the EBO into the ground 00:02:47. Last: 2007-05-18 · Brotherhood 2.0: May 18: How to Write a Book Proposal 00:00:43.
• Decepticon — 9 videos, peak 2007 (3 videos), last heard 2023. John's four kinds of people (Decepticons, nerdfighters, nits, the unaware) and mass promotions, including senior executive nerdfighters. First: 2007-07-02 · Brotherhood 2.0: July 2nd: The Law of Compound Nerdfighting 00:01:57. Last: 2023-12-24 · John and Hank Hanging Out but they Keep Getting Younger and More Pixelated 02:18:41.
• NAFADOYBIMSCOM — 5 videos, last heard 2023. John names a joke month for finishing the revision of your book, 'I mean, seriously, come on', with a garbled acronym. First: 2007-07-02 · Brotherhood 2.0: July 2nd: The Law of Compound Nerdfighting 00:00:03. Last: 2023-11-07 · NaFaDoYBIMSCoM 00:03:13.
• nit — 4 videos, last heard 2012. John divides people into four kinds: Decepticons (not nerdfighters); nerdfighters (the brothers, commenters, forum regulars, song writers); nits, or nerdfighters in training (occasional viewers); and would-be nerdfighters who don't know the word yet. First: 2007-07-02 · Brotherhood 2.0: July 2nd: The Law of Compound Nerdfighting 00:01:57. Last: 2012-05-08 · Tiny Chickens Invade, But Still I Vote 00:00:11.
• senior executive nerdfighter — 3 videos, last heard 2009. John proposes mass promotions: nerdfighters to senior executive nerdfighters, nits to nerdfighters, the unaware to nits, who must then be told to lend money to Kiva.org. First: 2007-07-02 · Brotherhood 2.0: July 2nd: The Law of Compound Nerdfighting 00:02:36. Last: 2009-09-12 · Special Friday Video! (On Saturday) 00:01:36.
• jokes — 15 videos, peak 2007 (8 videos), last heard 2012. John proposes always saying 'jokes' instead of 'cool' and demonstrates it in several sentences. First: 2007-07-25 · July 25: Brotherhood 2.0's Youtube Comments Are Answered! 00:02:04. Last: 2012-08-07 · An Open Letter to Students Returning to School 00:00:00.
• Cooking with John — 6 videos, last heard 2013. John opens the blend-and-eat part of his punishment as a mock cooking show, 'cooking with John Green'. First: 2007-08-14 · August 14th: The Blenderized Happy Meal (and Leg Waxing) 00:00:56. Last: 2013-12-10 · Cooking with a 3-Year-Old: Slobber Carrots and Gross Barbecue 00:03:37.
• DFTBA — 86 videos, peak 2009 (14 videos), still in use. John signs off, quoting his friend Katie's arm: 'don't forget to be awesome'. First: 2007-10-02 · Oct. 2nd: Brotherhood 2.0 on the Road (Literally) 00:02:28. Last: 2026-07-21 · One Must Imagine Sisyphus Happy 00:00:00.
• nerdtastic — 3 videos, last heard 2009. John says, without wanting to build up expectations, that the happy dance project will be pretty nerdtastic when it finally happens. First: 2007-10-04 · October 4th: Happy Dances, Feuds, and Raccoon Infestations 00:01:03. Last: 2009-05-13 · My Birthday Rocks 00:00:00.
• nerdfighterlike — 12 videos, peak 2009 (5 videos), last heard 2015. John names his favourite kind of Nerdfighter: two Nerdfighters who find each other and 'fall in nerdfighter-like'. First: 2007-11-01 · November 1st: When Nerdfighters Fall in Nerdfighter-Like 00:00:49. Last: 2015-04-21 · A Stunning Turn of Events 00:02:33.
• the social order — 19 videos, peak 2019 (3 videos), still in use. John says the social order is usually the way it is for a reason but sometimes thinks mad things, such as covering lawns with thirsty inedible plants or judging people by their glasses. First: 2007-12-06 · Dec. 6th: Peer Pressure and the Green Green Manifesto 00:01:08. Last: 2026-03-24 · How Panda Express Is Tuberculosis 00:03:29.
• Who the Eff Is Hank — 19 videos, peak 2008 (4 videos), last heard 2023. Answering 'Who the F is Hank?', John describes Hank as a Pluto-like ball of ice and rock once considered the ninth planet. First: 2007-12-18 · Dec 18th: The Project for Awesome and Question Tuesday!!! 00:02:36. Last: 2023-12-24 · John and Hank Hanging Out but they Keep Getting Younger and More Pixelated 01:34:52.

First used in 2008

• puppy sized elephant — 27 videos, peak 2008 (8 videos), last heard 2023. John prefers a puppy-sized elephant to an elephant-sized puppy and writes to Evolution asking for one. First: 2008-01-08 · The Return of Question Tuesdays 00:00:00. Last: 2023-12-24 · John and Hank Hanging Out but they Keep Getting Younger and More Pixelated 02:18:41.
• link in the sidebar — 29 videos, peak 2008 (17 videos), last heard 2009. Hank put an affiliate link in the sidebar Amazon link, earning 25 cents per copy of 13 Little Blue Envelopes sold; so far it has made about $10. First: 2008-02-19 · Your Spying Thieving Valentine: Hank 00:00:58. Last: 2009-11-01 · NaNoWriMo!!! 00:02:45.
• best wishes — 6 videos, peak 2008 (4 videos), last heard 2009. John ends an important phone call with 'Best wishes!' and mocks himself for it; he signs off the video with it too. First: 2008-02-26 · Best Wishes! 00:00:14. Last: 2009-06-30 · Nerdfighter MARRIAGE PROPOSAL 00:02:49.
• LOLbook — 3 videos, last heard 2009. John likes the runner-up's LOLbook blurb so much that he makes the LOLbook a blurb form of its own and improvises samples for Moby-Dick and Hamlet. First: 2008-03-15 · Ruins, LOLBooks, and the Blurbing Book Club 00:02:05. Last: 2009-09-12 · Special Friday Video! (On Saturday) 00:03:20.
• nerdfightastic — 12 videos, peak 2009, 2011 (4 each), last heard 2015. Hank and Bill Martin have decided to make a Nerdfightastic music video for Bill's version of the Tetris song, and need viewers' help. First: 2008-06-01 · Tetris Day! 00:00:47. Last: 2015-09-29 · Writing, Walling, Racing, and Wizard Schooling 00:02:08.
• Tobian — 4 videos, last heard 2008. Hank coins 'Tobian' as his made-up word for the evil of wanting to destroy the world, because it sounds evil. First: 2008-06-16 · Maine Inspires Deep Thoughts 00:02:07. Last: 2008-07-30 · Audiobooks and 8 8 08 00:03:38.
• trivia — 2 videos, last heard 2018. Hank was right that 'trivia' comes from tri-via, three roads: where three roads met, people gathered to gossip about unimportant things. First: 2008-06-24 · Questions Answered! 00:01:24. Last: 2018-06-22 · Stumping EDU Creators - Trivia at VidCon 00:00:16.
• Peanut Butter Face — 13 videos, peak 2008 (3 videos), last heard 2024. John jokes that the only way to make the internet pay attention to news is via peanut butter face. First: 2008-08-12 · Eight Days of Awesome 00:04:09. Last: 2024-10-11 · October 11, 2024 - Goofing off with John (a Vlogbrothers Video) 00:01:48.
• non-existent Nerdfighting Prize of the Day — 5 videos, peak 2008 (4 videos), last heard 2010. Hank introduces the non-existent Nerdfighting Prize of the Day, a badge of honour because the brothers are bad at sending real rewards. First: 2008-08-18 · This Video Comes in Threven Parts 00:00:35. Last: 2010-12-22 · I Was on Jeopardy!!!! 00:01:32.
• spoon fingers — 5 videos, peak 2008 (3 videos), last heard 2025. SPOON FINGERS IN VIDEO RESPONSES First: 2008-09-25 · SPOON FINGERS IN VIDEO RESPONSES (in the title). Last: 2025-12-09 · Hank Green, from A to Z 00:00:58.
• imagine others complexly — 17 videos, last heard 2025. In his two-minute talk John described his book as about Walt Whitman and imagining others complexly; Mortenson followed with a book about nearly dying and devoting his life to education in Afghanistan. First: 2008-10-28 · The Unzipped Zipper (Of Your Pants) 00:02:08. Last: 2025-06-03 · My Lies 00:01:51.

First used in 2009

• Google Verb — 2 videos, last heard 2009. Hank names and plays the 'Google Verb' meme, googling 'Hank' plus a verb. First: 2009-01-21 · Google Verb! A Meme. 00:00:23. Last: 2009-04-16 · The Day the YouTubes Died 00:01:34.
• Ningmaster — 14 videos, peak 2009 (7 videos), last heard 2012. John announces that a few volunteer Ningmasters will soon feature new content on the Ning's main page, organize and moderate its forums and raise its awesomeness. First: 2009-01-27 · Before Looking for Alaska… 00:02:09. Last: 2012-06-22 · Hank is Maybe Crazy 00:01:37.
• Fail Boat — 4 videos, peak 2009 (3 videos), last heard 2023. John introduces the Fail Boat, captained by Willy as the Dread Pirate Fireball Wilson Roberts, as the Newsday vehicle for touring places of world suck. First: 2009-02-08 · All Aboard the Fail Boat 00:00:01. Last: 2023-12-24 · John and Hank Hanging Out but they Keep Getting Younger and More Pixelated 02:20:08.
• brain crack — 8 videos, peak 2011 (4 videos), last heard 2012. Hank calls brain crack one of the fundamental gifts Ze Frank has given the world and links Ze Frank's brain crack video. First: 2009-03-18 · Dr. Manhattan's Dangle and Brain Crack 00:00:00. Last: 2012-09-25 · Do Businesses Need to Suck? 00:00:00.
• oinkbarf — 2 videos, last heard 2009. John names swine flu 'oinkbarf', calling it its technical name. First: 2009-05-04 · Oinkbarf Pandemic! An Intellectual Response to Swine Flu 00:01:20. Last: 2009-11-08 · H1N1 Vaccine Fears 00:00:47.
• giant squid of anger — 18 videos, peak 2010 (7 videos), last heard 2023. John says that at the word 'scandal' both Palin's supporters and detractors basically become giant squids of anger. First: 2009-07-05 · Sarah Palin Resigning! Four Possible Reasons Why 00:02:13. Last: 2023-12-24 · John and Hank Hanging Out but they Keep Getting Younger and More Pixelated 02:16:13.
• doobly-doo — 180 videos, peak 2011 (28 videos), still in use. John tells Nerdfighters he will be in Hinsdale, Illinois this week (week of 2 November 2009) and invites them to come; details in the doobly-doo. First: 2009-10-11 · Puppy Elephant Defends Capitalism 00:00:33. Last: 2026-09-22 · I Want You to Know Nothing About This 00:03:43.
• asshole propagation program — 2 videos, last heard 2009. Hank coins 'asshole propagation programs' (APPs) for policies that ignore kindness and reward douchebaggery, and closes with 'End the APPs!' First: 2009-10-14 · Customer Service A$$H()¦3s!!!! 00:00:08. Last: 2009-10-18 · The Balloon Boy Hoax 00:00:00.
• Neanderthal November — 2 videos, last heard 2011. John is 9,000 words behind on NaNoWriMo but says he is doing fantastic in 'Neanderthal November'. First: 2009-11-08 · H1N1 Vaccine Fears 00:00:00. Last: 2011-11-04 · You CAN Judge a Book by its Cover! 00:03:27.
• Pizza John — 98 videos, peak 2022 (10 videos), still in use. John reports the first event of the tour was last night and was great: there was a Star Wars stormtrooper and many people wore the Pizza John shirt. First: 2009-12-01 · Shaving for Pakistan 00:03:54. Last: 2026-10-09 · The Productivity Lie 00:00:00.
• win kitty — 2 videos, last heard 2009. John says 'win kitty' should be a word and asks Nerdfighters what it should mean. First: 2009-12-13 · Eyelash Malaria 00:02:35. Last: 2009-12-15 · In Which A Secret Is Revealed 00:03:46.
• French the llama — 28 videos, peak 2010 (8 videos), last heard 2023. John explains 'French the llama': a nerdfighter told him the 'FTL' in 'world suck FTL' means 'French the llama' (really 'for the lose'); he wants it as an exclamation of amazement. First: 2009-12-20 · Awesome Project Is Awesome 00:02:21. Last: 2023-12-24 · John and Hank Hanging Out but they Keep Getting Younger and More Pixelated 02:18:41.
• Fail Puppy — 2 videos, last heard 2023. Hank defines notsome as the opposite of awesome, pointing also to Fail Puppy and the Fail Boat. First: 2009-12-27 · How To Be a Nerdfighter: A Vlogbrothers FAQ 00:02:50. Last: 2023-12-24 · John and Hank Hanging Out but they Keep Getting Younger and More Pixelated 02:20:08.
• notsome — 2 videos, last heard 2023. Hank defines notsome as the opposite of awesome, pointing also to Fail Puppy and the Fail Boat. First: 2009-12-27 · How To Be a Nerdfighter: A Vlogbrothers FAQ 00:02:50. Last: 2023-12-24 · John and Hank Hanging Out but they Keep Getting Younger and More Pixelated 02:20:08.

First used in 2010

• hug bucket — 3 videos, last heard 2010. Hank turns a commenter's 'bucket list of hugs' into the 'hug bucket', the bucket all your hugs go into, and fills it with people he wants to hug. First: 2010-04-28 · Who's in Your Hug Bucket? 00:01:26. Last: 2010-05-05 · HANKO DE MAYO!!!!11!! 00:11:06.
• space pasta — 6 videos, peak 2010, 2011 (3 each), last heard 2011. Saying they couldn't figure it out, John tells Nerdfighteria that if they determine whether moon pasta beats earth beef, the brothers will let them challenge them to do something horrible. First: 2010-11-26 · p4a, Space Pasta, and Giant Squids of Anger 00:02:46. Last: 2011-02-21 · Hank Interviews His Mayor 00:03:31.

First used in 2011

• the truth resists simplicity — 9 videos, peak 2011 (5 videos), still in use. Hank recalls John recently telling him that 'it all comes down to the fact that the truth resists simplicity', a line he loves. First: 2011-01-19 · YOU ARE WRONG! 00:00:29. Last: 2026-10-08 · The Test of a First Rate Intelligence 00:04:23.
• John (name) — 6 videos, last heard 2021. Hank says John and Jennifer are no longer even in the top 10; the top baby names of 2010 were Jacob and Isabella, and there were more Jaydens than Johns. First: 2011-03-02 · How to Name Your Baby Properly 00:02:14. Last: 2021-10-14 · Pizza Sized Johns or John Sized Pizza? It's Question Thursday 00:00:29.
• signing madness — 8 videos, last heard 2011. John hopes he is not suffering from signing madness, a disease he says he made up. First: 2011-09-16 · Narrowly Avoiding Arrest: Some Airport Insanity 00:01:55. Last: 2011-11-02 · LECTROJOG! 00:00:00.
• Sharpie Face — 9 videos, still in use. John's P4A highlight: covering his face in Sharpie at $50,000, then hiding when someone rang his doorbell; 'Sharpie Face' is the title bit. First: 2011-12-19 · Sharpie Face and Little Hank: The Project for Awesome's Aftermath 00:01:13. Last: 2026-02-14 · Project for Awesome 2026 part 4! 06:14:01.

First used in 2012

• time nanny — 2 videos, last heard 2012. Hank describes the game: players are time nannies collecting babies for mischief points, with high-scoring babies passed from time nanny to time nanny. First: 2012-08-07 · An Open Letter to Students Returning to School 00:03:41. Last: 2012-08-10 · I Don't Have a Favorite Pony 00:03:05.

First used in 2014

• octothorpe — 2 videos, last heard 2014. Hank champions 'octothorpe', which he says began as a Bell Labs joke name for #, as the best name for the symbol: 'we'll always have octothorpe' (title bit). First: 2014-10-24 · #Octothorpe - A Symbolistic Journey 00:03:05. Last: 2014-10-28 · The Paper Towns Movie IS HERE! 00:01:03.
• Fartmas — 3 videos, last heard 2023. Livestream clips show Hank in a two-shirt onesie costume, named Butfartman, followed by 'Fartmas' trending, Wil Wheaton's Fartmas Miracle and Hank's 'all but farts in the butt of Butfartman'. First: 2014-12-19 · BUTFARTMAN Is Coming To Town! 00:02:36. Last: 2023-02-17 · COUNTDOWN TO THE PROJECT FOR AWESOME 00:00:00.

First used in 2015

• #wallofcow — 2 videos, last heard 2015. John says the Paper Towns movie is out in most of the world and thanks everyone who watched it and shared responses via Nerdfighteria's #wallofcow. First: 2015-07-21 · PAPER TOWNS IS HERE AND JOHN IS A BALL OF ANXIETY (in the description). Last: 2015-07-28 · Paper Towns, Agloe, and Touring: Thoughts from (Many) Places 00:03:29.
• cool — 2 videos, last heard 2025. Hank says he has an unhealthy obsession with the word 'cool' — not the concept but the words used for the mutable mix of embodying, defying and defining culture. First: 2015-08-07 · Is This Video Cool? 00:00:00. Last: 2025-11-28 · Three Things! (Wait, no, actually four...) 00:06:30.

First used in 2017

• Cheyenne, Wyoming — 6 videos, peak 2026 (3 videos), still in use. From a Rushmore play set in the Vietnam War, where a soldier says he isn't even here but in Cheyenne, Wyoming, John took 'Cheyenne, Wyoming' as his shorthand for the place he goes when deeply immersed in a project. First: 2017-06-13 · Cheyenne, Wyoming 00:00:06. Last: 2026-02-15 · Project for Awesome 2026 part 5! 02:36:45.

First used in 2020

• third thing — 2 videos, last heard 2025. In a comment John says individuals do not work that well as third things, because they are very difficult to control. First: 2020-09-08 · That's the way. 00:00:00. Last: 2025-04-22 · The Unimportant Things 00:01:27.

First used in 2021

• lowering barriers to learning — 2 videos, last heard 2022. Hank says John's chat already spoke of what they call lowering barriers to learning: making history boring is one needless barrier, costly educational video another they aim to prove unnecessary. First: 2021-06-25 · The Surprising Origin of Crash Course 00:01:42. Last: 2022-06-10 · My Embarrassing Dermatology Story 00:01:31.

First used in 2022

• Crank Green — 5 videos, still in use. Hank explains Crank Green: he popped a balloon whose task told him to be a crab and be good at it, so he earnestly asked everyone whether he was a good crab. First: 2022-03-04 · The 2022 P4A Meme Review!!! 00:02:34. Last: 2026-02-13 · Project for Awesome 2026 part 2! 04:10:44.
• John Purple — 2 videos, last heard 2024. Hank says John's big P4A moment was dyeing his hair purple, a colour chosen by his children, and his mustache pink with spray dye. First: 2022-03-04 · The 2022 P4A Meme Review!!! 00:05:52. Last: 2024-05-20 · Hang on tight, spider monkey, it's the P4A 2024 MEME REVIEW!! 00:08:53.
• sad gap — 2 videos, last heard 2022. The description says some people treat the sad gap as the honorable place to be, as if leaving hopelessness and outrage were bad; Hank is over that and thinks it makes things much worse. First: 2022-04-15 · Are You Stuck in The Sad Gap 00:00:00. Last: 2022-04-19 · How do you cross the Sad Gap? 00:00:00.

First used in 2024

• content machine — 2 videos, last heard 2025. In a channel comment, John says part of what is hard is that people who receive some information then seek or expect more, a function of how we all behave toward content machines. First: 2024-05-21 · Getting Personal about Getting Personal 00:00:00. Last: 2025-10-03 · Is It Time to Retire? 00:00:58.
• Beef day — 3 videos, still in use. John's family will try for the next year to recreate feast days as beef days: four agreed days honoring human achievements plus two flex days, and no beef the other 359 days. First: 2024-06-11 · BEEF DAYS 00:03:27. Last: 2026-02-13 · Project for Awesome 2026 part 2! 00:15:23.

First used in 2025

• content creator — 3 videos, still in use. Hank says 'content creator' is as nonspecific as it gets, since every artist, poet or novelist creates content; a more specific word was needed, and then came 'influencer'. First: 2025-06-20 · 'Influencer' Must Die. 00:02:02. Last: 2026-10-02 · the most powerful attention-consuming tools in the history of the world 00:03:25.

First used in 2026

• YouTuber — 2 videos, still in use. Answering John's video yesterday saying they weren't the best YouTubers, Hank thinks they are good YouTubers but doubts they still are YouTubers, though they used to be. First: 2026-10-01 · Are We Still YouTubers? 00:00:00. Last: 2026-10-02 · the most powerful attention-consuming tools in the history of the world 00:00:01.

Running bits (89)

Recurring jokes and routines, and the drawings, sites and characters some are named after.

First used in 2007

• John's wife Sarah as 'the Yeti' — 86 videos, peak 2007 (47 videos), last heard 2025. John says his wife Sarah will not appear and compares her to the Yeti: prominent in their folklore, rarely sighted. First: 2007-01-02 · Brotherhood 2.0: January 2nd 00:00:37. Last: 2025-01-07 · The Format but it hurts to stand up 00:00:50.
• The brothers known as each other's brother: 'John Green's brother' and 'Hank Green's brother' — 5 videos, peak 2025 (3 videos), last heard 2025. Hank says being John's brother is frustrating: people tell him he looks like John and jokes like him, only less funny. First: 2007-01-03 · Brotherhood 2.0: January 3rd 00:00:13. Last: 2025-12-19 · My Big 2026 Prediction is...Not Fun 00:00:00.
• Hank's 'Lady, lady, lady… John Green' romance-shelf song — 2 videos, last heard 2007. Finding John's book on the young adult romance shelf at Barnes & Noble, Hank sings 'Lady, lady, lady… John Green'. First: 2007-01-19 · Brotherhood 2.0: January 19th 00:03:07. Last: 2007-01-22 · Brotherhood 2.0, January 22, 2007 00:02:23.
• The brothers' 'movie magic': footage shot on another day presented as today's — 10 videos, peak 2007 (8 videos), last heard 2014. Standing on Little Pisgah Mountain 'just like' John did, Hank reveals the footage was filmed three days earlier and calls it movie magic. First: 2007-01-29 · Brotherhood 2.0: January 29th 00:00:11. Last: 2014-11-17 · Combines and Movie Magic: Pizzamas Day 6 00:00:00.
• Hank's 'Wikipedia in your brain' idea — 3 videos, last heard 2010. Hank muses that it would be awesome if Wikipedia could be in your brain, capping it with The Matrix's 'I know Kung Fu'. First: 2007-02-20 · Brotherhood 2.0: February 20th: Computer Trouble 00:00:10. Last: 2010-04-05 · Google in your Brain 00:00:00.
• Hank's crush on Helen Hunt — 20 videos, peak 2007 (6 videos), still in use. Hank performs a love song he wrote for Helen Hunt, the only person on his 'guilt-free three'. First: 2007-04-25 · Helen Hunt 00:00:38. Last: 2026-05-29 · Chemo Cow Body Odor YouTube Helen Hunt Commute 00:04:21.
• John's 'senator' haircut and the political spectrum of hair — 2 videos, last heard 2015. John fears D.C. barbers will give him the 'senator look' and maps haircuts onto politics, from Willie Nelson on the far left to Bill Clinton in the center. First: 2007-06-22 · Brotherhood 2.0: June 22: The Senator 00:00:31. Last: 2015-03-31 · Hank's Haircut and Related Existential Crises 00:00:29.
• Hank's 'Good morning John, it's Wednesday' song and dance — 2 videos, last heard 2007. Hank's song-and-dance repeating 'Good morning, John, it's Wednesday', the video's title. First: 2007-06-27 · June 27: Good Morning John, it's Wednesday 00:00:16. Last: 2007-06-29 · How to be a Microfinancier Part 2 00:00:11.
• Winner, South Dakota: the brothers' midpoint and a Nerdfighter commune — 3 videos, last heard 2007. John reports secret brother Tom's finding that the brothers' midpoint is Winner, South Dakota, 'the opposite of Loser', and floats buying it for a Nerdfighter commune. First: 2007-08-20 · August 20th: Winner, South Dakota 00:00:09. Last: 2007-11-13 · November 13: You Can't Scare Me. I'm Stickin' to the Union. 00:03:52.
• The brothers' 'no I in brotherhood' explanation for the I missing from 'communication' in the 2007 intro — 2 videos, last heard 2021. Asked why an 'I' is missing from 'communication' in the animated intro, they answer that there is no I in brotherhood. First: 2007-08-30 · August 30th: A Secret Project for Nerdfighters 00:00:45. Last: 2021-05-11 · I am a small boat. It's Question Tuesday. 00:00:12.
• The 'Party Blower Solo' from Hank's Tetris song — 3 videos, last heard 2007. The song features a party-blower solo, announced mid-song. First: 2007-10-17 · October 17th: The Man Who Throws The Tetris Piece 00:01:44. Last: 2007-11-08 · November 8th: SUGAR HIGH! 00:00:00.
• John's Venn diagram jokes — 3 videos, last heard 2010. John draws three new Venn diagrams (The Hills, Cameo, where Awesome lives), noting that previous Venn diagram jokes established they are not textual communication. First: 2007-11-15 · Nov 15: Jay-Z, the Inkys, Nerdfighteria, and Venn Diagrams! 00:01:59. Last: 2010-05-10 · Advice on Dumb Boyfriends, Going to College, and More 00:02:11.
• Hank punches the camera — 2 videos, last heard 2007. Hank, who has wanted to punch the camera since his video last week (week of 3 December 2007), punches it again, this time knocking it over, because viewers wanted to see it fall. First: 2007-12-11 · Dec 11: Secret Project...And More Punching 00:01:16 (recorded as a callback). Last: 2007-12-12 · Dec. 12th: w00t is the WORD OF THE YEAR?! 00:00:34.

First used in 2008

• John's giraffe-love bit ('people love giraffes who love giraffes') — 31 videos, peak 2010 (8 videos), last heard 2023. John attributes the views of one of Hank's most-viewed videos to its giraffe-sex screenshot: 'we're people who love giraffes who love giraffes'. First: 2008-02-21 · People Who Love Giraffes Who Love Giraffes 00:01:43. Last: 2023-09-08 · Giraffes are Way More Complicated Than We Thought 00:00:00.
• The brothers miscount the parts of their multi-part videos — 6 videos, last heard 2015. John skips from part two to 'part four'; a later John interrupts to scold him for being unable to count to three. First: 2008-05-06 · Hank Would Think This Is Awesome: The Project 00:01:05. Last: 2015-06-02 · Let's Go Outside 00:00:01.
• Willy as the Dread Pirate Fireball Wilson Roberts — 13 videos, peak 2009 (4 videos), last heard 2023. Hank asks John to give the 'peg-legged' puppy an eyepatch, and maybe a parrot, for tomorrow's video; though on Team Ninja, he'd love a pirate puppy. First: 2008-05-22 · Adorable Puppy Injury!!!! 00:01:37. Last: 2023-12-12 · POTATO! 00:00:36.
• Hank's 'all we are is monkeys with pants' song — 2 videos, last heard 2011. Hank sings his zoo song with the refrain 'all we are is monkeys with pants', the video's title bit, and keeps reprising it to the end. First: 2008-06-08 · Monkeys!!! (with pants) 00:01:58. Last: 2011-05-13 · Winkels to the Left, Winkels to the Right: Thoughts from Places, Antwerp 00:01:11.
• John throws himself against a wall to prove he's not an octopus — 5 videos, last heard 2024. Asked if he is an octopus, John reasons an octopus would stick to the wall if he jumped against it, and declares he is not an octopus. First: 2008-10-11 · Question Friday 00:01:43. Last: 2024-01-02 · Being Old on YouTube 00:00:38.

First used in 2009

• Hank's 'Auto power off, still some glitches to work out' line from the first vlogbrothers video — 5 videos, still in use. Hank restages his first Brotherhood 2.0 video from two years ago, including the camera glitch and the eye reflection, admitting he then did not know how to make videos. First: 2009-01-01 · Brotherhood 2.0.0.9 00:00:37 (recorded as a callback). Last: 2026-02-13 · Project for Awesome 2026 Kickoff! 01:57:42.
• The brothers' argument over the Rock-afire Explosion (Chuck E. Cheese) band — 3 videos, last heard 2009. Hank answers John's slander of Showbiz Pizza's Rock-afire Explosion with a whole video defending the band and refusing to take back his love. First: 2009-01-06 · The Rock-Afire Explosion Controversy 00:00:00. Last: 2009-05-05 · HANKO DE MAYO! Happy Birthday Hank! 00:00:51.
• Hank's talking Hank Sock ventriloquist act — 8 videos, peak 2009 (5 videos), last heard 2012. Hank shows a Hank sock made by a Nerdfighter and given to him on the Nerdfighter tour, and asks for ideas of what he and the sock could do besides embarrassing-moment sock puppet theater, which was already done. First: 2009-02-03 · Five Parts 00:01:45. Last: 2012-01-17 · Thoughts from Places: The Tour 00:01:01.
• John's Chewbacca for President 2012 bit, with Han Solo as running mate — 6 videos, peak 2009 (5 videos), last heard 2012. Riffing that Chewbacca is not an average politician either, John decides he wants Chewbacca as president with Han Solo as vice president and translator, and ends 'Chewy for president 2012'. First: 2009-07-05 · Sarah Palin Resigning! Four Possible Reasons Why 00:03:12. Last: 2012-08-24 · Happy Birthday John Green! 00:02:41.
• The brothers' 20Q (20q.net) bit: the AI guesses Hank is Perez Hilton — 3 videos, last heard 2009. John has 20Q guess Hank from honest answers and it guesses Perez Hilton, the one guy Hank would least want to be. First: 2009-07-19 · Harry Potter Nerds Win at Life 00:02:43. Last: 2009-08-06 · Robert Pattinson and DJ Railstone 00:00:40.
• The island of Nerdfighteria: subscribers buying the brothers a private island — 2 videos, last heard 2009. John jokes that 100,000 subscribers giving $100 each could buy a private island and make Nerdfighteria a real country. First: 2009-08-11 · The Island of Nerdfighteria? 00:00:00. Last: 2009-12-20 · Awesome Project Is Awesome 00:03:04.
• Willy's secret shame: his downward-bent tail — 3 videos, last heard 2011. John reveals Willy's 'secret shame', an extra tailbone that bends his tail down, as payback under their deal after Willy chewed a Chewbacca figurine. First: 2009-09-08 · My Puppy's SECRET SHAME (and Paper Towns) 00:00:52. Last: 2011-04-29 · Peanut Butter Face Question Tuesday 00:02:49.
• Severed hands in Star Wars: Hank's count of 13, revisited in John's 'Zero Severed Hands' — 4 videos, peak 2009 (3 videos), last heard 2016. Hank will walk through every hand removal of a major character in the Star Wars movies, noting more in minor battle scenes and many more in the books. First: 2009-09-30 · 13 SEVERED HANDS! (1) 00:00:43. Last: 2016-01-12 · Zero Severed Hands: On Star Wars and Making Things 00:00:32.
• Hank's 'I'm on a plane. No, I'm on the ground' cutting routine — 2 videos, last heard 2009. Hank opens by cutting back and forth between plane and ground ('I'm on a plane. No, I'm on the ground.'), the routine that gives the video its title. First: 2009-11-12 · On a Plane - On the Ground 00:00:00. Last: 2009-11-15 · Gus Is A Bug 00:00:00.

First used in 2010

• Shane Dawson 'inscribed his name upon my balls': Hank's signed playpen-ball double entendre — 2 videos, last heard 2010. Hank has two playpen balls signed by Shane Dawson, so 'Shane Dawson inscribed his name upon my balls'; the gag gives the video its title. First: 2010-07-16 · VidCon, Oil Spill, Punishments, Shane Dawson, and my Balls 00:01:01. Last: 2010-07-20 · I Like Balls 00:00:26.
• Hank's 'demon four-year-old' nephew — 2 videos, last heard 2010. Hank casts his four-year-old nephew as a demon who threatens eternal hellfire over Go Fish and wakes at 6 a.m. First: 2010-07-30 · Demon Four Year Old 00:02:07. Last: 2010-08-18 · Demon Four Year Old Interviewed 00:00:00.
• The brothers' agreement never to use the L-word about each other — 18 videos, peak 2011 (3 videos), still in use. John tells Hank that he loves him. First: 2010-08-02 · I Love Hank: Esther Day 2010 00:02:55. Last: 2026-08-03 · Esther Day 2026: Some Thoughts on Loss 00:04:08.
• Answering Google autocomplete questions — 15 videos, peak 2011 (7 videos), last heard 2023. Hank starts reading Google autocomplete suggestions for 'is' and answering them as a window into what people want to know. First: 2010-12-31 · Is Lady Gaga a Man? 00:00:32. Last: 2023-01-20 · Behind the Scenes in the Deep Sea 00:00:03.

First used in 2011

• 'Warner Chilcott' used as a swear word — 5 videos, last heard 2011. Hank proposes that John and Nerdfighteria make 'Warner Chilcott' a new curse word if the company doesn't change, then says companies must not 'Warner Chilcott us'. First: 2011-01-24 · The 1200% Increase in my Prescription Drug Costs 00:03:16. Last: 2011-05-18 · The Education Continuum WARNER CHILCOTTED 00:00:49.
• Humpy Hank: Nerdfighter animations of Hank humping things — 8 videos, peak 2011 (6 videos), last heard 2016. John recounts how Hank's brief humping of Google and Mattie Boosh's Tumblr animation of Hank humping the TARDIS gave birth to the Humpy Hank phenomenon, the title bit. First: 2011-04-15 · Humpy Hank 00:00:05. Last: 2016-10-07 · Changing Our Business a Bit 00:00:15.
• John reading his new novel's audiobook in a young woman's voice: 'And then I took off my bra' — 2 videos, last heard 2011. John imagines his own voice reading the young woman narrator: 'And then I took off my bra', though she doesn't in the book; the title bit. First: 2011-06-10 · Then I Took Off My Bra 00:03:00. Last: 2011-11-21 · Old Man Narrates Young Girl 00:00:49.
• John: Tumblr is the top destination for images of Paula Deen riding him — 2 videos, last heard 2011. John calls Tumblr the number one destination on the internet for images of Paula Deen riding him; the title bit. First: 2011-06-15 · Question Tuesday! Paula Deen Riding Me (and critical reading) 00:02:34. Last: 2011-06-20 · On Religion 00:03:01.
• Hanklerfish — 37 videos, peak 2026 (6 videos), still in use. Given his punishment, an anglerfish on each of the 7,400 signature sheets for The Fault in Our Stars that John brought (5% of the total), Hank coins 'Hanklerfish' as a verb; John defines a Hanklerfish as an anglerfish drawn by a Hank (any Hank, even Hank Williams III). First: 2011-08-15 · HANKLERFISH! 00:02:40. Last: 2026-10-13 · My Lungs Are on the Outside of the Body 00:01:52.
• Maureen Johnson's unrepeatable dirty texts during John's live shows — 2 videos, last heard 2011. During the live show Maureen Johnson texts John a dirty joke; he says she does this every time he does a live show. First: 2011-10-28 · Reading Chapter One of The Fault in Our Stars 00:28:49 (recorded as a callback). Last: 2011-11-25 · Chapter TWO of The Fault in Our Stars 00:23:52.
• John's 'amazing Lectro Jog of Amazing' paper jogger — 5 videos, last heard 2025. John presents his paper jogger as 'the amazing Lectro Jog of Amazing', one of the great inventions of all time and electricity's greatest gift. First: 2011-11-02 · LECTROJOG! 00:01:07. Last: 2025-01-07 · The Format but it hurts to stand up 00:00:01.

First used in 2012

• Hank's 'Dude, no edge!': his obsession with the universe having no edge — 9 videos, peak 2012 (8 videos), last heard 2013. John says that in the last week of the tour Hank became obsessed with the universe having no edge and kept saying 'Dude, no edge!', even mid-sandwich. First: 2012-02-07 · 10 Misconceptions Debunked! 00:01:14. Last: 2013-10-25 · When Was it a Million Seconds Ago? 00:02:24.
• John 'attacked' by a squirrel inadequately afraid of humans, in his Washington, D.C. Thoughts from Places — 3 videos, last heard 2018. John is menaced on a park bench by a squirrel he calls 'inadequately afraid of humans', the title bit of his Washington, D.C. Thoughts from Places. First: 2012-10-09 · Attacked by Squirrels and Neoclassicism: Thoughts from Places, Washington D.C. 00:00:43. Last: 2018-08-24 · The Top 10 John Green GIFs 00:02:19.
• Hank's 'Spicy Summer Camp Story': a racy-sounding camp story that is literally about hot sauce, with the moral 'vote' — 2 videos, last heard 2012. Hank promises 'a hot, spicy summer camp story' that sounds racy but is literally about spice, and ends it with the moral 'vote'. First: 2012-11-05 · Spicy Summer Camp Story 00:00:09. Last: 2012-11-06 · Terrible at Frenching: My Spicy Summer Camp Story 00:00:02.

First used in 2013

• John unexpectedly finds himself in an airport ('Am I in an airport?') — 9 videos, peak 2013 (4 videos), last heard 2016. John opens by noting the gray speckled walls behind him: 'in a stunning turn of events' he has found himself in an airport; the walls give the video its title. First: 2013-03-05 · The Gray Speckled Walls Encroach: The Perks and Liabilities of Frequent Flying 00:00:03. Last: 2016-05-10 · On Pain 00:00:00.
• Hank's mock-serious critique of cat GIFs as a 'professional internet cat critic' — 2 videos, last heard 2013. Hank opens as a would-be professional internet cat critic and reviews cat GIFs in mock-critic language. First: 2013-04-26 · Cat GIF Critique 00:00:00. Last: 2013-04-30 · Animals Interrupt Sporting Events: A Critical Analysis 00:00:00.
• Hank's 'Rants in Four Minutes' videos — 4 videos, last heard 2021. Hank announces his first rants-in-four-minutes video: on his once-a-year day to get furious, 17 rants in four minutes. First: 2013-05-03 · 17 Rants in 4 Minutes 00:00:09. Last: 2021-08-06 · Remembering What's Special 00:02:26.
• Hank's 'million dollar idea' phone calls to John — 9 videos, peak 2025 (4 videos), last heard 2025. John explains that Hank has phoned him about once a week for six years with 'I have a million dollar idea', then pitches his own first million dollar idea: a crying phone-baby app. First: 2013-08-06 · Million Dollar Ideas 00:01:02. Last: 2025-12-09 · Hank Green, from A to Z 00:03:53.

First used in 2014

• Hank's 'naughty professor' (for 'nutty professor') in John's glasses — 3 videos, last heard 2016. Wearing John's glasses, Hank asks if he looks like a 'naughty professor'; John corrects him to 'nutty professor'. First: 2014-01-24 · The Naughty Professor: Hank and John at the Beach - REUNION! 00:02:40. Last: 2016-11-29 · Baby Poop Rookie: Vlogbrothers Reunited 00:01:49.
• Dave Green — 9 videos, last heard 2025. Asked by a viewer why Dave Green is never in the videos, Hank explains Dave is a 'third unsuccessful brother' made up by a Tumblr. First: 2014-01-24 · The Naughty Professor: Hank and John at the Beach - REUNION! 00:01:22 (recorded as a callback). Last: 2025-07-15 · LLAMAS Are NOT What You Think 00:07:16.
• John's 'I gotta go' sign-off, borrowed from radio commentator Ian Shoales — 2 videos, last heard 2014. John recalls 'I gotta go', Ian Shoales's sign-off, tests Hank's memory of it, and ends the video 'Hank, I gotta go.' First: 2014-03-25 · I Gotta Go: Signing Off and Thinking about Inspiration 00:00:33. Last: 2014-03-28 · New Album, New Channels, New Fabric, New Internet Thing! 00:03:44.

First used in 2015

• Hank declared winner of the 'International Competition for Nerdiest Nerd' — 2 videos, last heard 2015. The title and description declare Hank the winner of the International Competition for Nerdiest Nerd for taking apart a mechanical adding machine. First: 2015-02-27 · In Which Hank is the Nerdiest Nerd 00:00:00. Last: 2015-03-03 · What's in the Box in the Box in the Box? 00:02:58.
• Hank's 'we are all bat-people' line, songified by the Gregory Brothers — 7 videos, peak 2015 (3 videos), still in use. The Gregory Brothers make Hank's "we are all bat-people" line from the Batman argument the hook of a songified duet. First: 2015-03-30 · BONUS: We Are All Bat People (Songified Batman Argument) 00:00:11. Last: 2026-02-14 · Project for Awesome 2026 part 4! 07:06:38.
• Goat-themed Question Tuesday with Hank: 'The Goat Edition' — 4 videos, last heard 2023. The title bit: a Question Tuesday with Hank in person made almost entirely of goat questions, opening with Hank 'goatobombing' John. First: 2015-08-25 · Question Tuesday: The Goat Edition 00:00:05. Last: 2023-12-24 · John and Hank Hanging Out but they Keep Getting Younger and More Pixelated 01:18:10.
• Cheez Doodles Guy, the screaming man of Pizzamas 2015 — 7 videos, peak 2015 (4 videos), last heard 2016. Hank shows a train lover thrilled to see a historic engine he had waited months for, and Aleksander Gamme screaming with joy at treats he had left in his final cache while hiking across the Antarctic. First: 2015-11-11 · Watch This If You Want To Smile (Pizzamas Day 3) 00:01:01. Last: 2016-12-13 · P4A 2016 Hilarity Reprise - OVER $2M RAISED!! 00:02:13.

First used in 2016

• John eats his cereal with water instead of milk — 3 videos, last heard 2023. After confessing on the podcast that he eats cereal with water and drawing Nerdfighteria's condemnation, John taste-tests five liquids on Raisin Bran and ranks water best. First: 2016-02-09 · Water in My Cereal: Taste Testing Various Liquid Accompaniments to Raisin Bran 00:00:05. Last: 2023-06-30 · Bon Your Vivant 00:02:56.
• John's 'easier than IKEA' video in only two parts — 2 videos, last heard 2016. John opens by saying the video, unlike anything bought at IKEA, comes in only two parts. First: 2016-05-24 · Easier Than IKEA: A Video in Two Parts 00:00:01. Last: 2016-07-26 · El Chapo and Me 00:00:01.
• Nathan Zed's 'you're a pretty good burrito' metaphor: you needn't be the best at anything — 3 videos, last heard 2017. Nathan says life is like rolling a burrito: none of your ingredients is the best, but together they make a pretty good burrito, or person. First: 2016-11-25 · You're Not Good Enough 00:03:05. Last: 2017-06-09 · Some Unhealthy Productivity Tips (and some Healthy ones) 00:01:37.

First used in 2017

• John's thumbs ups to fellow runners, in 'The Life Changing Magic of Thumbs Up' — 2 videos, last heard 2017. Tiring again, John tried giving an oncoming runner a thumbs up; though not thumbed back he felt the same surge of energy and happiness, ran faster, and it kept working. First: 2017-05-02 · The Life Changing Magic of Thumbs Up 00:01:34. Last: 2017-05-05 · Sick and Tired 00:00:58.
• John's boxes: opening one reveals another box (in a Question Tuesday, 2017) — 2 videos, last heard 2017. Asked what's in the boxes, John claims an absolutely true story: he opened one and was stunned to find inside it another box. First: 2017-05-23 · Boxes, Butterflies, and Regular Aunts: Live from the Past, It's Question Tuesday 00:00:37. Last: 2017-06-27 · UNBOXING 00:00:03.
• Hank's 'behind the sides' for backstage, which John tells him to stop trying to make happen — 2 videos, last heard 2017. The title uses Hank's phrase "behind the sides". First: 2017-10-13 · Behind the Sides 00:00:00 (recorded as a callback). Last: 2017-10-31 · Where are Whale Balls? Question Tuesday: Pizza Edition 00:00:03.
• Hank's star-rated reviews of things not normally reviewed, borrowing John's Anthropocene Reviewed idea — 2 videos, last heard 2021. Hank says he will do John's reviews idea in this video, a bunch of them. First: 2017-11-02 · Hank Reviews Everything 00:00:11. Last: 2021-05-14 · This Vlogbrothers Stat Blew My Mind 00:01:35.
• John and Hank abandon one opinion every day, begun on the Turtles tour — 2 videos, last heard 2023. John says that on tour he and Hank decided they have too many opinions, so each day they each abandon one opinion. First: 2017-11-07 · Definitely Not A Pecan Orchard: A Pizzamas Question Tuesday 00:02:07. Last: 2023-12-24 · John and Hank Hanging Out but they Keep Getting Younger and More Pixelated 00:48:57.
• Hank's made-up 'bizarro' history of Black Friday as a lights-off Lighthouse Maintenance Day — 2 videos, last heard 2023. Hank admits he made all of it up except the Lighthouse Service being created by the first Congress. First: 2017-11-24 · The Bizarro History of Black Friday: (AND 2017 CENSUS!) 00:01:43. Last: 2023-11-24 · It Wasn't Supposed to be Thanksgiving Yesterday 00:00:00.

First used in 2018

• John's luxury pea dish: cooking his tiny pea harvest as a gourmet snack — 3 videos, last heard 2018. John sets out to teach Hank how to make the most luxurious and delicious nine-pea snack in the history of the world from his tiny first pea harvest. First: 2018-05-29 · How to Cook Eight Peas 00:01:09. Last: 2018-07-17 · How to Eat 213 Tomatoes 00:00:23.
• John's prime numbers: a Question Tuesday of a prime number of questions, novels with prime-minus-one chapters — 2 videos, last heard 2021. John introduces Question Tuesday as the day he answers a prime number of real questions from real Nerdfighters. First: 2018-08-14 · Question Tuesday: Secrets & Primes 00:00:02. Last: 2021-08-24 · It's My Birthday. I Gave Myself This Video. 00:02:08.
• John's burning-robot car chase scene that he can never write — 2 videos, last heard 2018. Writing a burning-robot car chase costs no more than any scene, yet John has never managed one; he mocks himself that he can't write plot, only people talking in a room. First: 2018-08-28 · The Book Was Better? 00:02:41. Last: 2018-08-31 · Beautiful if Damp: Answering Questions in Melbourne 00:02:17.
• Hank's 'I can't dance' fashion-shoot dance break — 2 videos, last heard 2021. Music interrupts Hank for a 'fashion shoot' dance break to a song whose refrain is 'I can't dance but I still dance'. First: 2018-10-30 · Watch My Dumb Dancing 00:01:08. Last: 2021-10-05 · Why the Heck am I on TikTok??? 00:03:01.
• John's 'hairmergency': hair that suddenly needs an emergency haircut, his analogy for burnout — 3 videos, last heard 2021. John says he has a 'level 1 hairmergency', though four days earlier, at his last Vlogbrothers video, his hair was at most a level 8 or 10 situation. First: 2018-11-13 · HAIRMERGENCY! 00:00:00. Last: 2021-02-23 · A Little Joy and Color in an Otherwise Unbearably Bland Life 00:03:43.

First used in 2019

• Hank's 'butt is legs' controversial opinion — 5 videos, still in use. Hank's controversial opinion is 'butt is legs': butt is butt, but also legs, since your leg bone is in your butt. First: 2019-11-29 · My Most Controversial Opinion 00:01:17. Last: 2026-03-17 · Tuberculosis and Hank's Shingles 00:04:14.

First used in 2020

• Vlogbrothers videos titled with Smash Mouth's All Star lyrics — 51 videos, peak 2020 (49 videos), last heard 2023. The title Hey Now, the opening words of Smash Mouth's All Star, starts the brothers' All Star lyric titles. First: 2020-04-21 · hey now 00:00:00. Last: 2023-05-23 · Rough Week 00:00:29.

First used in 2021

• Superior fish beings: 10-year-old Hank's prediction for 2012 — 4 videos, last heard 2024. For 2012 the timeline predicts superior fish beings; Hank does not know what they do, but they exist. First: 2021-01-01 · In 1990 I Made a Bunch of Predictions About 2020...Here they Are 00:02:50. Last: 2024-10-11 · October 11, 2024 - Goofing off with John (a Vlogbrothers Video) 00:03:44.
• Beanie Sanfurbs — 12 videos, peak 2021, 2026 (3 each), still in use. Volunteers run the P4A, but it also relies on everyone watching, from hydration reminders to perk ideas about Hank's bean Furby, now apparently known as Beanie Sandfurbs. First: 2021-02-16 · A Lovely Winter Walk 00:00:38 (recorded as a callback). Last: 2026-07-10 · How Status Destroys Us 00:00:58.
• Hank's rebranding away from being the corndog-loving brother — 2 videos, last heard 2021. John told his daughter her Uncle Hank loves corn dogs; she asked 'does he?', and John realized how successfully Hank has rebranded himself. First: 2021-03-09 · Hank Rebranded Without Any of Us Noticing 00:00:58. Last: 2021-03-12 · A Crisis of Branding 00:00:00.
• Hank's enthusiasm for Metamucil (bit) — 3 videos, still in use. Much lore has faded: a couple of years ago Hank couldn't shut up about Metamucil, which he still uses and stands by. First: 2021-03-12 · A Crisis of Branding 00:00:00 (recorded as a callback). Last: 2026-04-07 · I've Been Pooping All Wrong 00:07:25.
• Days Since Hank Green Last Started a New Thing — 7 videos, peak 2021 (3 videos), still in use. Hank explains the fan website counting the days since he last started a new thing, a joke among some people on Twitter; it stands at seven days, since the Life's Little Lies TikTok launched. First: 2021-04-09 · A Thought is Not an Idea 00:00:00. Last: 2026-10-09 · The Productivity Lie 00:01:17.
• John's inside joke of using the word 'deadpan' exactly once in every book since An Abundance of Katherines — 2 videos, last heard 2024. John confirms he used the word 'deadpan' exactly once in The Anthropocene Reviewed, as in every book since An Abundance of Katherines, another 14-year-old joke he enjoys. First: 2021-05-11 · I am a small boat. It's Question Tuesday. 00:02:36 (recorded as a callback). Last: 2024-12-10 · On Writing 00:03:37.
• The doctor who said 'sneezing is not normal, I never sneeze', nicknamed Dr. NeverSneezer Scrooge by Hank — 10 videos, peak 2021 (4 videos), still in use. John says part of why he can't stop thinking about it is that Hank named the doctor Dr. NeverSneezer Scrooge, a perfect joke. First: 2021-06-29 · Sneezing is not normal. 00:01:30 (recorded as a callback). Last: 2026-10-13 · My Lungs Are on the Outside of the Body 00:03:19.
• An AI chatbot built from the brothers' words answers as Hank and John — 2 videos, last heard 2021. Hank does a Question Tuesday in which an AI chatbot built from the brothers' words, not he, answers the viewers' questions (title bit). First: 2021-08-20 · Question Tuesday Except I'm an AI 00:00:29. Last: 2021-08-24 · It's My Birthday. I Gave Myself This Video. 00:00:58.

First used in 2022

• The brothers' chip butty ('chippy butty') saga — 2 videos, last heard 2022. The joke starts when the HowJSay pronunciation app says 'butty'; John explains that a chip butty is a sandwich of bread and french fries, and Hank says they have fries upstairs and are going to get a chippy butty. First: 2022-04-08 · Hank and John Discover Chippy Butties 00:03:21. Last: 2022-04-12 · Utter Chippy Butty Chaos 00:00:00.
• John asks his Turtles set-interview guests their favourite Beatle and favourite colour — 2 videos, last heard 2022. John asks Isabela his favourite-colour and favourite-Beatle questions; she recognises the Beatles question from his earlier interview video. First: 2022-06-07 · Hello! Meet Aza! 00:02:31. Last: 2022-07-05 · Director Hannah Marks Is Nervous To Meet You 00:01:49.

First used in 2023

• John's Tumblr persona: the Awesome Coffee Club and its 'unpaid intern' — 5 videos, last heard 2023. In a channel comment, John says he has become the Awesome Coffee Club's unpaid social media intern, so far only on Tumblr, and may start a TikTok. First: 2023-01-03 · TAKE IT DOWN A NOTCH 00:00:00. Last: 2023-11-28 · John's (Mostly Book) Holiday Gift Recommendations 00:00:58.
• John's 'take it down a notch' and 'take it up a notch' — 2 videos, last heard 2023. The title shouts John's "take it down a notch". First: 2023-01-03 · TAKE IT DOWN A NOTCH 00:00:00 (recorded as a callback). Last: 2023-08-08 · TAKE IT UP A NOTCH 00:00:00.
• Format videos titled after an existential crisis at a time of day — 2 videos, last heard 2023. Hank lists among his plans for the day a mild existential crisis about halfway through it. First: 2023-02-03 · My Mid-Afternoon Existential Crisis 00:00:21. Last: 2023-02-07 · Mid-Morning Existential Crisis: The Format Returns 00:00:00.
• The P4A livestream as 'the internet's hottest club', in Stefon's style — 2 videos, last heard 2024. The title meme, in the Stefon format: the internet's hottest club is the P4A livestream, which has everything, from bean-filled pickles and the word hummus to Rax. First: 2023-02-24 · The P4A 2023 is The Hottest Club on the Internet 00:06:14. Last: 2024-05-20 · Hang on tight, spider monkey, it's the P4A 2024 MEME REVIEW!! 00:08:53.
• John's 30-foot microphone cord in his Format videos — 3 videos, last heard 2025. John opens his Format video with a format party that features his 30-foot microphone cord, and later says he spent half his life gathering it up. First: 2023-08-22 · The Panera Phenomenon 00:00:00 (recorded as a callback). Last: 2025-03-11 · Hank Green's Brother 00:00:01.
• Hank's antique Garfields sent in Cancer Socks orders — 3 videos, last heard 2024. Hank jokes that early orders might get one of his antique Garfields in the box, and a very small chance of an Odie. First: 2023-11-10 · My Final Chemo Secret 00:04:06. Last: 2024-05-10 · Three Whole Onions with Secretary Pete Buttigieg 00:25:42.

First used in 2024

• P4A slogan about a dangerous day to get paid, from the song Look at Hank's Face (c. 2012) — 3 videos, still in use. Hank recalls the P4A slogan about a dangerous day to get paid, taken from the last words of the song Look at Hank's Face, and repeats it at the end of the video. First: 2024-02-16 · How Much Does it Cost to be a Nerdfighter 00:01:27 (recorded as a callback). Last: 2026-02-14 · Project for Awesome 2026 part 3! 06:56:36.
• Jarrod — 7 videos, peak 2026 (6 videos), still in use. When Jarrod wasn't winning the mascot poll, Hank panicked and donated $5,000 to put him in the lead, but forgot to actually vote; people found it very funny. First: 2024-05-20 · Hang on tight, spider monkey, it's the P4A 2024 MEME REVIEW!! 00:07:53 (recorded as a callback). Last: 2026-07-08 · Project for Awesome Recap Video 2026!! 00:02:17.

First used in 2025

• John and Hank's coffee-versus-tea rivalry — 2 videos, last heard 2025. Hank says his mornings are a little more delightful with a cup of tea than with coffee, at least for him. First: 2025-09-05 · Caffeine is Very… 00:06:10. Last: 2025-09-09 · Sorry, Hank, but Coffee Is Just Better 00:01:56.

First used in 2026

• Hank lengthens his P4A announcement video by playing Connections and TimeGuessr — 2 videos, still in use. Hank again pads his P4A announcement video with games, Connections and then TimeGuessr, which he says is becoming tradition. First: 2026-01-16 · 2026 P4A Changes! (Plus...GAMES!) 00:08:10 (recorded as a callback). Last: 2026-02-13 · Project for Awesome 2026 Kickoff! 04:47:57.
• Hank's bit that the 2026 Project for Awesome is already in 2027, with every problem solved — 4 videos, still in use. Hank tells Demi Adejuyigbe that it is secretly 2027 and every problem has been fixed, though a few things happened in those twelve months. First: 2026-02-13 · Project for Awesome 2026 part 2! 01:21:58 (recorded as a callback). Last: 2026-02-15 · Project for Awesome 2026 part 5! 02:40:57.

Borrowed internet slang & memes (46)

Outside slang and memes the channel picked up.

First used in 2007

• guilt-free three — 4 videos, last heard 2007. Asked to comment on reports he is on someone's free pass list, Hank notes he is apparently a celebrity, declines to comment, is fine with it, and is disappointed to rank after Brian Setzer. First: 2007-04-23 · April 23rd: Celebrity 00:02:19. Last: 2007-04-30 · Brotherhood 2.0: April 30: Hellos from Los Angeles 00:00:32.
• Lolcat — 8 videos, peak 2009 (4 videos), last heard 2009. Hank says the blurbs are great, many are awesome, he likes a lolcat one, and it will be hard to choose. First: 2007-08-03 · August 3: The Retail Dance 00:01:31. Last: 2009-09-12 · Special Friday Video! (On Saturday) 00:03:20.
• pwned — 23 videos, peak 2008 (14 videos), last heard 2011. Against commenters saying pirates pwn, John says pirates haven't been cool since Goonies, and names the online series Ask a Pirate as one of the best in history. First: 2007-10-02 · Oct. 2nd: Brotherhood 2.0 on the Road (Literally) 00:02:21. Last: 2011-08-08 · Hackers, Cyber crime, and a New Kind of War. 00:00:00.
• Leet — 2 videos, last heard 2009. John calls woot a great word that, like an E. E. Cummings poem, must be seen to be appreciated; he is happy leet speak gets word-of-the-year attention, though he jokingly misses old 'elite speak'. First: 2007-12-12 · Dec. 12th: w00t is the WORD OF THE YEAR?! 00:00:34. Last: 2009-12-23 · Amazing Christmas Facts With John and Hank 00:02:50.
• n00b — 3 videos, last heard 2009. In the chorus Hank sings that his guitar ('this machine') pwns n00bs: like a headshot, a Mario star, the Pac-Man power dot or the Konami code, it makes him feel invincible on stage. First: 2007-12-12 · Dec. 12th: w00t is the WORD OF THE YEAR?! 00:01:33. Last: 2013-05-03 · 17 Rants in 4 Minutes (in the description).
• w00t — 2 videos, last heard 2007. John calls woot a great word that, like an E. E. Cummings poem, must be seen to be appreciated; he is happy leet speak gets word-of-the-year attention, though he jokingly misses old 'elite speak'. First: 2007-12-12 · Dec. 12th: w00t is the WORD OF THE YEAR?! 00:00:34. Last: 2007-12-14 · Dec. 14th: John and Maureen Johnson: LIVE FROM NEW YORK CITY 00:01:52.

First used in 2008

• YouTube tag — 2 videos, last heard 2009. Hank says he has been tagged in the YouTube tag game (by CharlieIsSoCool and Thoughts In My Head) and invites John to do one, as Nerdfighter Natalie tagged him. First: 2008-01-08 · Sledding and YouTube Tag 00:00:51. Last: 2009-04-16 · The Day the YouTubes Died 00:01:32.
• Taking the Hobbits to Isengard — 5 videos, peak 2008 (4 videos), last heard 2017. Hank, bored in an airport, announces an act that will probably mark him as a freak; the description names the song as 'They're Taking the Hobbits to Isengard'. First: 2008-01-13 · Being Weird in the Airport 00:00:00. Last: 2017-09-08 · How to Win Australia 00:00:06.
• Pirates versus Ninjas — 3 videos, last heard 2011. Hank asks John to give the 'peg-legged' puppy an eyepatch, and maybe a parrot, for tomorrow's video; though on Team Ninja, he'd love a pirate puppy. First: 2008-05-22 · Adorable Puppy Injury!!!! 00:01:37. Last: 2011-04-29 · Peanut Butter Face Question Tuesday 00:00:48.
• All your base are belong to us — 3 videos, last heard 2024. Hank says his favourite viral video is probably All Your Base Are Belong to Us. First: 2008-09-25 · Obama llama Duck 00:03:28. Last: 2024-09-25 · You have no chance to survive make your time. 00:00:00.
• Numa Numa — 2 videos, last heard 2013. Hank tours his new house while doing the Numa Numa dance. First: 2008-10-14 · Numa Numa Hank Dance 00:00:29. Last: 2013-02-15 · Baby, Harlem, Obama, Dance Crazes, Big Week 00:00:47.

First used in 2009

• Epic fail — 6 videos, peak 2009, 2010 (3 each), last heard 2010. Tiny Chickens Cause Epic Fail First: 2009-03-29 · Tiny Chickens Cause Epic Fail (in the title). Last: 2010-10-15 · TOP 7 FAILS OF HISTORY 00:00:29.
• Rickrolling — 2 videos, last heard 2014. Hank sings a cover of 'Never Gonna Give You Up', rickrolling viewers; the description says he does it dressed as Carrie Bradshaw. First: 2009-04-01 · HANKROLL'd 00:00:17. Last: 2014-07-18 · EVERY VLOGBROTHERS PUNISHMENT! 00:02:11.
• First post — 3 videos, last heard 2019. The song recalls community YouTube pastimes, the Five Facts thing and the Google Verb meme, a first comment and Captcha codes, which Hank will miss behind a 'content wall'. First: 2009-04-16 · The Day the YouTubes Died 00:01:32. Last: 2019-02-19 · Battling Apathy and Searching for Meaning on Question Tuesday 00:01:56.
• Death panel — 3 videos, last heard 2015. John says death panels are not in the bill, and that the unsophisticated debate about them has distracted from a large and significant issue. First: 2009-08-16 · Health Care Overhaul Summarized Via MASSIVE PIG 00:00:53. Last: 2015-03-24 · Is Obamacare Working? The Affordable Care Act Five Years Later 00:04:44.
• Konami Code — 3 videos, last heard 2012. In the chorus Hank sings that his guitar ('this machine') pwns n00bs: like a headshot, a Mario star, the Pac-Man power dot or the Konami code, it makes him feel invincible on stage. First: 2009-12-02 · This Machine Pwns n00bs: A Song 00:00:56. Last: 2012-06-22 · Hank is Maybe Crazy 00:01:40.

First used in 2010

• writing is rewriting — 3 videos, last heard 2021. Maureen calls the phrase 'writing is rewriting' 100% true: you rewrite many times, and the work goes from suck to awesome. First: 2010-02-05 · DARE TO SUCK 00:02:56. Last: 2021-12-14 · MAKE. BELIEVE. 00:00:00.
• Geddan — 2 videos, last heard 2013. Hank admits he is late to the Harlem Shake dance craze, calling himself an internet dance craze hipster who wants people not to forget Geddan and Numa Numa. First: 2010-02-22 · TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND!! (in the description). Last: 2013-02-15 · Baby, Harlem, Obama, Dance Crazes, Big Week 00:00:47.
• bucket list — 2 videos, last heard 2012. A Nerdfighter's comment about a 'bucket list of hugs' led Hank to coin the 'hug bucket': the bucket all your hugs go into, with people you want to get inside it. First: 2010-04-28 · Who's in Your Hug Bucket? 00:01:04. Last: 2012-03-09 · The Future of Manned Space Exploration 00:00:00.
• The Game — 3 videos, last heard 2010. Hank makes himself, John and every viewer lose The Game, then explains its rules. First: 2010-06-18 · You just lost THE GAME! 00:00:29. Last: 2010-09-27 · Stop Embarrassing Yourself 00:01:19.
• PEN15 Club — 2 videos, last heard 2010. Hank tells how he joined the PEN15 Club in middle school, demonstrates it on his arm, and declares himself proud to be a member. First: 2010-08-10 · JOIN THE PEN15 CLUB!! 00:01:27. Last: 2010-08-16 · Lust and Folly in London and Edinburgh 00:01:12.
• The cake is a lie — 2 videos, last heard 2011. First: 2010-09-29 · MY FRIEND CHESTER 00:01:47. Last: 2011-04-01 · Many Truths, 1 Lie! 00:00:03.
• Let them eat cake — 2 videos, last heard 2022. John says Marie Antoinette never said 'let them eat cake' and, like almost everyone killed in the Terror, posed no threat to the government. First: 2010-11-11 · REIGN OF TERROR: The French Revolution, Part III 00:01:27. Last: 2022-08-02 · Liberty Leading the People: How Revolutions Turn 00:00:00.
• I slit the sheet — 2 videos, last heard 2017. Hank's favourite twister, 'I slit the sheet, the sheet I slit…', hinges on the pseudophones slit, sheet and sit; frequently saying others like seat and sleet makes slips more likely. First: 2010-12-07 · Tongue Twisters 00:01:36. Last: 2017-02-17 · As Cold as The Milk: Learning Spanish with Luzu 00:02:23.

First used in 2011

• headdesk — 3 videos, last heard 2011. John walks over to his desk and headdesks at the autocomplete 'is Benjamin Button real?'. First: 2011-01-03 · Is bronchitis contagious? Is black a color? 00:01:08. Last: 2011-01-07 · CONCUSSED Question Friday 00:02:07.
• Keep Calm and Carry On — 4 videos, last heard 2013. Using a made-up business selling 'keep calm and DFTBA' posters, John argues a successful business idea partly supports many people's jobs (designer, paper makers, printers, shippers), as with almost every good and service. First: 2011-09-26 · Awesome Bankers? 00:00:29. Last: 2013-01-11 · On the Ownership of Ideas 00:01:19.
• First World problem — 5 videos, last heard 2024. Admitting these are the 'first-worldiest first-world problems', John says his point is that it was hard to engage. First: 2011-10-24 · Signing Psychosis Takes Over 00:01:13. Last: 2024-10-01 · On Fame and Chappell Roan 00:03:16.
• It's Over 9000! — 3 videos, last heard 2024. John reports the Foundation had over $9,000 at the end of last quarter and now about $30, a success because it went from $9,000 to $88,000 to nothing by giving all the money away. First: 2011-11-11 · The Bank of Nerdfighteria 00:03:05. Last: 2024-08-26 · Welcome to the Learn-a-Thon 00:00:00.

First used in 2012

• Friend zone — 2 videos, last heard 2012. Hank says millions of young people in America are in the friend zone, close to the object of their longing yet far away; he will explain the escape, though they won't manage it. First: 2012-03-16 · Exiting the FRIENDZONE 00:00:06. Last: 2012-03-20 · Sharpie Face Question Tuesday 00:03:24.
• Wholock — 2 videos, last heard 2013. John recalls once describing Tumblr as mostly homoerotic Wholock watercolors; Dutch friends Lotte and Lidewij wrote him a song about it, which he woke up singing, puzzling Henry's babysitter. First: 2012-04-17 · Thoughts on Romance and Sex in an Airport 00:01:18. Last: 2013-01-22 · How to Be More Than Friends: Question Tuesday 00:00:08.
• GIF pronunciation — 10 videos, last heard 2021. On GIF pronunciation, Hank says they say 'jif' though neither is incorrect; his question-asking double considers switching because the president said 'gif', but Hank won't. First: 2012-07-27 · Tumblr: The Musical 00:01:07. Last: 2021-11-19 · How do We Get Anything Done At All? 00:00:58.
• YOLO — 3 videos, last heard 2014. She says meme quoting such as YOLO goes from unironic to ironic use and back to unironic again. First: 2012-10-16 · Burning Peeps, My OTP, and Velociraptors: It's Question Tuesday 00:02:12. Last: 2014-04-18 · What is The Oldest Song? 00:03:05.

First used in 2013

• What is air? — 2 videos, last heard 2013. John lists joke questions he has prepared for the President: 'what is air?', ten duck-sized horses or one horse-sized duck, pennies, and who the eff is Hank. First: 2013-02-12 · Talking to the President 00:01:30. Last: 2013-08-27 · On the TFIOS Movie Set 00:01:45.

First used in 2014

• slay — 2 videos, last heard 2015. John says colloquial 'slay' is already metaphoric: a Taylor Swift song didn't kill you, but the experience was so awesome you are metaphorically dead. First: 2014-09-16 · It's Question Tuesday! Cheesy Jokes, Paper Towns Movie, and Dinosaur Butt Brains 00:02:08. Last: 2015-05-22 · 15 Rants in Four Minutes 00:01:31.
• None pizza with left beef — 10 videos, peak 2026 (4 videos), still in use. Hank maintains no one would phone a Domino's for none pizza with left beef: the joke needs an interface between customer and pizza maker so it doesn't feel weird. First: 2014-11-13 · The History of Pizza and the History of John: Pizzamas Day 4 00:00:23. Last: 2026-07-08 · Project for Awesome Recap Video 2026!! 00:03:34.

First used in 2015

• Blue Steel — 2 videos, last heard 2015. John asks viewers to tell them what the podcast should be about, whether Sydneys and Jesses, which Sydneys and Jesses to discuss, who has the best Blue Steel, and whether AFC Wimbledon or Mars matters more. First: 2015-05-05 · Reunions! Birthdays! Podcasts! Mountains! Happy 35th Birthday, Hank 00:03:01. Last: 2015-05-08 · QUADRAGOCON 2015 - WHO WILL WIN! 00:02:14.

First used in 2016

• #goals — 2 videos, last heard 2019. Hank says culture whispers that salary is a good surrogate for meaning, while we also want a big impact like Zuckerberg or Elon Musk and to fulfill every kind of #goals. First: 2016-06-03 · Redefining What it Means to Matter 00:00:22. Last: 2019-03-19 · Writing and Marriage Advice from Michelle Obama 00:01:30.

First used in 2017

• Sheeple — 2 videos, last heard 2018. Living in New York in 2007, John railed against 'sheeple' buying houses in the Midwest; now he owns a home in Indianapolis and quite likes it. First: 2017-01-24 · On Motivation 00:01:50. Last: 2018-05-22 · The Liger Delusion 00:02:30.
• What goes up must come down — 2 videos, last heard 2018. Reminded that what goes up must come down, Hank says someday there will be no dam at Glen Canyon, and we can only hope it is removed on purpose. First: 2017-03-24 · I Disagree with Me (Thoughts from Lake Powell) 00:04:01. Last: 2018-05-11 · Looking for Alaska Movie (BUT BETTER) and YouTuber Things 00:02:28.

First used in 2018

• 420 (cannabis culture) — 2 videos, last heard 2025. Hank says Twitter somewhat famously had a custom error 420 for users sending too many requests, a cannabis-joke way of telling them to chill. First: 2018-04-20 · This Video is About Marijuana 00:00:00. Last: 2025-07-18 · OK, but What Are The Other 403 Errors? 00:03:48.
• Old Man Yells at Cloud — 2 videos, last heard 2021. John corrects himself as an old man yelling at a cloud: the social internet also facilitates conversations across borders and divisions and gives a voice to people who otherwise wouldn't have one. First: 2018-05-08 · Old Man Yells at Cloud 00:03:06. Last: 2021-10-04 · PIZZAMAS IS HERE! 00:01:33.

First used in 2020

• Three Wolf Moon — 2 videos, last heard 2023. In a channel comment John explains that 'three John moon' references the old internet meme Three Wolf Moon. First: 2020-10-05 · Thank God It's Over and PIZZAMAS IS HERE!!!!!!! 00:00:00. Last: 2023-10-27 · I Keep Thinking About Taylor Swift 00:03:32.

First used in 2022

• Cars vs. — 3 videos, last heard 2022. John styles himself America's leading COVID-stricken Cars vs. influencer and analyst. First: 2022-08-16 · cars vs. covid 00:00:00. Last: 2022-10-06 · The Pizzamas Magic Is Almost Over… 00:01:50.
• commit to the bit — 5 videos, still in use. John says one thing is truly and unambiguously good: committing to the bit, which can't solve all problems but can bring joy. First: 2022-09-30 · COMMIT TO THE BIT 00:00:35. Last: 2026-09-30 · The Point of Life 00:00:50.
• touch grass — 3 videos, last heard 2023. The show seemed to tell John to touch grass, so they went outside into an autumnal London, much like Indianapolis this time of year. First: 2022-10-18 · Terraverse Over Everything: Thoughts from London 00:02:19. Last: 2023-10-03 · Nourished by Leaving 00:00:22.

First used in 2023

• tier list — 4 videos, still in use. Hank says ranking the articles about his own cancer diagnosis in a tier list is a once-in-a-lifetime chance, which he decided on when the New York Post article came out. First: 2023-05-26 · My Cancer Press Tier List 00:00:00. Last: 2026-02-14 · Project for Awesome 2026 part 3! 01:02:51.