thirteenth reason
English edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
Originally from the best-selling 2007 novel Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher and popularized by the television adaptation 13 Reasons Why (2017–2020). The plot of the novel and series follows high school student Hannah Baker who kills herself and leaves a box of cassette tapes detailing thirteen reasons for taking her own life.
Noun edit
- (Internet slang, hyperbolic) A relatively minor annoyance or inconvenience, jokingly implied to be the "last straw" that will motivate someone to kill themselves.
- I swear, if you don't cut that out, you'll be my thirteenth reason why.
- This post will be my thirteenth reason.
- 2022 February 14, Georgia Mooney, “I watched people on Love Is Blind date in the pods and I'm wondering if straight people are ok”, in The Tab[1], archived from the original on 2022-05-12:
- My thirteenth reason is Shake telling Deepti he's going to get her pregnant
- 2022 April 21, @MEDlClNEHES, Twitter[2], archived from the original on 9 October 2023:
- found the short voicemail from when harry called me and i missed it. my thirteenth reason.
- 2023 June 15, Rebecca Davidson, “It's Not a Joke”, in Jewish Journal[3], Los Angeles, C.A.: Tribe Media Corp, archived from the original on 2023-06-26:
- […] "This class will be my thirteenth reason why." ¶ These are all so-called harmless statements I have heard from my peers. And when someone hears these words and expresses concern, the young person often responds dismissively with, "Calm down, I was just joking."
- 2023 August 29, Brooke Houghton, quoting an anonymous fan, “Drake's Vancouver Show Was Cancelled At The Last Minute & Here's What Went Down”, in Narcity[4], archived from the original on 9 October 2023:
- A TikTok captured fans screaming at an employee delivering the news that the concert had been cancelled. ¶ "It isn't our fault. We want to make this as easy for you as possible. Unfortunately, the concert this evening has been postponed," said the employee. ¶ "This is my thirteenth reason," a fan shouted in the crowd.
- [2023 September 18, Allie Daisy King, “In A Sea Of Disposable Content, Video Essays Offer A Reprieve”, in Refinery29[5], archived from the original on 9 October 2023:
- Gen Z embed online culture into their everyday talk. From saying people's outfits are "giving Portia" (in reference to the iconic The White Lotus character), to when something happens to annoy them and they state that it is their "thirteenth reason", we are constantly referencing the pop culture that surrounds us. These references are a way of forming connections with the people around us as we have created communities that derive from having a shared reference pool.]