Etymology

they hit the Pentagon

Today it means: Used to indicate that an event or news of an event is cause for alarm. Full definition →

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The story

Originated from an exchange in an OneyPlays let's play video in May 2020 about recording said video on a short notice: Lyle jokes that Chris shook him awake and Zach chimes in, shouting: "Lyle, Lyle, turn on the TV, they hit the Pentagon! They hit the fucking Pentagon, Lyle!" in reference to the September 11 attacks. Popularized widely by a viral image macro of a character from the animated film Turning Red (2022), using the phrase "They hit the fucking Pentagon," in reference to discussion surrounding a viral remark that the film, set in 2002, did not mention the September 11 attacks.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.