Meep! Nonsense Word Goes Viral, Gets Students in Trouble

ABC ^ | Nov. 11, 2009 | SARAH NETTER

[Willie Green]

Massachusetts High School Principal Threatens to Suspend Students Caught Meeping

MEEP!

Don't know what it means? Don't worry -- most people over the age of 22 don't either.

But the nonsense word -- which apparently started with the 1980s Muppet character Beaker -- is causing a lot of teeth-gnashing for adults at one Massachusetts high school. They have gone so far as to threaten suspension for students caught meeping.

But just what does it mean to "meep?" No one really seems to know -- even those who use it as part of their daily vocabulary.

According to UrbanDictionary.com, meep "can mean whatever you want it to mean."

Yeah, that clears it up.

Bob Thompson, a pop culture professor at Syracuse University, said he first heard students meep about a year ago during a class screening of a television show.

"Something happened and one of them said 'Meep,'" he said. "And then they all started doing it."

The meeps, he said, came from all of the students in the class in rapid-fire succession. When he asked them what that meant, they said it didn't really mean anything.

[thefactor]

meep!

[gunnyg]

Meep! Meep!

Wasn’t that the sound of the RoadRunner as he ran over the coyote’s @$$!!!

[I Buried My Guns]

So it’s not the meaning of the word that is the crux, it is the disrespect and rudeness of the students using it.

[thefactor]

MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DannyTN]

Suspended!!!

[EmilyGeiger]

It’s a shame when an adult doesn’t have a sense of humor...

I’m sure you two know about meeps, meep out!

[Responsibility2nd]

I hate it when people use made up words.

It gets me all wee-wee’d up.

[Cagey]

I believe he meant "moops".

[SkyDancer]

Meep Meep

[mmichaels1970]

I saw some good "meeps" on an episode of Spongebob Squarepants. I think it was the one where he tried to catch a king jellyfish.

[paulycy]

“Schmock! Schmock!” - Steve Allen

[Tenacious 1]

This is so Vklemptuous.

[Texas Eagle]

But just what does it mean to "meep?" No one really seems to know

[earlJam]

lol or this:

"We are the Knights Who Say Meep!"

[left that other site]

I went to a High School in MA, (Class of 1970) and we could get suspended for using a four-letter word.

But not THAT one! LOL

[DManA]

Reminds me of a few years ago when kids would start competitively chanting -

Tastes Great!!

Less Filling!!!

[theDentist]

This is serious folks... you’d think they said “God” or “Jesus” or “Bless You” or something.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Meep? Meh!

[DManA]

You’re right. Kids of that age probably got it from that.

Nematodes. One episode a bus load of them pulled up the the Crusty Crab and they took over the place. In another they ate Sponge Bob’s pineapple. They all go meep meep meep.