Why ‘first of all’ is Twitter’s favorite phrase right now

People have been using “first of all” on the internet for a while. It’s a way to add context to a conversation, or put someone in their place. Over the weekend, the phrase really took off and turned into a meme, all thanks to a few viral tweets over the last week.

Alright..... first of all...........ouch https://t.co/sfqOcNoapQ

— dog luver (@PURAVlDA) October 8, 2017

That was in response to a tweet about your woman crush Wednesday’s breakfast.

this was your wcw's breakfast. pic.twitter.com/2QPfGz5OgF

— Lil tiddie (@ddown2mars) October 6, 2017

Many others on Twitter began to emulate the format. The “first of all” phrase became the punchline of a joke.

https://twitter.com/SDRHK_/status/919200908063444992

"Previously on-"

First of all, I've been watching for ten straight hours

— zannah (@notjustblondee) October 16, 2017

“Excuse me, can we get the check please?”

First of all, I’m Soul Train award winning R&B singer Keri Hilson

— Ira Madison III (@ira) October 15, 2017

‘be the bigger person’

first of all i’m 5’1

— sumeya (@svnnycx) October 14, 2017

boys talk to me for a week and assume everything i tweet is about them lol first of all you’re a coping mechanism

— antheia (@venusbisou) October 13, 2017

white girls from my high school talkin bout “this country needs to go back to the golden days” first of all, i watched you fail history.

— spooky szn (@OkayyChriss) October 8, 2017

Several versions of the meme were about sex, unrequited crushes, and anxiety.

https://twitter.com/okMute/status/917053535476359170

"Omg you so wet." First of all, I'm on my period.

— c. montana (@colormechris) October 12, 2017

“You read my message but didn’t reply”

First of all I didn’t mean to read it

— Jennifer (@Jennifer_Blaize) October 16, 2017

https://twitter.com/cloutboyjojo/status/919714717496725505

"i just dont understand why u dont like me"

first of all, i dont even understand why i dont like myself

— jomny sun (@jonnysun) October 16, 2017

Dentist: "open up"

First of all, it started all the way back in elementary school

— DraBulé (@Biggabossben) October 16, 2017

“Oh you’re always so cool and aloof.”

First of all, i’m dissociating.

— 5'6 (@ohigba11) October 13, 2017

to all my anxiety attacks ever: first of all how dare you

— punk (@NUEPORTS) October 12, 2017

https://twitter.com/hoescrush/status/919745184878936064

Even brands like Netflix joined in with a meta-joke about the company’s “Are you still watching?” prompt.

“Are you still watching"

First of all, I’ll tell you when I’ve had enough

— Netflix US (@netflix) October 15, 2017

Some people are already calling this meme one of the best of 2017.

the "first of all" meme is the best thing that 2017 has given us

— tired garbage can (@ugsadkid) October 14, 2017

First of all, there’s still two months left in the year.