Rent Free In My Head

What does rent free in my head mean?

Is frequently on my mind

Is there a person, place, or thing you find yourself thinking about quite often? (Possibly too often?) If so, you can say that thing lives in your head rent free. This phrase describes something memorable that is stuck in your mind and isn't moving out any time soon (no matter how much you might want it to).

When originally coined by advice columnist Ann Landers, the phrase lives in my head rent free was used primarily to refer to negative feelings toward another person. Landers said that "hanging onto resentment is letting someone you despise live rent-free in your head."

However, sometime during the social media era, the phrase transformed from a largely negative one to a largely positive one. Now, Twitter, TikTok, and other social media users are more likely to refer to funny videos, cute animals, and hot celebrities as living in their head rent free - rather than haters and their criticisms.

Example

TMW Chidi first takes off his shirt in The Good Place lives in my head rent free
Not a terrible thing to have stuck on your mind
Not a terrible thing to have stuck on your mind

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Updated April 11, 2022

Rent Free In My Head definition by Slang.net

This page explains what the slang term "Rent Free In My Head" means. The definition, example, and related terms listed above have been written and compiled by the Slang.net team.

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