mewing

Mewing is pressing your whole tongue against the roof of your mouth, a posture trick that online videos claim can sharpen your jawline. In kids’ slang, “mewing” also refers to a hand gesture used to dodge questions: a finger to the lips, then a trace along the jaw.

What is mewing?

The technique is named after John Mew, a British orthodontist, and his son Mike Mew, who promoted an approach they call orthotropics, which focuses on tongue and jaw posture. The idea that holding your tongue this way reshapes your face spread widely on YouTube and TikTok, especially in “looksmaxxing” communities obsessed with appearance.

Does mewing actually work?

There is little scientific evidence that mewing changes an adult’s facial structure, and many dentists and orthodontists are skeptical of the dramatic before-and-after claims online. Good posture is not harmful in itself, but anyone worried about their jaw or bite should talk to a dentist rather than rely on viral videos.

The mewing gesture

Around 2023 and 2024, mewing turned into a meme among younger kids. When asked a question they don’t want to answer, such as by a teacher or parent, they put a finger to their lips and trace their jawline, as if to say “can’t talk, I’m mewing.” For many kids that joke is the whole meaning of the word.

How it’s used

• “He’s been mewing for weeks and says he can see a difference.”
• “I asked my son where the cookies went and he just started mewing.”
• “Stop mewing and answer the question.”

Related terms

• skibidi: Gen Alpha nonsense slang
• gyatt: a viral reaction word
• brain rot: low-effort meme content
• sigma: an online “lone wolf” ideal tied to looksmaxxing culture
• rizz: charm

See more terms like this in our Gen Z slang dictionary.