Teen Slang · Appearance & looks
What does “Mewing” mean?
Pressing the tongue to the roof of the mouth, believed (without solid evidence) to sharpen the jawline. Part of looksmaxxing.
Where “Mewing” comes from
Named after orthodontist John Mew's fringe theories; turned into a viral teen trend around 2019, with a 'mewing' hand-shush gesture in 2023.
Why teens actually say it
Promises a stronger jaw with no cost or effort. Teens also 'mew' to comically dodge a question — staying silent and pointing at their jaw.
What it means for you as a parent
Harmless in itself, but a marker of looksmaxxing interest. The silent jaw-point is usually just a joke, not defiance.
How it’s used
- “Can’t talk, I’m mewing.” Joking they’re working on their jawline. Usually a meme, evidence is thin.
- “He swears mewing changed his face.” Earnest belief in an unproven jaw trick. Part of looksmaxxing.
