What Does Holy Airball Mean on Tiktok?
The phrase holy airball is an intensified version of airball, similar to saying "holy cow" to express shock or disbelief. On TikTok, it’s used to highlight especially epic or embarrassing misses. For example, if someone says something awkward or completely misunderstands a situation, TikTokers might call it a holy airball or even a holy fkn airball to emphasize just how big the miss was.
What is the Holy Airball Trend on TikTok?
In May 2025, the holy airball trend took off on TikTok, often set to the song Soul Survivor by Jeezy. TikTokers share stories about moments where someone, usually a crush or friend, "throws an airball," meaning they totally miss the mark in conversation or action.
One popular meme format starts with a person sharing a simple statement like, "Told him I liked basketball." The response might be something clueless like, "Curry or LeBron?" followed by the creator showing themselves playing basketball, captioned with “holy freaking airball” — highlighting the big miss.
What Does "Airball" Mean?
The term airball originates from basketball, where it describes a shot that completely misses the hoop, not touching the rim, net, or backboard. It’s a total miss. Beyond basketball, airball has evolved into slang used to describe any kind of major failure or miss, such as someone making a bad attempt at flirting or social interaction.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What does “holy freaking airball” mean?
It’s a strong way to say something was a huge or shocking fail.
Is “airball” always negative?
Mostly, but it’s often used humorously rather than insultingly.
Where did the “holy airball” trend start?
It gained traction on TikTok in 2025, inspired by basketball slang and viral memes.
How do TikTokers use “holy airball”?
They use it to react to fails, awkward moments, or misunderstood situations.