Funny

25 Classic Memes for a Sick Day on the Couch With a Ginger Ale

Phil M. Oct 17, 2026 04:00 PM EDT

The first sniffle of cold season still makes some part of my brain reach for saltines, ginger ale and a TV tuned to The Price Is Right. Nobody has taken care of me like that since 1996, so I take care of myself with classic memes instead. Yesterday’s trip through the classics had its moments, and this daily dig through the old stuff has a few more. Grab a blanket.

Monitor lizard in a security vest, one of the classic memes about releasing the dragon — Save

Sick day cures from childhood: VapoRub, chicken soup, ginger ale, saltines, Price Is Right — Bob Barker cured more colds than penicillin.
Save

Two tweets asking who knocked over the cat, then a hand clutching spilled plant leaves — Save

Tweet in these classic memes asking what the ideal BMI of fate is — Save

Person asleep in bed using an open pizza box as a blanket at a sleepover — Thread count: one slice.
Save

Larry David squinting in classic memes about mentally joining strangers' conversations — Save

Guinea pig at an office desk mishearing a request for larger salary as large celery — Approved. Celery for everyone.
Save

Reddit post from a 28 year old who just learned to let the shower warm up — Save

Lanky creature hunched over pie and donuts in classic memes about needing fall treats — Me at the bakery case in October.
Save

Bearded man in a beanie gets told he is the state of Oregon — Save

Bored woman texting that she spit out her food laughing, from the classic memes era — Save

Court filing screenshot listing a motion with a crude, profane title right after a denial — Save

Tumblr post claiming saying strange and unpleasant things is just part of their charm — Save

Classic memes moment: a frosted sheet cake floating in calm ocean water in sunlight — Living its best life, getting soggy.
Save

Tweet about white guys finding Japan interesting but not wanting to be weird about it — Save

Psychedelic distorted screaming faces under a joke about vitamins being for your soul — Save

Nintendo Power's oddly worded July 2000 Kirby 64 reveal, one of the stranger classic memes — Nintendo Power editors were not okay.
Save

Tweet pitching Great British Bake Off with every contestant paired with a helpful toddler — Save

BoJack Horseman quote answering why you talk to randos online, in classic memes form — Save

Toddlers who cannot tie shoes shown as a hacker surrounded by glowing computer screens — Velcro shoes, admin privileges.
Save

Tweet about medieval kings sharing a bed for diplomacy, with a reply about it — Save

Glowing face above lions and birds in classic memes about posting on Facebook at 45 — Save

Ed Harris in The Truman Show beneath a joke about God's plan for one guy — Cue the beach.
Save

Boy at a fork between misunderstanding Fight Club and Scott Pilgrim in classic memes — Save

Newspaper headline reading study: our cats understand us, but they don't really care — Peer reviewed by every cat owner alive.
Save

A LION DOESN’T CONCERN HIMSELF MEME T-SHIRT

“Whole Sylvania is Trans?” Vampire Meme T-Shirt

Inaudible Nerd Breathing Minimalist Graphic Tee

Some of these old memes are older than my current phone, my current haircut and possibly my current personality. The lizard in the security vest is still one of the best memes ever posted, and I will not be taking questions. The Nintendo Power paragraph reads like it was written by someone home sick with a deadline and a thesaurus. I am also not saying how old I was when I figured out the shower thing, but I already had a car payment and a dentist who knew me by name.

Tomorrow afternoon brings another batch of vintage memes and viral tweets from the vault, right on schedule, so the couch can stay warm and the blanket can stay exactly where it is. Until then, yesterday’s meme dump is a little fresher, and Tuesday’s cartoon hour classics have aged better than I have. If one of these took you straight back to a sick day with a can of ginger ale and a game show on mute, send it to whoever was sick on the couch next to you, or to the sibling who faked it better.

Monitor lizard wearing a black security vest on a store floor, a classic meme about a guard releasing the dragon

Who needs to see this?

Send it to the friend who’ll laugh the hardest, or post it for everyone.

Facebook Pinterest X Reddit

Posted by Phil M. About the author

Phil co-founded Thunder Dungeon with Roy in 2012 and has been a meme tastemaker ever since, helping turn a page of funny finds into viral photo and video creations, one of the largest meme community apps and a daily home for memes. He's more than memes, too: Phil is an award-winning comedic actor and director whose feature films are on streaming platforms.