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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →“Devious Lick” was a September 2021 TikTok trend in which users showed off objects they claimed to have stolen, often from school. “Lick” is older slang for a theft or score; the meme turned it into a jokingly boastful reveal format. The major documented wave was in 2021, so a resurfaced clip or search result today does not by itself mean the trend is back.
What does “Devious Lick” mean?
In slang, a “lick” can mean a theft or profitable score. “Devious” added a mock-villainous flourish, making a “devious lick” an especially bold or audacious theft. The phrase was not a formal term, and TikTok did not invent the older slang. Know Your Meme connects it to the broader expression “hit a lick,” while noting that its history is not reducible to one song or artist. Know Your Meme’s explanation of the phrase provides that context.
Despite how the words might sound in isolation, the meme was not about licking objects. It referred to taking something and presenting it as a score.
How did the trend begin?
The earliest widely documented example catalogued by Know Your Meme dates to September 1, 2021. TikTok user @jugg4elias posted a video showing a box of disposable masks with the caption “a month into school absolutely devious lick.” This is a commonly cited early post, not proof that it was the first time anyone used the phrase.
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| Date | Documented development |
|---|---|
| September 1, 2021 | The commonly cited early example featured disposable masks. |
| September 6, 2021 | A video showing a hand-sanitizer dispenser helped popularize the format. |
| September 7, 2021 | A duet featuring a microscope illustrated the escalating, one-upmanship style. |
These dates come from Know Your Meme’s archived chronology. Social-media records are incomplete: deleted posts, private accounts, reposts and unindexed videos can make a definitive first post impossible to establish.
What did people post?
The format was simple: a user revealed an object they said they had taken, paired it with a caption using “devious lick,” “absolute lick,” “diabolical lick” or a variation. The joke relied on surprise and exaggeration, and the examples grew more conspicuous as users tried to outdo one another. Reported objects included masks, sanitizer dispensers, bathroom fixtures, mirrors, paper-towel dispensers, signs and other school property. Know Your Meme’s trend archive, CBS News’ coverage and The Washington Post’s report describe examples and the resulting concern.
A video showing an object is not, on its own, proof that it was stolen. Some clips may have been staged, exaggerated, reposted, or shown without reliable context. Treat a specific clip as a claim unless its circumstances are independently established.
Why did it spread so quickly?
- Back-to-school timing: The format appeared in the first weeks of the 2021 school year, when school-related posts had an obvious setting and audience.
- Low-effort imitation: A reveal, a caption and a recognizable phrase made the format easy to copy.
- Escalation: Once users saw increasingly surprising posts, the incentive shifted toward showing something more audacious.
- Recommendation and peer dynamics: TikTok made similar clips easy to encounter, while public attention could reward boldness and rule-breaking. Neither factor alone explains every participant’s behavior.
- Shock value: Alleged theft and damage drew stronger reactions than ordinary school humor.
Participation did not always mean someone had committed theft. Some users may have copied the format, staged a clip, used an object they already owned, or joined through commentary or parody.
Were the videos real, and what happened at schools?
The answer is mixed. News coverage described genuine theft and vandalism associated with the trend, but not every viral video established that an item had been stolen, or that TikTok prompted a particular incident. A widely shared clip is not proof of a crime, and a school’s account of a local episode should not be generalized into a claim about every school.
Reported school responses included repairing damage, monitoring facilities more closely and, in some cases, temporarily closing or restricting bathrooms. Schools also warned that taking or damaging property could result in discipline, repayment or restitution, and referral to law enforcement. Consequences varied by school, conduct and jurisdiction; there was no single nationwide response. See CBS News, The Washington Post and The Guardian for reported examples and school warnings.
How did TikTok respond?
Reporting around September 15–16, 2021 said TikTok would remove content promoting or depicting the trend and redirect or restrict related hashtags and searches. Users also tried alternate spellings and phrases such as “diabolical licks.” Moderation did not make every repost or variation disappear immediately. The Washington Post, Know Your Meme and The Guardian covered the response and its limits.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What was “Angelic Yields”?
“Angelic Yields” was a brief countertrend in which users showed themselves returning items or doing something helpful for their school. It followed the controversy but was not an equally large successor movement. Know Your Meme’s chronology documents it as a postscript to the trend.
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Is Devious Lick still trending?
As of August 18, 2026, the available historical coverage does not establish that Devious Lick is a major live TikTok trend. Its documented mainstream wave occurred in September 2021. The phrase can still appear in archived videos, meme references and retrospectives; a resurfaced clip, hashtag result or burst of search interest does not by itself show that the original challenge has returned. Hashtag views, where shown, are not a count of unique participants.
What the meme leaves out
The format made an alleged theft look like a joke and a trophy reveal. The real-world controversy was about property damage, disruption and consequences—not merely slang. A prop is not proof, a viral video is not verification, and taking or damaging school property can have disciplinary or legal consequences. Do not recreate the trend.
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