You’ve seen it on Twitter. Or maybe a random Instagram caption under a photo of a legendary rapper or an aging actress. "Give them their flowers while they can still smell them." It’s everywhere. It sounds poetic, almost a bit old-school, but it carries a weight that most internet slang lacks.
Honestly, the give them their flowers meaning is pretty simple on the surface, but the cultural depth is where things get interesting. It's about recognition. It’s about not waiting until someone is six feet under to admit they were a genius, a great friend, or a trailblazer. We have this weird, almost morbid habit as humans where we wait for a funeral to give the best speeches. This phrase is the antidote to that.
Where Did This Actually Come From?
It isn't just a TikTok trend. The roots of this sentiment are deeply embedded in Black American culture and the tradition of the Black church. Historically, floral arrangements are a massive part of funeral rites. They represent beauty in death, a final tribute. But there was always a lingering sadness in that—the person being honored wasn't there to see the lilies or smell the roses.
The shift happened when people started realizing how much we take living legends for granted. Think about the way the world reacted when Prince or David Bowie passed away. Suddenly, every radio station played their hits 24/7. Everyone had a "deeply personal" story. But were we saying those things while they were here? That's the core of the give them their flowers meaning. It’s a demand for real-time gratitude.
The Hip-Hop Connection
If you’re looking for why this phrase exploded in the last decade, look at hip-hop. Rappers like Kanye West and Drake have used variations of this for years. In his 2004 hit "Big Brother," Kanye talked about giving flowers to his mentors. It became a way for the culture to protect its icons before they became "was-beens" or, worse, tragedies.
It's a way of saying, "I see what you did for the game."
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When we talk about the give them their flowers meaning in a modern context, we’re often talking about credit. In a world of fast-paced content and short memories, the pioneers get buried under the new stuff. Giving flowers is the act of digging that history back up and saying thank you while the pioneer is still around to check their mentions.
Why We Struggle to Do It Naturally
It's kinda awkward, isn't it? Telling someone you really admire them feels vulnerable. We’re often conditioned to wait for a "milestone"—a retirement, a 50th birthday, or an award ceremony—to be truly sincere.
Social media has made this worse and better at the same time. It's easier to send a "flower" emoji, but harder to be genuinely seen. Most of the time, we’re too busy competing to stop and celebrate someone else. But there’s a psychological benefit to this. Expressing gratitude doesn't just help the receiver; it actually rewires the brain of the giver. It moves you out of a scarcity mindset and into an abundance mindset. You aren't losing anything by admitting someone else is great.
Beyond the Metaphor: Real-World Examples
Take the way the sports world treated Serena Williams during her final US Open run. That was a collective "giving of flowers." The ceremonies, the tribute videos, the crowd standing for minutes at a time—that wasn't a funeral. That was a celebration of a living, breathing GOAT.
Compare that to how many artists are treated only after a "Posthumous" album drops. The difference is palpable. One feels like a celebration; the other feels like a missed opportunity.
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Sometimes, giving flowers is small.
It’s a text to a former boss.
It’s a shout-out on a podcast.
It’s paying for a meal without being asked.
The Nuance: It's Not Just for Celebs
While the give them their flowers meaning is often applied to celebrities, it’s most powerful in your own kitchen or office.
Think about your mom. Or that one teacher who told you that you weren't actually bad at math, you just needed a different perspective. We often carry these debts of gratitude for decades. We assume they know how we feel. They usually don't.
There is a certain urgency to it. Life is famously unpredictable. The "flowers" metaphor works because flowers are temporary. They wilt. People are the same. If you wait for the "perfect" time to show appreciation, you’ll probably miss the window.
Common Misconceptions
People sometimes think "giving flowers" is just about being nice. It's not. It’s about justice.
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It’s about making sure the credit goes to the right person before the narrative gets rewritten by whoever is loudest. In the business world, this looks like making sure a junior employee gets called out by name in a meeting for the idea they came up with. In music, it’s making sure the sample is cleared and the original artist is credited.
How to Give Flowers Without Being Weird
If you want to actually apply the give them their flowers meaning to your life, you don't need a bouquet.
- Be Specific. Don't just say "you're great." Say "the way you handled that conflict last Tuesday really taught me something about patience." Specificity is the difference between a platitude and a gift.
- Public vs. Private. Some people love the spotlight. Some people hate it. Give flowers in the medium they prefer. A public LinkedIn shout-out might be a flower for one person, while a quiet, handwritten note is a flower for another.
- Don't Expect a Kickback. If you're giving flowers just so they’ll give you some back, you’re just trading. True flowers are a one-way street. You give them because they are deserved, not because you want a favor later.
The Actionable Truth
We spend so much time critiquing. We’re experts at pointing out what’s wrong with a movie, a song, or a co-worker’s project. It’s easy to be a critic. It’s much harder—and much more impactful—to be a fan.
The next time you think something nice about someone, say it. Immediately. Don't let the thought sit in your head until it gets stale. Write the email. Send the text. Post the photo.
The give them their flowers meaning isn't just a phrase; it's a way of moving through the world that acknowledges we're all just trying to do something meaningful before our time is up.
Start by identifying three people today who have influenced your path. They don't have to be famous. They just have to be relevant to your story. Send one message to each, specifically detailing one thing they did that helped you. Don't ask for anything in return. Just leave the "flowers" at the door and walk away. This practice transforms your environment from one of competition to one of mutual elevation, ensuring that the people who matter most never have to wonder if their efforts were seen.