Rickroll
What does Rickroll mean?
Rickroll is a prank in which someone is tricked into opening a link or video that unexpectedly plays Rick Astley's 1987 song 'Never Gonna Give You Up.'
Rickroll used in a sentence
“The link promised the leaked test answers, but it was a Rickroll and the whole class groaned.”
This example shows the term in context rather than treating the definition as a literal word-for-word substitution. Slang often depends on tone, audience, and the conversation around it.
How do you use Rickroll?
Rickrolls are a classic bait-and-switch: a tempting headline, QR code, or link leads to the music video instead. People also Rickroll friends by quoting the lyrics in conversation or hiding the song in unexpected places. Being Rickrolled is usually treated as a harmless joke, and the meme has stayed popular across generations.
Where did Rickroll come from?
Rickrolling grew out of 'duckrolling' on 4chan, where a word filter turned 'egg roll' into 'duck roll' and users posted misleading links to an image of a duck on wheels. In 2007, users began swapping in Astley's music video, notably via a fake Grand Theft Auto IV trailer link. The prank went mainstream soon after, and the video has since surpassed a billion YouTube views.
Common variations of Rickroll
Rickrolled
The past-tense form for having fallen for the prank.
Rickroll: frequently asked questions
What song is used in a Rickroll?
Rick Astley's 1987 hit 'Never Gonna Give You Up.'
When did Rickrolling start?
The prank emerged on 4chan in 2007, growing out of the earlier duckroll joke.