You Win This Time!

What is drawn

The image is done in harsh black-and-white linework. The character's mouth is wide open, teeth clenched, eyes bulging, brows drawn together. Rough hatching runs along the outline of the face, making the expression almost aggressive. At the lower left is a fist with an extended finger pointing up toward the face.

The caption “YOU WIN / THIS TIME” is written in large letters in the lower right corner. It is the text that turns the grimace from anger into an admission. Without the caption the face reads as a flash of irritation; with it, as a forced surrender.

Where the format came from

Rage comics are short drawn stories of several panels in which characters react to life situations with exaggerated emotions. The format became popular on forums and in communities in the early 2010s. Faces from these comics eventually turned into standalone templates that were carried over to different captions, even without the original story.

The first appearance

The earliest known appearance of this face is dated to February 11, 2011. It appeared in a comic on a Spanish-language humor site. The plot is simple: a student who did not study for a math test hears from the teacher that the test is easy for those who prepared. In the last panel the disappointed student admits that this time the teacher won.

The author of the original comic is not named, so it is impossible to say who drew the face. Only the place of first publication and the plot about a defeat that has to be admitted are known. The first English-language version appeared later, in January 2012.

How the face is used

The template is used when you need to admit defeat with a hint of irritation. It is not full capitulation, but a reluctantly spoken “fine, you win.” The face most often appears in response to someone else's clever move, an unexpected success, or a blow to one's pride. The same grimace fits studying, arguments in messages, and games where the opponent turned out stronger.

The image was especially actively used in the Spanish-speaking internet. In its drawing it resembles the Sweet Jesus face, which also expresses gloomy acceptance of an unpleasant situation. The details differ, but the function is the same: to show that the opponent's victory is acknowledged, even if with difficulty.

Examples of captions

“You said you did everything in one evening, and I argued with a spreadsheet for half an hour.” The caption acknowledges someone else's efficiency and keeps the envy. The contrast between the calm tone and the sharp grimace is what makes it funny.

“Fine, you win this time, but next move is mine.” The face serves as the lead-in to a promise of revenge. The joke holds because the admission sounds reluctant, while the threat stays soft.

“A colleague said he has zero unread emails.” An unexpected piece of news becomes a reason to surrender. The deliberately gloomy face makes the reaction funny.

“I was almost figuring out how this function works, and you already made it faster.” The defeat concerns technique, not an argument. The person gives up before someone else's result rather than before words.

Tips for use

The template works best in situations of minor rivalry where the stakes are low: games, studies, workplace jokes. In serious conflicts the grimace looks out of place, because it turns a real dispute into a comic pose.

The caption should be short and addressed to a specific “winner”: instead of general words about losing, it is better to name exactly where the opponent proved stronger. Then the comedy grows, because the viewer sees both anger and admiration at the same time.