What The African American Vernacular English Saying "Understood The Assignment" Means & Examples Of Other Ways Of Saying It

Maxwell Jennings, June 19, 2021

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post presents information about and examples of the African American saying "___ understood the assignment".

This post also showcases a YouTube video clip of a Nigerian bride performing at her wedding reception and includes selected comments from that video's discussion thread.

Also included in this post are different ways that the commenters wrote that the bride really excelled at her dancing.

The content of this post is presented for linguistic and cultural purposes.

All copyright remains with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to all those who are featured in this showcase video and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.

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WHAT "UNDERSTOOD THE ASSIGNMENT" MEANS
Excerpt #1
From https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=She%20understood%20the%20assignment

"She understood the assignment

A phrase used when someone is giving it 110%

 Weather it’s what they’re doing, what they’re wearing, someone who is really on top of their sh-t*

She slayed that outfit, she understood the assignment!

by PAA_Student November 10, 2019
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out in this comment.

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Excerpt #2
From https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/mmkde4/always_understand_the_assignment_meaning/ Posted byu/Consistent-Low-1892, May 2021
"Always Understand the Assignment Meaning

Discussion

Hi, everyone has anyone heard the meaning “ They Always Understand the Assignment” it’s a catchphrase that, when paired with images of an actor or an actress in their various roles, is used as a way of complimenting their acting skill and range. I just found this out today on Twitter. For example:” will always understand the assignment" Has anyone else seen it on their Twitter page?

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Reply
No_Fondant1939, 2m August 2021
"yes. not sure where it came from but it's been a black colloquialism forever! but now somehow it's been misconstrued into being a film/tv actor assessment or whatever. probably by white people with no zero black friends"

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Excerpt #3
From https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/they-always-understand-the-assignment

They Always Understand the Assignment [Meme]

Added by Philipp, April 2021

Updated 2 months ago by Zach, June 2021

"About

They Always Understand the Assignment is a catchphrase that, when paired with images of an actor or an actress in their various roles, is used as a way of complimenting their acting skill and range. Originating from a viral tweet, the meme and phrasal template gained popularity in March and April 2021, mainly on Twitter.

Origin

On March 12th, 2021, Twitter[1] user @thering26 posted four images of actress Uma Thurman in her roles from Kill Bill, Pulp Fiction, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen and Batman & Robin, writing "Uma Thurman will always understand the assignment" to compliment on her acting skill and range. The post (shown below) received over 24,800 retweets and 145,500 likes in one month.

[…]

Spread

Starting March 13th, 2021, Twitter users started using variations of the phrase "she always understands the assignment" to compliment various actors and actresses on their range. On that day, Twitter[2] user @BluRayAngel posted the earliest found derivative that utilized the format (shown below, left). Their post about actress Zoe Saldana received over 370 retweets and 3,000 likes in one month. On March 15th, Twitter[3] user @PleaseBeGneiss made a post about character actor Tim Curry that gained over 14,500 retweets and 129,000 likes in the same period (shown below, right).

[…]

In mid-to-late March, multiple tweets using the format were posted on Twitter, including viral tweets about Bratz dolls[4] (23,800 likes), actor Nicholas Hoult[5] (30,000 likes) and actress Viola Davis[6] (46,500 likes) (shown below, left to right).

[…]

Twitter user @balladofsongs' tweet prompted a surge in the popularity of the format, with multiple viral versions being posted in early April 2021, including tweets parodying the trend.”…

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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS POST'S SHOWCASE VIDEO  

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goXfcsJpkEs&ab_channel=VivianOkezie

(These comments were published from June to August 29, 2021. 

Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.)

1. S E
"She understood the assignment and graduated with flying colors!!! PERIODTTT"

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2. Jackie Jackson
"Yeeeeeaassss!!! The bride understood the assignment and had the students taking notes. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽"

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Reply
3. syndy Sparks
"Yassssss she ate everything and left no crumbs. Periottttt💯💯💯🥵🥵💃💃💃💃💃😢😢😢"

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Reply
4. Tee Tee
"She sure did 😂💃🏿"

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Reply
5. Trish
"🤣😂🤣😂😅got that right 🤣"

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Reply
6. Oma
"The husband is evidently a student, shoved forward by more enthusiastic students! Hope he is OK with the assignment now! 🤣"

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7. Jennifer Angel Prempeh
"She understood the assignment because she’s the teacher lol 🎉🎉"

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8. Kathy TeMoney
"I'm outta breath looking at her....but I remember those days.....SHE SHOWED UP, AND SHOWED OUT!!!! 👏🏽👍🏼👏🏽👍🏼👏🏽👍🏼👏🏽👍🏼👏🏽👍🏼👏🏽👍🏼"

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9. Estah
"She even did extra credit!!!🔥🔥🔥"

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10. Safi Wabufumu
"She’s on fire 🔥 and I love it 😍"

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11. YourstrulyAlisa
"She DID THAT! No holding back.. that's how you do it"

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12. elizabeth yeboah
"Number 1 you are the best killed it"

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13. Deborah Smith
"She is going off!!!!🤣🤣🤣🤣Love love her entire outfit! Girl I’m shouting for you too!!!!👰🏽💃🏾💃🏾💃🏾💃🏾"

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14. Elle
"Show them gal how it's done yeah 🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌😊😊😊"

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15. Beverly Boateng
"You go girl you nailed it.Wish them all the best..👍🎉👏🏼"

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16. Becks90
"More than understood the assignment 👌🏾"

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17. Frank Onumah
"Assignment was carried out perfectly"

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18. Julie Moore
"Chile! She killed THAT!🥰"

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19. donna dixon
"Yes ma’am. She gets bonus points. A++"

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20. Hope Faith
"You did that baby girl!!!"

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21. chizoba muoneke
"She really understood the assignment.

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22. Ngozi Atiti Vlogs
"The bride did not come to play 🤣 she ate it and left no crumbs 🙌🏾"

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23. NickiNickie Nicky
"She LIT 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥"

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24. Elle
"Show them gal how it's done yeah 🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌😊😊😊"

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25. Staci LIGHTFOOT
"Class is in session ppl"

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26. Milcah jagboro
"Wahala for who no sabi dance oh!!! See stepper of life nah !"
-snip-
Here's my attempt at translating this Nigerian Pidgin English comment: (Additions & Corrections please.)
[She's] really trouble for those who don't know how to dance. See the stepper [dancer] for life.  

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27. Victoria Awe
"She meant it o. Excellent"

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28. Fun Viral Videos
"Bride is straight fiiirrrreeer🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥"

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29. Annette Norwood
"Nothing like a QUEEN pick em up, and Slay"

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30. NickiNickie Nicky
"She LIT 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥"

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31. Gold-in- Melanin
"No it's her day everyone else misunderstood the assignment!"

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32. Hors Chiday
"She didn’t understand the assignment she IS the assignment 🤯"

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33. JOY4 JOY
"Oh my, she’s awesome with those dance steps, she killed,fry&roasted the dance 💃. Congratulations to the couple." 

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