Women are agents of chaos… In between working, cooking, cleaning, raising kids, looking good and tackling all the other things on their plates, many still find time to create a little drama when life gets boring. Often, at the expense of the men in their lives.
Whether it’s a casual quip like, “Do you ever wish you were more athletic?” or deliberately infuriating them by playing dumb about finances, ladies are digging deep in their arsenal to find ways to rage-bait men. Just to sit back and watch the male ego short-circuit and the alpha brain do back-flips.
Someone recently asked, “What’s something you’ve said to a man that’s absolutely rage bait and has never failed to piss them off?” and the internet went wilder than a guy who has just fallen for the bait. Thousands of women revealed their go-to methods for provoking men and sending them into a complete spiral.
Bored Panda has compiled a list of the best answers for you to scroll through while you plot out your next deliberate argument. Some are funny, others not so much. All are tried-and-tested triggers that these girls swear by for a quick win.
We also unpack whether rage-baiting is harmful or fair game, and what to do when you’re on the receiving end of the hook. You’ll find that info between the images.
#1
When men used to tell me I looked better when I didn’t wear my glasses, I’d respond with ‘You also look better when I don’t wear my glasses.’
Image source: authorardow, YuriArcursPeopleimages/Envato (not the actual photo)
#2
We were rafting and a man was trying to make fun of his wife for forgetting to pack his water shoes and I was like, wow that’s embarrassing you don’t know how to pack shoes and need your wife to do it for you. She laughed, he did not.
Image source: ElmAndHound, lightpoet/Envato (not the actual photo)
#3
I was wearing a NY hat and he said “quick name 5 players on that team” l said “quick name 5 women that feel safe around you”.
Image source: mmmaremaremare, jm_video/Envato (not the actual photo)
#4
Told an opinionated coworker “I’m not taking advice from a guy who looks like he owes his grandma money.” Dude flipped his 💩. Mission accomplished.
Image source: Cindy Shackels Almanza, pondsaksit/Envato (not the actual photo)
#5
Refer to their job as a “male” job…”this is Jason, he’s a male engineer.”
Image source: Gen X Queen🇦🇺, ckstockphoto/Envato (not the actual photo)
#6
when they tell you to smile more reply back with “you first” and when they smile say “good boy” and walk away.
Image source: Devon, JoseCalsina/Envato (not the actual photo)
#7
When an ex started a fight for no reason, I held my finger up, said, ‘Wait a second,’ walked away, and came back with a blanket. I placed it on his shoulders and told him, ‘Now, you’re super mad.’
I’ve never seen a man go red SO fast.
Image source: ladybug.royal, alexlucru123/Envato (not the actual photo)
#8
“Let’s talk about this when you’re less emotional”
Image source: Itsmebeccap, Tirachard/Envato (not the actual photo)
#9
A boss told me I’d look better with make up on. I told him he’d look better with hair. He just walked away and never brought it up again. Mind you I was 21, tan, fit, and living in Huntington Beach.
Image source: Beatthebugs2, DragonImages/Envato (not the actual photo)
#10
If a man ever ask what you bring to the table respond with “what are you lacking that you need a woman to provide for you.” F**king devastates them.
Image source: Amanda_faith
#11
Referring to their lifted pick-up truck as “gender affirming care.”
Image source: Virginia🇨🇦, LightFieldStudios/Envato (not the actual photo)
#12
My ex husband called me a “_” (fill in the blank) laughed and told him I’d been called worse. He said what. I said his wife.
Image source: Kayla, RN , StockRocketStudio/Freepik (not the actual photo)
#13
When they approach me for my number I tell them I don’t have any cash or spare change. Shocked, hurt, confusion, and they leave me alone.
Image source: VeeBaby, valeriygoncharukphoto/Envato (not the actual photo)
#14
Halfway through them mansplaining I say “it’s fine if you don’t know, I’ll just google it.”
Image source: Jewelz
#15
I’m 6’1” and men in public will gaggle at me like I’m a circus animal. They’ll ask me how tall I am and I’ll say something completely wrong like 5’8” and slowly watch their confusion turn to anger as they reevaluate their own height.
Image source: Kayak, vadymvdrobot/Envato (not the actual photo)
#16
He told me that women should stay home and look after the kids. I told him, ‘Your salary and status in life should match that.’ Silence.
Image source: e_m_k_a_h, Prostock-studio/Envato (not the actual photo)
#17
When he says he’s an “alpha” male, I respond, “So, Team Jacob?” They never fail to crash out. Or, if they have a wolf tattoo, I always tell them that I love their Twilight tattoo.
Image source: Jennifer Brothers, Lionsgate
#18
“if you can’t drop your weights quietly then maybe they’re too heavy for you” always sends them into a rage. But also, stop throwing your GD weights.
Image source: Elizabeth Frohlich, ASphotostudio/Envato (not the actual photo)
#19
“Damn that’s a lot of anger. You should get your hormones checked.”
Image source: cy
#20
I have a work colleague who is the most misogynistic guy I’ve ever met. One day, while he was giving one of his misinformed speeches about women, we started to argue… When he got emotional, I asked him if he was on his period.
He didn’t speak to me for a week.
Image source: xyden23, DC_Studio/Envato (not the actual photo)
#21
If he’s getting in your face say “imma need you to be like your hairline and take a few steps back.”
Image source: Areli, Rawpixel/Envato (not the actual photo)
#22
I had a random dude being condescing about my German shepherd being “a lot of dog” for me. My highly titled, nationally placed GSD that I bred and trained myself. I said, “well they do need a handler that’s a clear and consistent communicator, so they actually do amazing with women.”
Image source: Big Woof & Little Floof
#23
I wear hearing aids in both ears. Once during an argument I took them out, laid them on the counter and said I don’t want to hear what you have to say anymore and walked away.
Image source: MrsKoolaid
#24
I had a customer tell me “not to get smart” with them, I said “but how would you know” *click
Image source: Jennifer Kersey Crittenden
#25
Whenever (an old man) asks why they sent a female on the ambulance I always tell them they’ve always relied on a woman to take care of them, why change the status quo now?
Image source: jena
#26
A man once told me that drinking wasn’t ‘cute.’ I told him I wasn’t trying to be cute, I was trying to be drunk, so being around him would be more enjoyable.
Image source: megsblit
#27
I was mowing the lawn when an older man yelled at me because, in order to mow the edge, I had to drive on the street for about two seconds. (Yes, I looked first, but he was flying around a turn). He told my husband that he should be mowing. I looked at him and said, ‘My husband just gave himself a manicure (he had just finished cutting his nails), and doesn’t want to ruin it.’
They both scowled at me. It was a two-for-one.
Image source: insanelayne213, astrakanimages/Envato (not the actual photo)
#28
A Nigerian lady in TT told her husband wisdom is chasing him, but he’s faster.
Image source: Sanet Van Der Walt
#29
Man was mansplaining something to me and when he finished I said “oh when I don’t understand something I also say it out loud to try and work it out, great that you felt comfortable to say all that in front of me, do you need me to tell where you got it wrong?”
Image source: sorryigotthegiggles
#30
“You look like you’re about to cry” anytime they are having a temper tantrum.
Image source: J
#31
This is very person specific. Co-worker is Irish and thinks he can get away with anything because of it. When he really pisses me off, I just ask “remind me what part of England are you from?” iykyk
Image source: Cindilou
#32
When he turns on golf I just continuously ask why our lawn doesn’t look like that.
Image source: Tiffany, dotshock/Envato (not the actual photo)
#33
I ask “If you were athletic, what sport would you play?”
Image source: tanishaD, JoseCalsina/Envato (not the actual photo)
#34
I work with “an alpha” and every day I tell him I like his top (polo) or his blouse (button down). He ducks when he sees me coming but I always make a point of walking down his aisle to compliment him.
Image source: Katie Noel Lund
#35
I work in construction, and my favorite thing to do when a guy is crashing out on-site is to ask him, ‘You’re having some big feelings today, huh?’ It works every time.
Image source: jrealzzz, wosunan/Envato (not the actual photo)
#36
I’m a bartender, and when guys hold empty glasses up at me or just gesture for something, I always say, ‘Let’s use our big boy words!'”
Image source: uglynymph
#37
When they mention Star Wars I love saying “omg you like Disney?”
Image source: Zen Cosmos, luismanuelm/Envato (not the actual photo)
#38
Ask him what music he’s into, after he’s done listing only male musicians and male bands, make sure to say, ‘wow you’re really into boy bands.’
Image source: SuzySwitch, jm_video/Envato (not the actual photo)
#39
“Good afternoon ladies and sons of ladies.”
Image source: Kim Clark
#40
Short guy at work was talking sh*t, I told him to get a ladder and say it to my face.
Image source: RaeLynn
#41
Nevermind I’ll just ask my Dad.
Image source: rinrare
#42
I’m broad shouldered and naturally muscular with ball player feet. Whenever men tease me I just tell them they’re just jealous I’m more man-sized than they are.
Image source: Nunyabizsnoopy
#43
“You’re acting like that on purpose?”
Image source: ambersnowder27
#44
You have the confidence of a much taller man.
Image source: …..593
#45
“I love your pixie cut.”
Image source: Katie , monkeybusiness/Envato (not the actual photo)
#46
Once I called Travis Kelce ‘Taylor Swift’s boyfriend,’ unironically.”
I’m not a Swiftie, but boy, it sent some men into a spiral. I use it pretty often now.
Image source: chrissielynn6
#47
When I shake their hands I say “ ohhhh not a callous on your hand. They are so soft” they are immediately triggered.
Image source: Cole
#48
Don’t say anything, just look at their hairline while they’re talking. Make it obvious. Then don’t address it. They get big mad.
Image source: Saundra, irinapavlova1/Envato (not the actual photo)
#49
Asking military guys if they like wearing matching costumes with their friends.
Image source: Mal, AnnaStills/Envato (not the actual photo)
#50
Easy. Stare at their hair while they’re talking. Then just say “did they mean to cut your hair like that?”
Image source: Ri
#51
Dude at work got mouthy about “man’s work” he’s maybe 5’3’’ I popped off “well tinker bell at least it’s cute for me to be short” and went about do a man’s job!
Image source: 🤍🎀BethrzKay🎀🤍
#52
They do NOT like it when you refer to their favourite sports team’s uniforms as “matching costumes”, especially if they’re also wearing a jersey.
Image source: Maddie
#53
Personally I love to use “you have a lot of opinions for a guy who looks like he carries a Velcro wallet.”
Image source: alr914
#54
Asked an ex if he had an Oedipus complex after meeting his mom cause he consistently went after 5’5″ blonds (same hight and hair color as his mom), he had to Google it before he could get mad and he’s consistently went after Hispanic girls after me.
Image source: Miranda Garmany
#55
“I’m sorry were you waiting for a woman to do that for you?”
Image source: Shay ✨Mommy
#56
One time when my partner and I were arguing, I scrolled back and copied/pasted some of his old texts to me from a previous argument and sent them to him as my responses. He crashed OUT. It was great!
Image source: kyrierichardson
#57
Ask them, ‘Why do you walk like that?’ They’ll usually say, ‘Like what?’
Then you follow up with, ‘Oh. Well, if you’ve never noticed, don’t worry…I guess’. It drives them nuts.
Image source: innocent_libra
#58
We had a fight – he said that He never had so many Fights with a Woman! so I said: well, a relationship can not work when both are in the feminine Energy.
HE WENT CRAZY.
Image source: Diva
#59
I gaslit a man for hours at the bar that I didn’t know who Tom Brady was and when he showed me a picture I said “ohhhh Giselle’s husband???” (This was when they were still together lol)
Image source: Kelly
#60
“Do you ever wish you were taller?” Doesn’t matter how tall they are.
Image source: Nat, isitophotostock/Envato (not the actual photo)
#61
“So how are you navigating the male loneliness epidemic? Seems like it probably hit you pretty hard, huh?”
Image source: TheRentedNest
#62
“You look like you read with your finger.”
Image source: alexxxxxx
#63
“I faked it every time.”
Image source: suzie
#64
When my husband pisses me off I say “okay easy, current husband” just to remind him.
Image source: shelbistucki, Zinkevych_D/Envato (not the actual photo)
#65
I once told my husband “you talk a lot of s**t for someone who hasn’t been to the dentist in 6 years.”
Image source: ValerieMaironis
#66
Tell them they look like they can’t hop a fence, then even IF they do in front of you, still say ‘well, you still LOOK like you can’t.’
Image source: Arylwyn
#67
“It’s okay lil guy, my dad didn’t love me either.”
Image source: MissIvy
#68
Taking one of Kyle Prue’s ideas I usually say “oh so it’s like Kohl’s cash” every time some guy starts explaining bitcoin.
Image source: Kales
#69
My husband is a foreman or superintendent something for a pipe company and occasionally I’ll ask “Do you ever wish you had a REAL blue collar job?” Or if his clothes are dirtier than normal I’ll say “these are awfully dirty for someone that sits in his truck all day.”
Image source: Taylor
#70
The absolute rage bait is saying you don’t want kids.
Image source: _𝐬𝐚.𝐤𝐚𝐲𝐚
#71
“Maybe someday I’ll get to be the girl in a relationship” haha 🤣 it didn’t go well.
Image source: steph_not_beth
#72
Respond to long texts with pop off queen.
Image source: Lex Paige
#73
“It’s not my fault your mom doesn’t love you, don’t take it out on me.”
Image source: Kylie Melo
#74
“I feel like you’re jealous of Dave Matthews.” Bring it up when you’re being quiet together, like on a long drive. Scowl and make it seem like you’ve been trying to put your finger on it for months or even years.
Image source: Molls
#75
“You’re not hot enough to talk to me like that.”
Image source: Racheal Roberts
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