Everyone has a go-to emoji. Mine is something I've always called "Swoopie Star.” I use it whenever I want to convey excitement, or when I don't know what else to say but want to express a general zeal for life. Sometimes I use it as the closest approximation of the "More You Know" gif.
Turns out I don't have the first clue what the hell I'm doing. But then, neither do you. We're all doing emoji wrong. Horribly, horribly wrong. Good thing the folks at Unicode are here to save us.
More on that in a moment. First, back to Swoopie Star. Turns out it's actually "Dizzy Star,” and it means exactly what you think it does: It’s meant to communicate dizziness or disorientation. Which means none of this makes any sense:
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Yeah, we've all been doing this wrong. You've been employing this one to convey anger, haven't you? Don't worry, you're not alone. After all, it does remind you of an angry bull, blowing steam from its nostrils. But alas, no. Unicode says it's intended to convey triumph and "winning"—as nose steam, naturally, does. For example, I'm sure this woman was angry about her stolen tuna, not triumphant.
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The notes read: "Propose changing the chart glyph to remove the 'steam from nose,' to appear like it is winning, not angry/fed up. Consider whether this will change the interpretation in Japan."
You likely thought this was a look of shock, or maybe even sadness. It's not—it's a frowny face. That bereft little orange globe isn't sadly surprised, it's closer to "so angry I can't believe it." Look back on how you've used it: Yeah. Incorrectly.
Unicode plans to close the mouth a little and add some defining eyebrows to try and amend the situation.
Here's a fan favorite: the "Information Desk Person," whom everyone I have ever communicated with via emoji has used to exude an air of sassiness. But, as the name suggests, this emoji is intended to give off a generally helpful vibe, her extended hand a gesture of gleeful cooperation, not a hair flip.
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Unicode doesn't have a fix for this one, but would like you to know you've—again—been doing it wrong.
Unicode's annotation clarifies that Weary Cat Face "indicates tired, not horrified." Not sure I buy it. Weary Cat has always been truly, utterly terrified.
There are no proposed changes to Weary Cat Face at this time, which is probably for the best. Never change, Weary Cat Face. Never change.
