Bored in lockdown? Unable to head to the workshop and build that gadget you've been designing for the last three months? Think there's nothing better than a meme to brighten up a dull day? Fret no longer, bored engineers! Especially for you, we’ve got our engineering meme game on and compiled 10 of the best. If you’re at home relaxing during the lockdown, kick back and enjoy some well-earned laughs; or, if you’re meant to be working or studying, get on with that design/as-built/research/assignment you lazy so-and-so! (But maybe after a well-earned meme break.)

Hate memes? Maybe you'll find comfort in our list of things engineers hate

1. Bodge it and scarper

Science – perfection, proof, beauty. Engineering - come on, we can all relate to sticking something together with an engineer’s best friend – duct tape. It’s likely even the golden gate bridge and Sydney opera house have got some duct tape stopping them from falling apart.

2. Green day

Simple, eye-catching, funny (or groan-worthy depending on your sense of humour). Could this be the perfect engineering meme? It’s surely a good candidate. It’s right up there with: Geothermal energy – it’s so hot right now. Ok, ok, we’ll stop there before your sides split.

3. Can’t cook, won’t cook

I once knew an engineering student who was frantically frying up a steak at 23:55 one night. I asked what he was doing, and he replied: “I’ve got to eat it now, it goes past it’s sell-by-date in five minutes!”. Says it all really. Engineers – we can build bridges, but can’t boil eggs. Not properly anyway.

4. Hakuna Matata – it’s a trouble-free philosophy

It’s that famous scene from the Lion King - Mufasa and Simba ruminating on life as engineers. The sad thing is – it’s completely true. Not the scene, but the sentiment. When you’re off work, you’re still at work these days with the curse of mobile technology. It’s a 24-hour job for many engineers sadly. But at least we get to engineer cool stuff.

5. So, you’re an engineer?

Yes, we’re seen in a myriad of different ways. From superheroes and star fleet commanders to steam engineers. Unfortunately, the reality is nowhere near as cool as the fantasy. I bet Brunel didn’t have to fill in hundreds of forms. Unless that was what he kept in his stovepipe hat.

6. Breaking bad

We may not turn to selling crystal meth, but most engineers end up looking like Walter White – by the age of 26. Better call Saul.

7. The Lynx effect

Spraying yourself with deodorant is about the closest some engineers get to personal grooming. We all know an engineer who seems to never go home, wash their clothes and is single-handedly saving the world from the water crisis. Just make sure it isn’t you.

8. Looking for a handsome engineer – must have GSOH (and never work overtime…)

Quite a few of these memes seem to make out that engineering sucks up all your time, makes you unable to hold down a relationship, or indeed look after yourself in a basic manner… ok, they’re not exactly a great advert for engineering. It’s not that bad. Again, you get to engineer cool stuff.

9. I am the operator of my pocket calculator

This one may remind you of your school days, typing 5318008 into your Casio then turning it upside down… oh the laughs we had. Today’s kids with their I-phones will never experience that particular joy. They don’t know what they’re missing.

10. Job hunting? Make a hobbit out of it

If you’re currently looking for your first engineering job, or you remember what it’s like, you’ll relate to Frodo’s pain. Stick with it. Eventually, you’ll land that dream engineering job and you’ll start getting more experience than you know what to do with.

All memed out – time to get back to work!

So, that’s it. Ten of the best (or worst, depending on your perspective) memes to have hit our email inboxes in recent years. No doubt there will be more to come. It seems that engineering as a profession provides good fodder for memes. So, if you’re looking for more work avoidance tactics, maybe you can think up and create some of your own – someone has to come up with them after all.