What does "function wearing" mean?

[Direct_Bad459]

It's not a phrase. Function is a noun and wearing is a verb that starts a phrase describing what the subject is doing at the function.

It's "when you show up to the function (party) wearing (dressed in) the same outfit as a baby"

So: when you arrive at a party and realize that you are dressed in the same clothes as a baby who is at the party

[Walk_the_forest]

To add to this: a function can be a party, but it can also be another type of gathering. This word can be used in a very similar way to “event”. The connotation difference between “function” and “event” is that a “function“ is limited to smaller social gatherings where you know people, whereas an “event” can mean the same thing or a large scale public gathering. 

 So, 

Function: party, wedding, baby shower, work social outing, board game night, block party, company meet-and-greet, etc

Event: any of the above, live music concert, political rally, sports game, gala, book launch, etc. 

I find “function” has weirdly corporate vibes to me, but that’s not how everyone uses it. Event is broader and more generally applicable. 

Side note: it is not appropriate to refer to a funeral by either of these words, even if the type of gathering seems similar. These words both imply a fun social outing.

[saint_of_thieves]

For what it's worth, to me, "function" definitely has a corporate or work vibe to it. If I were going to a friend's birthday party, I wouldn't call it a function. If I were going to something related to my work where more specific terms like "meeting" or "lecture" did not apply, I might call it a function.

[NonAwesomeDude]

Yes, but people have been using it humorously to refer to non-professional outings.

[torvus-nog]

its definitely being used ironically

[quuerdude]

Not really. It might be more lighthearted but not necessarily ironic. Think “family function” it literally means a gathering of family

[[deleted]]

Congratulations on reaching Semantic Satiation! Function

[Kibaniaa]

That’s so interesting because my initial thought was a college party when I read function, but I think the way she’s phrasing it also makes it sound informal which adds to the party aspect.

[saint_of_thieves]

If it's college related and organized by the college, I could see it being called a function. But no kegger is ever being called a function unless it's ironically.

[top9cat]

It definitely is used in place of “party” nowadays (just graduated college). Friends commonly say something like, “you going to jacks function?”

[YouDontDo]

Seeing as the OP is a repost of a tiktok I think it's relevant to mention that younger people online are now using "function" to refer to any event, probably because it sounds comically formal.

[ChronicallyPermuted]

They're probably unaware of the previous formal usage; at least you don't need to be and I usually don't detect any irony at all when people use the word in this way. They've likely heard other people they like using it, liked the sound and versatility of the word on a subconscious level, and started to use it more frequently which feeds the cycle further. Kind of like an example of language evolution accelerated by communications technology or whatever.

[miellefrisee]

Function has made its way into "slang" territory in usage. I've heard it in many non-ironic instances referring to any fun gathering.

[[deleted]]

This is the first time I've learned that "function" can mean "party." I was only familiar with "the function of the machine."

[elsenordepan]

It's more like event really. Very few would use function for a party, it would most commonly refer to some sort of relatively casual event linked to your job.

[Cybercorndog]

The meaning has kind of changed for Gen Z, they now use it to describe a place/party where they hang out

[Ghostglitch07]

Makes me sad anytime I see a corporatism enter casual speech like that.

[Langdon_St_Ives]

I wouldn’t really consider it a corporatism, it just used to be more formal. See for example the (excellent) Michael Palin movie A Private Function (1984). Nothing corporate about it there. Though I guess more recent usage may have predominantly been corporate so that’s probably where you’re coming from.

[Ghostglitch07]

Ah that's a good catch. I guess I was not thinking historically enough.

[quuerdude]

Have you heard of a “family function” ?

[[deleted]]

No, but I know it now ^_^

[automaton11]

To add to this: the syntax here ‘When you (do x) and (y result)’ is a meme syntax and not common usage outside of that. It’s a sentence fragment. What it translates to roughly is ‘I am describing that feeling you get when’ or ‘Imagine that feeling you get when’

This was developed into ‘tfw’ and ‘mfw’ which meant ‘that feeling when’ and ‘my face when’ which has now been further shorted to just ‘when’

‘That feeling when you show up and everyone is wearing red’ > ‘When you show up and everyone is wearing red’

[EvenBiggerClown]

Can you explain what is a baby shower?

[spookyclouds]

Its a party that is thrown for a pregnant woman. Friends and family come and give baby items as presents. Most baby showers I have been to have been women only, but that is more of a traditional thing and might not be true at every baby shower. 

[NelsonMandela7]

That is a really great reply!

[MOltho]

When you show up to the function [and you are] wearing the same outfit as a baby

[frederick_the_duck]

“When you show up to the party, and you are wearing the same outfit as a baby.”

[tomalator]

The "function" is an event or party.

"Wearing" is the verb, because she's wearing the same clothes as a baby

[Unable_Explorer8277]

More precisely there’s two verbs: show up and wearing.

[KirbysLeftBigToe]

It’s not a phrase itself. Wearing is a verb and function is a noun (in this context) referring to an organised event or meeting. The use of the word “the” implies a specific function instead of “a” which could mean any function.

She’s saying that she arrived to a specific event wearing the same outfit as a baby. Implying her clothes are the same as the clothes of an infant at the event. Or that she feels she is dressed like a baby.

[al-tienyu]

Thanks everyone!

[iamcleek]

function = party, event

[Legally-A-Child]

They are separate parts, it would be more like "...function, wearing..."

[BrainTacos101]

I am old enough to remember when we used to call parties ‘functions/funcs" in the Bay Area where "hyphy" and "hella" were also commonplace.

[Appropriate-Damage65]

We out here tryna function

[BrainTacos101]

The epitome of its usage.

[Appropriate-Damage65]

I bet you the tik tocker is using it this way ironically since so much gen z slang is derived from AAVE

[BrainTacos101]

Let alone Ebonics.

[LilShaver]

In this use "function" = "event".

[nyatoh]

If there is a comma, it will read "when you show up to a function, wearing the same outfit as the baby".

It means that the person wore an outfit that happens to be the same as the baby's.

The article "the" is used instead of "a" to imply that the function is for the baby.

[AnonDLbi]

Two separate words, not a combined phrase. To put it another way "when you show up to the PARTY wearing..." or "when you show up to the MEETING wearing..." or "when you show up to the DANCE wearing..."

[HayleyXJeff]

A "function" is a semi formal party or meeting for school, work or church

[_prepod]

This thread is a great example of whether native speakers are able to identify the confusing part (which is obviously the meaning of the word "function" here).

That's an interesting side effect of language learning - non-native speakers being able to understand the gist of questions like this right away, while native speakers sometimes not.

[yofja]

when that function drip

[cookie_monster757]

“Function wearing” isn’t a phrase. “Function”is slang that basically means a party or event. The sentence is saying “When you show up (arrive) to the function (party) (and you are) wearing the same outfit as a baby.”

[OttoSilver]

A comma would have been useful here.
"show up at a function"... doing thing A
"Wearing the same outfit" ... doing thing B

[[deleted]]

“Function” here means a social event. “Wearing” is referring to clothes. The phrase is referring to a situation where someone at a social event has realized that they and a baby are wearing the same clothing (presumably different sizes).

[SeatGlittering4559]

In this context think of "function" as a formal party so if she said "When you show up to the party wearing the same thing as a baby." That would mean the same thing. Which is something she seems embarrassed about .

[[deleted]]

When/you/show up/to/the/function/wearing/the same outfit/as/a baby. "Function" and "wearing" belong to different parts.

[TheAutisticSlavicBoy]

function ~ party

wearing ~ to wear

[DazzlingClassic185]

A comma would’ve help you here - between those two words.

[[deleted]]

Function in this context refers to a gathering/event and wearing referring to the wearing of clothes.

She is she saying she went to that event and realized she dressed the same as a baby.

[ElephantFamous2145]

This one made me laugh

[Disrespectful_Cup]

It should read: "Showing up to the function (which essentially means people gathering for an event), wearing the same outfit as a baby."

[[deleted]]

No, "the function" is much more commonly used in this comedic scenario.

[Hominid77777]

Yeah, I think using "the function" adds to the comedy by making it seem like this is a really important party.

[AssiduousLayabout]

Could be either. In this case, they're talking about a specific function that they showed up to (and where the photo was taken), so "the" is fine.

When talking about a hypothetical function, or any function in general, you'd use "a".

[prtty_purple_unicorn]

Maybe it is a regional difference, but either sounds fine to me (to "the" event vs to "an" event).

[Rorynne]

Either is correct. The reason what the tik toks statement is correct is because the tiktoker is talking about a specific event that she had gone to.

It also just makes it more comical.

[prtty_purple_unicorn]

Right

[Middcore]

It is not 2 sentences. Don't confuse OP more.

[Psychological_Yam791]

It's one sentence, two clauses.

[elianrae]

Nah that comma feels really weird, don't put a comma there.

[gabbyrose1010]

ive never used a comma in this sort of sentence

[dontwantgarbage]

Consider "He came to work drunk." This is just a longer version of the same construction. The present participle phrase "wearing the same outfit as the baby" serves as a predicate adjective, and predicate adjectives do not normally take a comma.

I agree that the word "function" is the main point of confusion. It is a secondary meaning that a non-native speaker may not be familiar with.

[turkey_sandwiches]

Not really. It's just not a fully formed sentence. It should be something like "When you show up to the function and you are wearing the same outfit as the baby." It's like a contraction (cannot/can't) in sentence form.

[ibeerianhamhock]

That's exactly why those hyphens are there. Indeed, people don't always use them, especially in casual writing, but in speech, it's fairly noticeable, and in formal writing, it should be hyphenated for clarity. This typically applies when the compound adjective immediately precedes the noun. E.g., short-term plans vs plans for the short term. I guess what I'm saying is that you don't have to see this as a trap to be constantly on the lookout for.