The phrase comes from the time cards used in SpongeBob SquarePants, where a narrator announces how much time has passed between scenes. Editors began lifting the line for online videos because audiences already understood the joke without any explanation. It spread through YouTube compilations, reaction videos, and short-form edits, becoming a shorthand for a comedic time skip. Its staying power comes from that instant recognition, which lets creators move a story forward while keeping the humour light.