Internet slang, short for "Oh, really?". Used in the following ways; often sarcastic:1. In response to someone who has said/pointed out something very obvious2. In response to someone who has insulted you or has aggressively disagreed with you3. In response to a boring, nerdy comment you don't understand or care about (i.e. a peice of trivia)4. In response to a comment that seems hard to believe or a lieOccasionally some will respond to an "O rly?" comment with "ya rly" or "rly", but this is lame and not recommended.
The call of the common Surprised Owl of Internet Land. The Surprised Owl lives in a symbiotic relationship with another species, unlike many of it's real world counterparts. The Surprised Owl depends on the call of rarer Unflappable Owl and vice versa to provide mutual acknowlegdement of each others existance, thus reafirming the fact that they continue to exist, and thus perpetuating their existance. For if either owl fails to respond, the other will soon perish and upset the delicate balance that exists in Internet Cliche Kingdom.
The response is not due to inherent lameness but rather through necessity. Many believe in the exist of other owls, especially the Proper Owl, but scientists have continued to discount all evidence.
Example: Person: The USA should not have invaded Iraq as they only did this for the purposes of acquiring access to oil supplies. Other countries such as North Korea are far more secretive and uncontrolled as far as nuclear power are concerned, but they have no oil, so clearly their nuclear capabilities and human rights abuses are irrelevant.
Means Oh Really?
Often used with a white owl, occasionally decked out in different costumes for uses such as "Quite Rly" (With a monocle and pipe) Often used for sarcasm or just to be an internet nerd.
O RLY is simply a shorthand version of "Oh Really" It is often used on the internet to express either doubt or disinterest in something. O RLY is usually followed by YA RLY which is sometimes followed by NO Wai.
O RLY is commonly accompanied by a picture of an owl. The snowy white old was the original I RLY owl, and it started at a message board called 4chan. It's unknown as to why an owl was chosen to represent O RLY. It's probably because an owl's wise, inquisitive eyes are the perfect way to express the dubiety of a situation. The owl KNOWS.
Sometimes it is accompanied with boobies (the bird silly)
Example: http://owlolboobies.ytmnd .com/ <O rly Owl with bird boobies
"-I say, old bean! I must express my astonishment of your claim!
Is this fact, or a clever ruse?
-I quite understand your disbelief. Sir, however I must say that me previous claim was indeed truthful!