What does FTW mean and where did it come from?

I’ve lead a sheltered life so I’ve only ever encountered FTW on Twitter and in text messages and assumed it to mean WTF (What the F**k) backwards to emphasize some additional confusion mixed with exasperation.

It turns out the letters FTW actually stand for For The Win.

It seems the expression originated on a TV game show called Hollywood Squares in which the host would precede the winning question with “For the win…”

Here’s a clip in which the host John Davidson uses the expression (in the last minute of the video):

FTW – For The Win – Is used as an excited exclamation – although sometimes used in a sarcastic way.

Search YouTube for FTW and you’ll find lots of  ‘how to’ videos.

What else could it mean? Another commonly accepted meaning:

F**k The World – When used in anger. How rude!!