rubbernecking

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English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

rubber +‎ necking

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /ˈɹʊbɚˌnɛkɪŋ/
  • (file)
  • Hyphenation: rub‧ber‧neck‧ing

Noun[edit]

rubbernecking (uncountable)

  1. The act of slowing down whilst driving a vehicle, in order to see the scene of an accident.
    • 2004, Robert G. Ferrell, Tangent: A Novel[1], →ISBN, page 131:
      "The resulting wreckage blocks the entire southbound side of the Interstate, while the inevitable rubbernecking slows traffic on the northbound side to little more than the speed of a brisk walk."
  2. Generally, any act of observation in a manner considered unduly overt or otherwise unseemly.
    The children had never been in such a large museum and their rubbernecking was rather amusing.

Translations[edit]

Verb[edit]

rubbernecking

  1. present participle and gerund of rubberneck
    • 2006, Jack Myers, Row House Blues[2], →ISBN, page 339:
      "Kids all up and down the Triboro corridors are staring, I can sense it. Why are they rubbernecking, what are they staring at?"

See also[edit]