I learned a new word today, so... of course I had to share it. Those of you who have been reading this blog for a while, know that I am compelled to share new stuff about language... especially if the word has developed recently and strikes me as a perfect descriptor of our world, although I do love old, even antiquated, words as well -- if they are fun to say out loud.
It appears that this word appeared between 2010 and 2015 as a result of an experiment of sorts. Picture this. A bunch of lexicographers, authors and poets got together to make a new word that is a combination of phone and snub. Now exactly why they set about to do this, I have no idea. Perhaps it was because a new word was necessary to describe a relatively new, (annoying) phenomenon. I do love the result of their work.
Picture sitting at the dinner table with a group of adults -- some of whom are on their phones ignoring the rest of the people there, or call to mind trying to talk to a grandchild while they are thumb texting. The situations are endless and I know that you have been there. We all have... and we know how it feels. Right?
The word?
PHUB
[fuhb] verb
I think it's perfect.
Definition: to ignore a person or one's surroundings when in a social situation by busying oneself with a phone or other mobile device.
Personally I find phubbing disturbing. Look around. It's everywhere. I am especially flummoxed by the situation where a person is phubbing while walking in the street. Stupidity at its best. Ah -- Flummoxed by Phubbing. Say that five times real fast.
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