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Rubberneck - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Rubberneck means to turn one’s head and stare at something, often out of curiosity or fascination, especially when slowing down to look at an accident or unusual event.

rubberneck

/ˈrʌbɚˌnɛk/ /ˈrʌbəˌnɛk/

Definition:

To turn one's head and stare curiously, especially at an accident or unusual event.

Synonyms:

gawk, stare, ogle, gape

Part of Speech:

verb, noun

Antonyms:

ignore, overlook

Common Collocations:

rubberneck at accidents, rubberneck traffic, rubberneck tourists

Derivatives:

rubbernecker, rubbernecking

Usage Tips:

Use "rubberneck" to describe someone staring intrusively, often causing delays in traffic or disruptions.

Common Phrases:

rubbernecking at accidents, stop rubbernecking, slow down to rubberneck

Etymology:

Originated in the late 19th century from "rubber" (slang for elasticity) + "neck," referring to craning one's neck to look.

Examples:

  • 1. The tourists slowed down to rubberneck at the car crash.
  • 2. Don’t rubberneck while driving—it’s dangerous and causes traffic jams.
  • 3. She couldn’t help but rubberneck when she heard the loud noise behind her.
  • 4. Rubbernecking delays emergency vehicles trying to reach accident scenes quickly.

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