rubbernecking
verb

- the act of slowing down while driving to look at something interesting, esp. an accident

- to look long and hard in wonder or surprise
 
rubberneck
noun

- an overly inquisitive person

- a tourist visiting sights of interest

The Cambridge Dictionary / Merriam-Webster Thesaurus

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WORD ORIGIN

The term "rubbernecking" originated in the late 19th century, with the earliest known use being in the 1890s, in the Nebraska State Journal in 1895.

It is used to describe the act of drivers taking their eyes off the road to look at a distraction, such as an accident or arrest.

“Rubbernecking" is also associated with the idea of staring with exaggerated curiosity and is often used to describe an overly inquisitive attitude or behaviour in other contexts, such as in politics, social media, or gossip columns.

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RUBBERY PHRASES

- burn (or lay) rubber = to accelerate so rapidly from standstill that it leaves a mark of burnt rubber on the road.

- where the rubber meets the road = used to describe the point at which a theory or idea is put to a practical test.

- rubber room = a room with padded walls to prevent mentally unstable persons from self-harm.

- rubber bullet = a bullet made of rubber or plastic and used for riot control.

- rubber chicken = poor quality or overcooked chicken.

- rubber stamp = to give automatic approval to a decision or idea without proper consideration.

- “Rubber baby buggy bumpers” = a tongue twister which is difficult to speak rapidly and repeatedly without making a mistake.

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AVOID EMBARRASSMENT !

Asking for a "rubber" in different countries can lead to some hilarious misunderstandings.

“May I have a rubber?" in the UK is probably OK, you’re likely to be handed an eraser. But in the USA and Australia — where “rubber” means “condom” — you'd probably receive a puzzled look and be discretely pointed to the nearest pharmacy!

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SYNONYMS

being nosy, eavesdropping, eyeing, gawking, gazing, glaring, goggling, ogling, neck craning, peering, prying, RUBBERNECKING, staring

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SMUGGLE OWAD into an English conversation, say something like:

"Imitative behaviour and RUBBERNECKING are often linked, as people tend to follow the gaze of others to see what they are looking at. This is known as the "chameleon effect" and is a natural human tendency."

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