rubberneck

rubberneck
/rub"euhr nek'/, Informal.
v.i.
1. to look about or stare with great curiosity, as by craning the neck or turning the head.
v.t.
2. to gawk at: The tieup was due to drivers rubbernecking an accident.
n. Also, rubbernecker.
3. a sightseer; tourist.
4. an extremely curious person.
[1895-1900, Amer.; RUBBER1 + NECK]

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • rubberneck — (n.) 1897, person who is always listening to other people s conversation; person who gazes around him with undue curiosity, from RUBBER (Cf. rubber) + NECK (Cf. neck) (n.). Popularized with reference to sightseers in automobiles. Also as a verb… …   Etymology dictionary

  • rubberneck — [v] stare eagle eye*, eye, eyeball*, focus, gawk, gaze, glare, goggle*, lay eyes on*, look, ogle, peer, rivet; concept 623 …   New thesaurus

  • rubberneck — informal ► NOUN ▪ a person who turns their head to stare at something in a foolish manner. ► VERB ▪ stare in such a way. DERIVATIVES rubbernecker noun …   English terms dictionary

  • rubberneck — ☆ rubberneck [rub′ər nek΄ ] Informal n. a person who stretches his or her neck or turns the head to gaze about in curiosity, as a sightseer: also rubbernecker vi. to look at things or gaze about in this way …   English World dictionary

  • Rubberneck — This article is about the Toadies album. For the article about the cause of car accidents, see motor vehicle collision. Infobox Album | Name = Rubberneck Type = Album Artist = Toadies |225px|Album Cover Released = August 23, 1994 Recorded = 1993… …   Wikipedia

  • rubberneck — UK [ˈrʌbə(r)ˌnek] / US [ˈrʌbərˌnek] verb [intransitive] Word forms rubberneck : present tense I/you/we/they rubberneck he/she/it rubbernecks present participle rubbernecking past tense rubbernecked past participle rubbernecked informal to look at …   English dictionary

  • rubberneck — 1. noun a) Someone who engages in rubbernecking, or turning and staring. A suitable washer B1 and rubberneck B2, both of well known description, are provided to form with clapper arm B3 a watertight joint... b) Someone or something with a… …   Wiktionary

  • rubberneck — I. noun Date: circa 1896 1. an overly inquisitive person 2. tourist; especially one on a guided tour II. intransitive verb Date: 1896 1. to look about, stare, or listen with exaggerated curiosity < drivers passing the accident slowed down to …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • rubberneck — rub|ber|neck [ rʌbər,nek ] verb intransitive INFORMAL to look at something, especially a car accident, as you are passing it: Passing drivers slowed down to rubberneck at the accident …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • rubberneck — listen to a conversation on a party (co op) phone line    Grandma used to rubberneck so she could hear the local news …   English idioms

  • rubberneck — 1. n. one who stares at something or someone; a tourist. □ At noon the sidewalks are crowded with rubbernecks. □ See if that rubberneck over there has the correct time. 2. in. to stare (at something or someone). □ What are all those people… …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

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