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Glite Dictionary
rubber-necking

rubber-necking

7.5
Looking at sights while travelling, often as a tourist
  • noun
  • /ˈrʌbərˌnɛkɪŋ/
  • Informal
translation icon : turistear
  • The bus was full of tourists rubber-necking around the city’s famous landmarks.

Examples

  • He spent the afternoon rubber-necking the historic district with his camera in hand.

  • Some locals dislike summer because of all the rubber-necking that clogs the roads.

  • Tourists enjoy rubber-necking at famous landmarks.

  • The rubber-necking was excessive during the city tour.

  • The bus was full of tourists rubber-necking around the city’s famous landmarks.

  • He spent the afternoon rubber-necking the historic district with his camera in hand.

  • Some locals dislike summer because of all the rubber-necking that clogs the roads.

Synonyms

tour
vsrubber-necking
819 1.0

A trip visiting several places and returning to the start, usually for work or pleasure

is narrower, focusing on moving to see places rather than a general trip
sightseeing
vsrubber-necking
33 1.1

Visiting interesting places when you travel

is the act of moving around specifically to look at places

How Curious

to stare
∞ 1.0
rubber-necking
  • Informal
7.5
sightseeing
33 1.1
to look around
552 1.0
glance
222 1.4

Surface Forms

rubber-necking singular
rubber-neckings plural

Morphology

rubber-necking = rubberneck (semi-transparent) = rubber + neck + ing

Forming the gerund/noun from the verb 'rubberneck' with '-ing' is a regular and transparent process.

Etymology

Rubber-necking comes from the image of neck and rubber ('stretchy'): imagine stretching your neck to stare at a sight or an accident. So rubber-necking means travelling or driving while turning to look at places of interest.