to ask what rubbernecking is?!

[NoTeaForMe]

Had never heard of this phrase til a couple of days ago on here! What is it?!

Ta

[thisisyesterday]

it's when people stop to look at an accident/something bad going on

like when there is a car accident and all the people going the other way slow right down to get a good look. that's rubbernecking

also now used in other contexts so i dunno, online say when someone is having a big barney and other people pile onto a thread just to get a look

[squeakytoy]

Noseying at something that doesnt concern you.. basically.

IE, cars that slow down on the motorway so they can see the accident that is not actually in their way, and usually end up causing another accident when they drive into the back off the car in front which has also slowed down to "rubberneck"..

[Cheeseandharps]

What all the others have said, except it's safer sometimes to slow down, even if the accident's on the opposite carriageway, as debris can be thrown across all lanes.

[joric]

Practically straining your neck round to gawp at something (usually unfortunate like a car crash).

[EuphemiaMcGonagall]

Heh heh NoTeaForMe you thought it was something dirty, didn't you?

[dexter73]

I remember when my parents lived in America about 20 years ago, on the radio if there had been an accident they would often say there was slow moving traffic in the opposite direction due to rubbernecking. Haven't heard it used much here though.

[squeakytoy]

Joric, I agree, it can be safer to slow down, but the idea is watch the road and the car in front of you, not have your eyes in the other direction!

[NoTeaForMe]

Thanks for that - I truly had no idea! Phew, right off to read some AIBU and do some rubbernecking!