noun

PDA

PDA (noun) means Public display of affection: kissing, cuddling or similar behaviour between partners in a public place. Example: “They are not big on PDA.”

noun

Public display of affection: kissing, cuddling or similar behaviour between partners in a public place.

"They are not big on PDA."

technical Personal digital assistant: a handheld electronic organiser of the 1990s and 2000s, largely replaced by smartphones.

"He still had an old PDA in a drawer."

How to Use PDA

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishBeing affectionate with a partner in public.

Easily confused with

personal digital assistant

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

They are not big on _____.

Etymology

An initialism with two unrelated expansions; the "public display of affection" sense is now much the more common in everyday use.

Origin: English

Frequently Asked Questions

What does PDA mean?

Usually a public display of affection — couples being physically affectionate in public. It can also mean a personal digital assistant, the handheld organiser that preceded smartphones.

What counts as PDA?

Anything from holding hands to kissing in public. What people consider excessive varies a great deal between cultures and settings.