noun
RBF
ar-bee-EF
RBF (noun) means resting bitch face: a naturally neutral facial expression that other people read as angry, bored or unimpressed even when the person feels nothing of the kind. Example: “I wasn't annoyed, I just have RBF.”
noun
1
slang Resting bitch face: a naturally neutral facial expression that other people read as angry, bored or unimpressed even when the person feels nothing of the kind.
"I wasn't annoyed, I just have RBF."
"Her RBF got her pulled aside in every job interview."
How to use RBF
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA face that looks annoyed even when you are perfectly fine.
When to use it
Slang; the unabbreviated form contains a swear word, so the initialism is used in mixed company.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
have RBF
chronic RBF
RBF energy
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Etymology
An initialism of resting bitch face, an internet-era coinage that spread widely in the 2010s.
Synonyms
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resting bitch face
RBF face
Frequently asked questions
What does RBF actually mean?
It stands for resting bitch face and describes the involuntary look someone's face settles into at rest, which strangers misread as hostility or contempt. It says nothing about the person's mood; the whole point is the mismatch between face and feeling.
Is RBF an insult?
It can be, and it is applied to women far more than to men, which is why some people object to it. Many use it self-deprecatingly about themselves, where it functions as an explanation rather than a jibe.
Is there a male equivalent of RBF?
"Resting jerk face" and "resting asshole face" are sometimes offered, but neither has caught on. In practice RBF is applied to men too, which is one reason the gendered original is now often just abbreviated.
What is the meaning of RBF?
"RBF" (noun) means resting bitch face: a naturally neutral facial expression that other people read as angry, bored or unimpressed even when the person feels nothing of the kind.
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