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. Example: “I wasn't annoyed, I just have RBF.”
How to Use RBF
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA face that looks annoyed even when you are perfectly fine.
Slang; the unabbreviated form contains a swear word, so the initialism is used in mixed company.
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
I wasn't annoyed, I just have _____.
Etymology
An initialism of resting bitch face, an internet-era coinage that spread widely in the 2010s.
Synonyms
View more →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.
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Vocabulary lists that include RBF: