lightbulb
See also: light-bulb and light bulb
English edit
Etymology 1 edit
Noun edit
lightbulb (plural lightbulbs)
- Alternative spelling of light bulb
Etymology 2 edit
Calque of Cantonese 電燈泡/电灯泡 (din6 dang1 paau1), as though the third person is a light bulb in the background.
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
lightbulb (plural lightbulbs)
- (Singapore, colloquial) An uninvited third person joining a couple's date who prevents or hinders romantic interactions.
- 2011 October 23, Heidy The Traveler, Learn Singlish a Bit!:
- You two go ahead lah, I don't want to be lightbulb.
- 2014 August 3, Chris Soh, 20 Words That Mean Something Completely Different to Singaporeans:
- When she finally came out her friend joined us. Damn lightbulb leh!
- 2014, carolcraves, "[1]", Twitter, 31 January 2014:
- Being an extra big light bulb and eating with two cousins and their husband and fiance.