vælubíll

Icelandic

Etymology

Modeled after sjúkrabíll (“ambulance”), composed of væla (“whine”) +‎ bíll (“car”). First seen on print in 2008, later popularized by a 2010 children's song.

Noun

vælubíll m

1. (sarcastic, derisive) a hypothetical “ambulance” that comes to the aid of someone whining or complaining

   Á ég að hringja á vælubílinn? ― Stop crying about it, you're being a baby. (literally, “Do you want me to call the whining ambulance?”)

Usage notes

This phrase is used sarcastically when someone is crying or complaining about something.

See also

• grenja (“cry loudly”)