goblin mode

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From modern fantasy depictions of goblins as filthy, brutish, cave-dwelling creatures, a departure from older folkloric depictions first used by J. R. R. Tolkien in The Hobbit (1937).[1][2] The term is first attested on Twitter in 2009, but gained popularity in 2022.[3]

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈɡɑb.lɪn məʊd/

Noun

goblin mode (uncountable)

  1. (slang, neologism) The state of being unapologetically lethargic, slovenly, and prone to odd and self-indulgent behaviour.
    • 2019 September 20, dr. ovi (@jirtenergy), Twitter‎:
      Mac and cheese, vodka soda, and 90 Day Fiancé. Truly my PEAK of goblin mode
    • 2022, Kari Paul, "Slobbing out and giving up: why are so many people going ‘goblin mode’?", The Guardian, 14 March 2022:
      Although many people tweeting about goblin mode have characterized it as an almost spiritual-level embrace of our most debased tendencies, Marnell says there is “healthy goblin mode and destructive goblin mode”. For her, it embodies a certain air of harmless mischief.
    • 2022, Ben Cost, "Workers face ditching slobbish ‘goblin mode’ as they return to office", The New York Post, 14 March 2022:
      With employees prepping to flock back to the office amid easing COVID restrictions, many are faced with the same dilemma — how to switch off “goblin mode” now that they’re around other people.
    • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:goblin mode.

Translations

References
  1. Heather Schwedel (March 23, 2022), “How Defamatory Is “Goblin Mode” to Real Goblins?”, in Slate‎.
  2. Sam George (April 1, 2022), “Goblin Mode: A Gothic Expert Explains the Trend’s Mythical Origins, and Why We Should All Go ‘Vampire Mode’ Instead”, in The Conversation‎.
  3. Kari Paul (March 14, 2022), “Slobbing Out and Giving Up: Why Are So Many People Going ‘Goblin Mode’”, in The Guardian‎, London.

Further reading
  • Imogen James (December 5, 2022), “Oxford Word of the Year 2022 Revealed as ‘Goblin Mode’”, in BBC News‎, retrieved December 5, 2022.
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