goblin mode

English

Alternative forms

• goblinmode

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). The term is first attested on Twitter in 2009, but gained popularity in 2022.

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 March 14, Kari Paul, “Slobbing out and giving up: why are so many people going ‘goblin mode’ ?”, in The Guardian:

     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 March 14, Ben Cost, “Workers face ditching slobbish ‘goblin mode’ as they return to office”, in The New York Post:

     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.

   • , →ISSN:

     I have never once in my life heard someone say the phrase "goblin mode", or use it in a message. Not this year, not ever. Apparently, it originated in 2009... But if someone used it casually I'm not sure how I'd respond. Perhaps: why on earth are you talking like that?]

   • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:goblin mode.

Translations

References

Further reading

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