rubberneck
Translation
to gawp, to gawk
Examples
Drivers were rubbernecking at the accident.
Drivers were gawping at the accident.
Don't rubberneck; keep your eyes on the road.
Don't gawp; keep your eyes on the road.
Grammar Patterns
to rubberneck ((at sth.)) to gawp at something, especially an accident Drivers were rubbernecking at the accident.
Similar Words
Synonyms: gawk, stare, gape
Etymology
A compound of 'rubber' and 'neck', suggesting a neck that can stretch and turn flexibly like rubber to see something.
Memory Tips
Imagine someone's neck stretching like a rubber band to see past a crowd at an accident.