Meaning & use
gobble wobble
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Meanings
nounsingularinformalslang
An informal term for the heavy, sleepy feeling after eating a large Thanksgiving dinner, especially turkey.
Grammar: Used as a singular noun, often with 'the': the gobble wobble.
Patterns
- the gobble wobble
- get the gobble wobble
- have the gobble wobble
After three plates of turkey and pie, Uncle Joe got the gobble wobble and fell asleep on the couch.
The gobble wobble hit everyone hard after Thanksgiving dinner, so we all took a nap.
She laughed about the gobble wobble and said she needed a second nap.
nounsingularhumorousinformal
A humorous walk or unsteady feeling caused by eating too much, especially at a holiday meal.
Grammar: Often used with 'the' and verbs like 'do' or 'walk with'.
Patterns
- do the gobble wobble
- walk with a gobble wobble
He did the gobble wobble all the way to the sofa after dinner.
The kids giggled as Grandpa walked with a gobble wobble around the table.
Common combinations
- get the gobble wobble
- After the big meal, everyone got the gobble wobble and needed a rest.
- the gobble wobble hit
- The gobble wobble hit me right after dessert.
- do the gobble wobble
- He did the gobble wobble to make his grandchildren laugh.
- a case of the gobble wobble
- She had a serious case of the gobble wobble after Thanksgiving.
Synonyms and how they differ
- food coma
- A more common informal term for the same sleepy feeling after a big meal, not limited to Thanksgiving.
- turkey coma
- Similar but specifically blames the turkey; gobble wobble is more playful and includes the whole meal.
Commonly confused: gobble wobble or gobble? gobble wobble or wobble?
gobble wobble vs gobble
Gobble is a verb meaning to eat quickly or the sound a turkey makes; gobble wobble is a noun phrase for the after-dinner feeling.
gobble wobble vs wobble
Wobble means to move unsteadily; it is only part of the playful phrase gobble wobble.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'gobble wobble' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Gobble wobble' is a noun phrase for the sleepy feeling after a big meal, so it fits in sentence A with 'got the gobble wobble.' Sentence B confuses it with the turkey's 'gobble' sound; C and D use it as a verb or adverb, which is not correct.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “gobble wobble”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.