shoulder surfing

To look over the shoulder(s) of a person with whom you are currently engaged in conversation to see if you can find someone 'better' to talk to.

Connotes a lack of interest in the current interlocutor and/or in what they are currently saying, and displays a desire to, if possible, upgrade to 'someone better' (e.g. of higher social status, better looks, etc.).

While engaged in a conversation with a person at a party, you could be accused of (or at least suspected to be) "shoulder surfing" if you look over his/her shoulder(s) to check out who else is in attendance.

by p.s. February 3, 2006

shoulder surfing

Chat-chat, talking without intent; meanwhile eye-cruising.

Whatever girl, she could be talking to George, but she would be looking at Jim, and the whole time she was thinking about Steve. Y'know, shoulder surfing.

by escuchon May 14, 2008

shoulder surfing

Looking over someone's shoulder when they are working or at a terminal with the intention of snooping, stealing information, or just annoying.

I think granny was shoulder surfing me when I entered my PIN into the ATM.

by team_homeslice July 5, 2005

shoulder surfing

shoulder surfing is when someone looks over your sholder at an ATM to steal your PIN

He was sholder surfing when the copper spotted what he was up to and whacked him!

by Ads November 23, 2004

shoulder surfing

checking out better online chatting prospects. you may be engaged in a chat with someone, but keeping a look-out for a more interesting chat partner.

Jack was constantly shoulder surfing for Tracy, while he chatted with Jill.

by Shandell April 15, 2008

shoulder surfing

A stolen term from surf lingo. (Everyone seems to try to inject surfing vernacular into there vocabulary, hoping to acquire what use to be surfing coolness. i.e. web surfing). Laughably surfing has become so commercialized that it is no longer a cool association. Real term is "shoulder hopping": to drop in on someone elses wave, not at the peak but at the shoulder (down the line). A Wuss thing to do since it is generally easier and rude to do this.

Dude1: "This dude shoulder hopped me so I speared his brand new Channel Islands board with my old Cordell and did some serious damage." Chuckling

Dude2: "Right-on bro. He's one of those Corona Del Mar kooks anyways."

not shoulder surfing

by Silverfish February 10, 2006

Shoulder Surfing

the act of standing behind a sitting person in order to look at the contents of their computer or cell phone.

considered extremely rude and annoying by most of society

usually committed by parents or other nosy people

"Sorry for not responding to that text message for so long, my dad was trying to shoulder surf me"

Person 1: -is texting friend about a party at his house friday night-
Person 2: -looks over shoulder of person 1- "Hey man, can i come to your party"
Person 1: "DUDE, QUIT SHOULDER SURFING ME"

by piebeyummy March 22, 2011