To pull out your phone and text a random person during an uncomfortable situation as to avoid interaction with others involved in the uncomfortable situation by coming off as "busy".
John pulled out his phone and started passive texting when his wife's ex husband David sat down next to him.
(n) when you and another person mutually to text each other in the hopes that the other person is going to "give in" and text first but in the end you just don't talk anymore because neither will give in