Noun. A distracting and excessive cloud of feelings that surrounds a complainer and overcasts an event. May include complaints drenched in anger or grief, but not a physical solution. Used to push others away with its feckless toxicity.
--He could have done his homework, but instead just spent an hour complaining about it. The air was so thick with emotional pollution, I just had to get out of there.
--I think she had a problem with my attitude, but I couldn't care less. She just babbled emotional pollution of "blah blah blah." Some people live to perfect their outrage.
--I think she had a problem with my attitude, but I couldn't care less. She just babbled emotional pollution of "blah blah blah." Some people live to perfect their outrage.
by UGiveUp2 November 11, 2017
Get the emotional pollutionmug. When you get caught up in the throes of a new relationship & accidentally end up saying something you wish you hadn’t
Brad: I was having a great weekend with my girlfriend, & before I knew it, I was telling her I loved her.
Scott: Dude, that’s know as emotional turrets.
Scott: Dude, that’s know as emotional turrets.
by Guster63 July 16, 2020
Get the Emotional turretsmug. Someone who shows no emotional response to anything, no matter how poignant or stirring. They’re either so repressed that nothing gets through their emotional firewall, or so disconnected from their feelings that even a child’s laugh, a heartfelt poem, a soulful song, or a breathtaking view leaves them completely unmoved. Picture a human equivalent of a flatline on an emotional EKG—zero reaction, just a blank stare.
"I played her my favorite song, the one that makes everyone cry, and she just shrugged—total Emotional Flatliner."
by Raquel de la Roche August 5, 2025
Get the Emotional Flatlinermug. A person who listens to all the problems in a relationship from someone (usually a friend) who refuses to bring up the issue with their significant other.
by Edwina rose February 17, 2024
Get the Emotional Tamponmug. Baseball games that people turn on when something stressful or bad is happening. Divorce? Funeral? Just feeling sad? Baseball is waiting for you.
by WeUsedToPlayHouse March 16, 2023
Get the Emotional Support Baseballmug. by ReyHar1 February 20, 2023
Get the Emotional Damagemug. Emotional Minesweeper is a situation in which you are unable to predict how a person will react to your actions or statements. In this situation, you may "step on an emotional landmine" and be blindsided by the person you're interacting with "blowing up" at you. It's so unexpected that they misinterpret your confusion for a lack of empathy, adding fuel to the fire.
To avoid putting someone in Emotional Minesweeper, evaluate whether or not they could have predicted that their words or actions would have hurt you. It's generally safer to ask if they have relevant context, and explain how you feel to them in a way they can understand. Generally, if people know how you feel and why you feel that way, they will do their best to be supportive and respectful. More often than not, people don't know they're doing anything wrong.
A popular synonym is "walking on eggshells."
To avoid putting someone in Emotional Minesweeper, evaluate whether or not they could have predicted that their words or actions would have hurt you. It's generally safer to ask if they have relevant context, and explain how you feel to them in a way they can understand. Generally, if people know how you feel and why you feel that way, they will do their best to be supportive and respectful. More often than not, people don't know they're doing anything wrong.
A popular synonym is "walking on eggshells."
"Hey are you doing ok?"
"I could be better. I've been playing Emotional Minesweeper with my mom all weekend, and it's taking a toll on me."
"That's not good. Does she even tell you what you did wrong?"
"She never tells me until after I make the mistake, and she always rages hard about it."
"Dude, you should probably talk to the school counselor. This sounds like abuse, and they may be able to give you resources to help you navigate the situation."
"You sound way too smart for a high-schooler."
"This isn't real, John. We're an example in an Urban Dictionary definition."
"I could be better. I've been playing Emotional Minesweeper with my mom all weekend, and it's taking a toll on me."
"That's not good. Does she even tell you what you did wrong?"
"She never tells me until after I make the mistake, and she always rages hard about it."
"Dude, you should probably talk to the school counselor. This sounds like abuse, and they may be able to give you resources to help you navigate the situation."
"You sound way too smart for a high-schooler."
"This isn't real, John. We're an example in an Urban Dictionary definition."
by Majestical Discomfort May 7, 2024
Get the Emotional Minesweepermug.