Patergobb

Patergobb (noun) / Patergobbing (verb)

Parental or otherwise paternalistic speech, intended to be friendly, affectionate, or helpful but failing to achieve any of these three desired affects. Delivered in a loving tone from someone in a senior famlial relationship to a captive and/or unwilling listener.

Speaker is often oblivious to the listener's discomfort or their actual needs.

Speaker is often a parent. But patergobbing is often done by older siblings, grandparents, aunts, or uncles. Occasionally, preists, teachers, and bosses may patergobb to others because of the percieved paternal role of their profession.

Patergobbing is not to be confused with nagging, which takes the form of complainsts and delivered in a hostile or critical tone.
Charlotte attempted to comfort her adult daughter, Emma, while Emma's husband was in the hospital. But her words descended into patergobb.

Her advice wasn't useful or relevant, her words of affection were awkward and uncomfortable, and Charlotte spoke so quickly Emma had no time to think or collect herself. Leaving Emma even more overwhelmed and upset than when she started.
by Wildlebendes June 28, 2023
Get the Patergobb mug.