RBF Meaning, Origin and Examples

You might have heard the term “RBF” being tossed around, usually referring to someone whose neutral face seems unapproachable. In the reference, you’ll find out exactly what RBF means and its origins. It dives into the different terms related to RBF and how they appear in everyday interactions. Whether in conversations or across social media, the many examples make this concept easy to relate to common experiences.

RBF Meaning, Origin and Usage

Key Takeaways

  • RBF stands for Resting B*tch Face. It’s a slang term used to describe a neutral facial expression that unintentionally appears irritated, annoyed, or unfriendly. People with RBF might often be perceived as unapproachable or angry, even though they aren’t feeling that way.
RBF Meaning
RBF Meaning – Created by 7ESL

What Does RBF Mean?

RBF stands for “resting b*tch face.” This term is used to describe someone’s facial expression when they are not actively trying to convey a particular emotion. It generally refers to an unamused, annoyed, or unhappy resting facial expression. It is important to note that RBF doesn’t indicate someone’s true emotions—they’re likely feeling perfectly fine.

Several famous personalities, such as actresses Anna Kendrick and Kristen Stewart, or rapper Kanye West, have been associated with RBF. These individuals may not necessarily be disinterested or unfriendly, but their relaxed facial expression can give off that impression.

Origin and Context of RBF

The concept of resting b*tch face has been studied by medical professionals and gained popularity on social media platforms. While the origin of the term cannot be pinpointed to a specific source, it has become widely used and recognized in popular culture. However, many people consider it an offensive and sexist concept, particularly when directed at women.

Usage of RBF

Self-Description or Self-Deprecation

People who recognize they have RBF often use it to explain why they might come across as unapproachable or serious.

  • “I know I have RBF, but I promise I’m not actually mad!”
  • “My RBF always makes people think I’m upset, even when I’m totally fine.”

Social Media Posts or Captions

Social media users sharing selfies, memes, or relatable content about facial expressions.

  • Instagram Caption: Selfie with a neutral expression – “It’s just my RBF, I swear I’m having a great time!”
  • Twitter: “When you’re focused but your RBF makes people think you’re plotting something.”

Humorous Conversations Among Friends

Friends or acquaintances, often to tease each other or make light of RBF.

  • Friend: “You looked so serious the whole time.”
  • You: “It’s just my RBF; I was actually having fun!”

In Workplace or Professional Settings

Colleagues or managers in a light-hearted work environment, sometimes as a way to explain a coworker’s serious expression.

  • Coworker: “People think I’m unapproachable, but it’s just my RBF!”
  • Manager in a joking way: “She’s got RBF, but trust me, she’s super nice!”

In Memes and Online Humor

Social media communities and meme creators often use RBF in jokes or relatable posts.

  • Meme: Picture of someone with a serious expression – “When you’re perfectly happy but your RBF has everyone asking if something’s wrong.”
  • Social Media Post: “When you’re lost in thought but your RBF makes people think you’re judging everyone around you.”

Explanations in Romantic Relationships

Partners or significant others explaining their natural expression to each other.

  • Partner: “Are you mad at me?”
  • You: “No, it’s just my RBF! I’m totally fine.”

In Interviews or Public Speaking Events

Occasionally, speakers or public figures might jokingly reference RBF to explain their natural expression and appear more approachable.

  • Speaker at an Event: “People always ask why I look serious. It’s just my RBF, I swear I’m excited to be here!”

Other Meanings of RBF

While “Resting B*tch Face” is the most common meaning for RBF, there are a few other interpretations of the acronym that are worth noting.

  • Really Big Fan: This is often used in the context of someone being a big fan of a particular celebrity, band, or sports team. For example, someone might say “I’m such an RBF of Taylor Swift” to indicate that they are a huge fan of the singer.
  • Right By Face: This is a term that is sometimes used in military or law enforcement contexts to indicate that someone is located nearby and can be identified by their face. For example, a soldier might say “RBF, two o’clock” to let their fellow soldiers know that there is an ally nearby.
  • Rapid Breastfeeding: This is a term that is used to describe a particular technique for breastfeeding that involves switching between breasts quickly in order to increase milk production. While this meaning is not as common as the others, it is still worth noting for the sake of completeness.
  • Red Blooded Female: This is a term used to describe a woman who is considered to be strong, independent, and confident.
  • Rear Brake Force: This is a term used in the automotive industry to describe the amount of braking force applied to the rear wheels of a vehicle.
  • Reduced Body Fat: This is a term used in the fitness industry to describe a state where an individual has reduced their body fat percentage through diet and exercise.
  • Remote Backup Facility: This is a term used in the IT industry to describe a facility that is used to store backups of important data remotely.
  • Retinal Blood Flow: This is a term used in the medical field to describe the amount of blood flow to the retina in the eye.

Terms Related to RBF

Here are some related terms that are often used when discussing RBF:

  • B*tchy Resting Face: This is another term for RBF that is commonly used. It has the same meaning as RBF and is often used interchangeably.
  • Facial Biases: Facial biases refer to the tendency of people to make judgments about others based on their facial expressions. RBF is an example of a facial bias because people often assume that someone with RBF is angry or unfriendly even though they may not be.
  • Gender Stereotypes: Gender stereotypes are beliefs and expectations about how men and women should behave. RBF is often associated with women, and some people believe that women with RBF are unfriendly or unapproachable.
  • Resting Sad Face: Resting Sad Face is a facial expression that appears sad or depressed even when the person is not expressing any particular emotion. It is similar to RBF in that it is a facial bias that can lead to misinterpretations of a person’s emotions.
  • Resting Neutral Face: Resting Neutral Face is a facial expression that appears neutral or emotionless. It is the absence of any particular emotion and can be mistaken for RBF.

RBF Synonyms

Some of these synonyms are listed below:

  • Resting face
  • Neutral expression
  • Unintentional scowl
  • B*tchy Resting Face
  • Resting Angry Face
  • Resting Mean Face
  • Resting Scowl Face
  • Resting Intimidating Face
  • Resting Sad Face
  • Resting Frown Face
  • Resting Serious Face

These terms are often used interchangeably with RBF. They all refer to a facial expression that appears to be angry, annoyed, or unapproachable when the person is not expressing any particular emotion.

RBF Examples

Conversations

  • Friend 1: I think my boss has RBF because she always looks so stern, even when she’s just thinking or concentrating.
  • Friend 2: Oh no no, she’s actually angry all the time because of your work *giggles*

Texting

Creating a fun and casual tone, you can use RBF when texting as well. Some text examples include:

  • Texter 1: Man, I just had the craziest story today. Someone punched me in the face because they thought I was mad at them and confronted me. 
  • Texter 2: That awkward moment when someone thinks you’re mad at them, but it’s just your RBF.

Social Media Posts

While scrolling through your social media feeds, you might come across posts that mention RBF. Here are a few instances:

  1. Someone posts a selfie with the caption, “Just chilling at home with my RBF on. Don’t worry, I’m actually having a great day!
  2. A friend shares a meme featuring a celebrity and writes, “When you realize you both have RBF problems #RBFstruggles.
Latest posts by Isabella Claire (see all)