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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

bumper sticker en · NOUN

Etymology

From bumper + sticker.

Meanings

  1. (US) An adhesive label or decal, usually applied to the bumper or back end of an automobile, and displaying a short political, promotional, philosophical, or humorous message.
    • Many longtime residents strongly oppose the extremism of the newcomers, sporting bumper stickers that say, “Don't Californicate Colorado.” 2012 [2001], Eric Schlosser, Fast Food Nation, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, →ISBN, page 65:
    • He has a bumper sticker on his van that reads "faster than a speeding ticket".
    • My space in the teachers' parking lot was next to Henry's. His back bumper had two stickers: "I'd Rather Be Golfing" and "He who dies with the most toys WINS!" 2008, Wally Lamb, The Hour I First Believed, Ch.2, at p.35
    • Are bumper stickers, as a folk art, on the decline? Yes — in fact, a lot of luxury cars don’t even have bumpers anymore. 2012 September 21, Pagan Kennedy, “Who Made That Bumper Sticker?”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
  2. (US, figuratively) Canned insight; a slogan or saying that is trite or superficial.
    • "It's like a status thing, you know? 'My kid's special because he's got a peanut allergy.' I'm surprised they don't have a bumper sticker for it." 2008, Wally Lamb, The Hour I First Believed, Ch.7, at p.157
    • bumper-sticker philosophy

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
bumper stickers Number=Plur lexicographic

Descendants

bumpersticker

Relateds

lapel pin

Synonyms

car-sticker

Translations (21)

fi puskuritarra (sticker) · fi iskulause (canned insight) · fi yksinkertaistus (canned insight) · fi hokema (canned insight) · eo gluebla aŭtoŝildo (sticker) · sv bakrutedekal (sticker) · sv stötfångardekal (sticker) · pl frazes (canned insight) · pl nalepka na zderzak (sticker) · cs banalita (canned insight) · pl banał (canned insight) · pl sztampa (canned insight) · es pegatina de parachoques (sticker) · pt adesivo de para-choque (sticker) · cs klišé (canned insight) · de Autoaufkleber (sticker) · sv slogan (canned insight) · nl bumpersticker (sticker) · pl cliché (canned insight) · fa برچسب سپر (sticker) · pl komunał (canned insight)