Phrase guide

gapers' block

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A traffic jam resulting from motorists slowing to look at a motor vehicle collision or other roadside distraction.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Canada, US, idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: gawkers' block, gawker blocker

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

3 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: kijkfile — traffic jam resulting from motorists slowing to look at a motor vehicle collision or other roadside distraction
  • Spanish: efecto mirón — traffic jam resulting from motorists slowing to look at a motor vehicle collision or other roadside distraction
  • Swedish: tittkö — traffic jam resulting from motorists slowing to look at a motor vehicle collision or other roadside distraction