If you've ever wanted to giggle about something that shouldn't be funny, you've been LBS — "Laughing But Serious." It means that you know you shouldn't be laughing, but you can't help seeing a little humor in the situation.
LBS as an Abbreviation
The initialism LBS is used as an online or texting response when LOL (Laughing Out Loud) or a laughing emoji would seem insensitive. You'll see it in both uppercase LBS and lowercase lbs, just like you would see LOL or lol, but it's not usually spoken out loud.
Other Meanings of LBS
When you first saw the term LBS in a text conversation or social media post, you may have thought "Why is this person talking about weight all of a sudden?" The lowercase lbs (from the Latin word libra) is a common abbreviation for pounds in the imperial units of measurement. However, that's not the only other definition for LBS.
Other meanings of LBS include:
- Let's Be Serious
- Low Blood Sugar
- Learning Behavior Specialist
- Location-Based Service
- Licensed Building Surveyor
- Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery
- Local Bike Shop
- Load Bearing Surface
- Literacy and Basic Skills
- Long Beach State (California State University at Long Beach)
- London Business School
- Live Blogs
- Like Backs
Usage of LBS
So when would you use LBS instead of LOL? It may seem tricky to tell the difference, but when it happens, you'll know. It's the perfect initialism to use in those "laughing but crying" situations.
Some instances when you'd type "LBS" to a friend might include:
- when something silly happens at a funeral
- when someone injures themself in a funny way
- when a person did something embarrassing and you don't want them to feel bad, but you still find it funny
- when someone tries to lighten a serious mood with an inappropriate joke
- when you're working on a project at the last minute and something goes wrong, and all you can do is laugh
- when you're only half-kidding about something (joking but not joking)
Examples of LBS
Examples of LBS in a texting conversation or social media comment may include:
OMG, I can't believe he walked into a pole! LBS. Is he okay?
My poor dog has to wear a cone around his neck, lbs.
LBS, that annoying girl Taylor might get expelled for cheating on the test.
If Nick doesn't ask me to the party, my life is over, LBS.
You did the whole speech with spinach in your teeth? lbs, did anyone notice?
Related Abbreviations
There are lots of words to describe laughing — chuckle, snicker, guffaw, and so on — and just as many texting initialisms to describe your reaction to a funny moment. They include:
- LIS - Laughing In Silence
- LOL - Laughing Out Loud
- LMAO - Laughing My A** Off
- ROFL - Rolling On the Floor Laughing
- LQTM - Laughing Quietly To Myself
- LSMH - Laughing Shaking My Head
- DWL - Dead With Laughter