vamping.

Question

There are many big brothers watching out there, and we are vamping for them every day. what does it mean " vamping for " ?

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

I find this a strange usage. I imagine it means "waiting for", "expecting".

to vamp: to play a musical vamp
a vamp: a short introductory musical passage often repeated several times (as in vaudeville) before a solo or between verses
(Merriam-Webster)

There may be further context after your sample sentence which clarifies the idea better.

CJ
[2]

BarbaraPA · Answer

I believe in this case, it means "showing off" especially in a **** manner.

Picture ladies getting all dressed up in their **** clothes and make up, walking in a seductive way, posing - they are "vamping."

Mahlon · Answer

In this case, the writer has failed. I imagine the prior to posters are reasonably intelligent people. I, like them, have ideas as to what is meant, but do not know what the writer intended. I would also point out that the use of "big brothers" is not very clear. Does the writer mean larger brothers, older brothers or Orwellian "Big Brothers?" Without additional context, the entire sentence is nearly worthless.

Anonymous · Answer

Here's your chance of re-evaluanting all this.

The OP should have posted a full link and a full context.

----------

By Anna Quindlen
Newsweek

The notion of privacy has become, like Atlantis, a persistent and
attractive myth. We thoughtlessly gave it away bit by bit.

When it was reported recently that the Social Security numbers of more
than 26 million veterans were up for grabs after someone stole the
laptop of a government employee, it turned out that the theft was the
old-fashioned kind, a jimmied window, a ******-and-grab. But lots of
current burglary is cybertech stuff, pulling ATM numbers off
convenience-store computers, hacking into databases loaded with
personal information. If these were conventional household crimes, the
thieves could say truthfully that the doors and windows were left
open, the loot in plain sight. That's what Americans do every day. It
seems quaint to think of Orwell's futuristic novel and its warning
that Big Brother was watching. Now 1984 is the past, not the future,
and things have changed. There are many big brothers watching out
there, and we're vamping for them every day. Sometimes in our
underwear.

---------------------

Clive · Answer

Hi,

I imagine the prior two posters are reasonably intelligent people. A pretty cautious statement. Certainly no hasty conclusions are being jumped to, here.

Best wishes, Clive

Marius Hancu · Answer

Grammar GeekI believe in this case, it means "showing off" especially in a **** manner.
Picture ladies getting all dressed up in their **** clothes and make up, walking in a seductive way, posing - they are "vamping."
The fuller context, which I've posted as Anonymous in the above, confirms, IMO, your assumptions.

CalifJim · Answer

The fuller context resolves nothing, in my opinion. It's a totally inane comment, no matter how you interpret vamping.

We're all expecting to be spied on, even in our underwear?
We're all posing seductively to be spied on, even in our underwear?

"Americans", not just American women, are mentioned in the article. I don't think men vamp (in the seductive sense). Therefore, if either of the two is remotely possible, it must be the first. But as I said, neither interpretation is really satisfactory.

CJ

vamping.

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions