[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/dibs/)

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# dibs

noun, plural only (slang: dibs; «dibs on»); interjection «Dibs!»

«dibs» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (slang) A claim to have or do something first: if you say «Dibs on the front seat!», you mean you get it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dibs/#m1)
2. (slang, UK, old) Money. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dibs/#m2)

### In the lessons

In children's everyday life, «dibs» is said to claim a seat, the last biscuit or the first go; it works like «bagsy» in the UK and «shotgun» for the front car seat. In stories it shows children's playful arguing. Phrases: «dibs on», «I call dibs», «have dibs on».

### Examples

- Dibs on the window seat! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dibs/#x1)
- I called dibs on the last slice of pizza. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dibs/#x2)
- You can't have it, Ellie already has dibs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dibs/#x3)
- Dibs on going first! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dibs/#x4)
- Who's got dibs on the top bunk? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dibs/#x5)
- He shouted «dibs!» before anyone else could. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dibs/#x6)

### Note

Slang, mostly US, Canada, Australia; in the UK children often say «bagsy» instead. Always plural in form: «dibs», not «a dib». It is a game rule, not a real right, so it can cause arguments. Not used in formal writing.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «dibs» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dibs/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«dibs» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/dibs.html) on Mova free.