What it means
To blub is to cry in a messy, sniffly, slightly childish way, usually with a bit of self-aware teasing in it. It's not elegant weeping, it's wobble-lip, scrunched face, tissues everywhere energy. You can blub at sad telly, a soppy tune, or just because your day's been an absolute bin fire.
Usage examples
"That rescue-dog advert popped up and I started blubbing on the sofa again. My flatmate looked over like, you alright, mate?"
"I had a proper blub at the John Lewis Christmas advert on the Friday evening of the launch, the dog with the trumpet at the end of the cul de sac, the orchestra of the soundtrack arrangement and the entire family of the kitchen counter watching the wide-eyed grandparent in the corner of the lounge."
"Auntie Pat had a tremendous blub at the wedding speech of the eldest grandchild last Saturday afternoon at the country hotel of the Cotswolds, the tissue paper of the table centerpiece was crumpled into a damp ball by the third sentence, and the photographer of the official album made sure to capture the moment of the official toast."
"I fully blubbed at the end of that bake-off episode and now everyone's acting like I lost a relative."
"She said she was fine, then her mate hugged her and she started blubbing into her hoodie at the bus stop."
Where it comes from
Blub is an old British English word that goes back at least to the early 1900s. It's imitative, built to sound like noisy, gulping sobs rather than graceful crying. That's why it stuck in family chat and everyday speech. The word itself already sounds a bit blotchy-eyed and teary.
