What it means
Calling dibs is the quick, cheeky way to stake your claim before anyone else nicks it. You shout it over a seat, the last chip, a lift home, whatever, and the group usually treats it like a sacred playground rule. It’s not legally a thing, but socially it’s powerful. Ignore someone’s dibs and you’re courting a proper strop.
Usage examples
"Dibs on the last pizza slice. Nah mate, you can’t call dibs from the sofa. Watch me, I just did. Touch it and you’re buying the next one."
"I've got dibs on the window seat for the whole journey."
"She called dibs on the last slice before anyone else reached for it."
Where it comes from
Comes from the old children's game of dibstones, a kind of jacks, where calling dibs claimed your turn or your piece. The playground claim stuck, and now shouting dibs reserves the seat, the last chip or the lift home.
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