IDBY

What Does IDBY Mean in a Text?

The Quick Answer

IDBY means "I Don't Believe You."

More Observations...

The abbreviation IDBY is used in text-based communications to indicate that the sender doesn't believe something that someone has said or typed. IDBY is often used to express incredulity or surprise, rather than as a direct allegation of dishonesty. The American singer "Pink" included a track entitled "I Don't Believe You" on her 2008 album "Funhouse."

Image for IDBY

When I write IDBY, I mean this:

IDBY often expresses surprise, as well as disbelief.

Summary of Key Points

"I Don't Believe You" is, by far, the most common meaning for IDBY when it is used in a text. (Bear in mind that it could have another meaning if used in a different context.)

IDBY
Definition:	I Don't Believe You
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	4: Difficult to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Examples of IDBY in Sentences

Here are examples of IDBY in conversations:

• Erin: I've got $1,000 in my pocket.
• Sam: IDBY! Show me.

• Stacey: I had to work late last night.
• Phil: IDBY. I rang your office and your secretary said you'd left at 2pm.

An Academic Look at IDBY

IDBY is an initialism abbreviation. Technically, this means it is pronounced using its individual letters (i.e., Eye Dee Bee Why), but as this is harder to say than "I Don't Believe You," it is not often uttered using its letters. In other words, the abbreviation IDBY is for efficiency in writing and not efficiency in speech.

What Did We Say before Texting and Social Media?

Before the digital era, we would have just said something like "I Don't Believe You" instead of using IDBY.

Example of IDBY Used in a Text

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