PBP

What Does PBP Mean in a Text?

The Quick Answer

PBP means "Paris-Brest-Paris" or "Please Be Patient."

Paris-Brest-Paris

In the context of sport cycling, the abbreviation PBP refers to an amateur road-cycling race between the two French cities, which is held in August, every four years. The 1200-kilometer PBP is a gruelling test of human endurance and cycling ability. First run in 1891, it is the oldest bicycling event still run on a regular basis on the open road. Beginning on the southern side of the French capital, it travels west 600 kilometres to the port city of Brest on the Atlantic Ocean and then back again.

Please Be Patient

The abbreviation PBP is also used as a polite request for someone to wait quietly. In 2017, a Photoshop meme featuring pictures of various people, characters and objects superimposed with a blue hat embroidered with the phrase "Please be patient I Have Autism" on the front went viral.

Image for PBP

When I write PBP, I mean this:

PBP also means "Paris-Brest-Paris."

Summary of Key Points

First Definition for PBP

PBP means "Paris-Brest-Paris." This is the most common definition for PBP in cycling.

PBP
Definition:	Paris-Brest-Paris
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	4: Difficult to guess
Typical Users:	Adults

Second Definition for PBP

PBP means "Please Be Patient." This is the most common definition for PBP in texting and on messaging apps like Instagram and TikTok.

PBP
Definition:	Please Be Patient
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	2: Quite easy to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Examples of PBP in Sentences

Here are examples of PBP in conversations:

• Simon: What races are you going to do this year?
• Michelle: I've been training for PBP for the last four years.
(Here, PBP means "Paris-Brest-Paris.")

• Daughter: When can I start driving lessons?
• Mother: PBP. After all, you are only nine years old.
(Here, PBP means "Please Be Patient.")

An Academic Look at PBP

As it is pronounced using its individual letters (i.e., "Pee Bee Pee"), PBP is classified as an initialism abbreviation. Initialisms are different to acronyms, which are spoken like words.

What Did We Say before Texting and Social Media?

Before the digital era, we would have just said "Please Be Patient" instead of using the abbreviation PBP. The use of PBP to refer to the "Paris-Brest-Paris" cycle race long predates the digital era.

Example of PBP Used in a Text

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