PDOA

What Does PDOA Mean in a Text?

The Quick Answer

PDOA means "Public Display Of Affection."

More Observations...

The abbreviation PDOA commonly refers to couples displaying affection in public places. In countries where a "Public Display Of Affection" is allowed, activities such as holding hands or a brief kiss on the cheek would normally not attract attention. However, even in "permissive" societies, activities such as prolonged kissing on the lips or cuddling often provoke a negative reaction from passers-by (from slight discomfort to outright disgust). Many countries ban PDOA of any sort and a breach of the law can result in fines and even imprisonment. (Affectionate travellers are advised to check local customs before visiting new places!)

"Public Display Of Affection" is also abbreviated as PDA.

Image for PDOA

When I write PDOA, I mean this:

Sometimes, no-one minds a PDOA.

Summary of Key Points

"Public Display Of Affection" is, by far, the most common meaning for PDOA when it is used in a text. (Bear in mind that it could have another meaning if used in a different context.)

PDOA
Definition:	Public Display Of Affection
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	2: Quite easy to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Examples of PDOA in Sentences

Here are examples of PDOA in conversations:

• Teen Boy 1: Ugh! My parents wouldn't leave each other alone in the restaurant.
• Teen Boy 2: Gross! PDOA shouldn't be allowed for the over 40's.

• Sian: How's your daughter's new boyfriend?
• Anna: Okay. He's a little too keen on PDOA for my liking.

An Academic Look at PDOA

As it is pronounced using its individual letters (i.e., "Pee Dee Oh Aye"), PDOA is classified as an initialism abbreviation. Initialisms are different to acronyms, which are spoken like words. "Public Display Of Affection" is a noun phrase. A noun phrase is a phrase that plays the role of a noun. The head word in a noun phrase will be a noun or a pronoun. (In this case, the head word is the noun Affection.)

What Did We Say before Texting and Social Media?

Before the digital era, we might have just said "Public Display Of Affection" instead of using the abbreviation PDOA.

Example of PDOA Used in a Text

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