BBL

What Does BBL Mean in a Text?

BBL means "Brazilian Butt Lift" and "Be Back Later". Here is more information about each of these definitions with examples.

Brazilian Butt Lift

When discussing body shapes, looks, or fashion on social media apps such as TIKTOK, BBL means "Brazilian Butt Lift" ("Brazilian Bum Lift" in the UK).

If exercising your way to a more shapely butt sounds too much like hard work, then it is possible to attain a more voluminous, curvier bottom with a BBL. A BBL is a cosmetic-surgery technique that uses liposuction and fat-grafting to add volume, curves, and lift. For example:

• Anne: Nice bum! Have you had a BBL?
• Sarah: Nope. I've been doing hundreds of squats before bed.
• Anne: Hundreds!? I think I'll settle for a BBL!

A BBL has become one of the most popular plastic-surgery procedures, despite it being shrouded in controversy over health risks. According to some health authorities, there are concerns around the possibility that injected fat can cause a blockage in a blood vessel in the lungs (a pulmonary embolism), which can be fatal.

Be Back Later

When used on instant-messaging platforms (e.g., Skype, gaming chat, chat forums), BBL usually means "Be Back Later."

Typing BBL is a way of signing off temporarily. It means that you intend to be away for an unspecified amount of time, probably a few hours. For example:

• Gamer 1: BBL
[The next day]
• Gamer 2: Where were you yesterday?
• Gamer 1: I signed off with BBL.
• Gamer 2: If you use BBL, we expect you to join the game again later on.
• Gamer 1: Oops. Sorry.

BBL contrasts with BRB (Be Right Back), which is used to announce a short absence and suggests a break of a few minutes.

Image for BBL

When I write BBL, I mean this:

BBL also means "Be Back later."

Video Summarizing BBL

Here's a short video explaining how the abbreviation BBL is used:

Summary of Key Points

"Brazilian Butt Lift" is the most common definition for BBL on TikTok, Snapchat, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

BBL
Definition:	Brazilian Butt Lift
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	4: Difficult to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Second Meaning for BBL

"Be Back Later" is another common definition for BBL.

BBL
Definition:	Be Back Later
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	2: Quite easy to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

An Academic Look at BBL

Whether used with the meaning "Brazilian Butt Lift" or "Be Back Later," BBL is an initialism abbreviation. This means it is pronounced using its individual letters (i.e., Bee Bee Ell).

Initialisms are different to acronyms, which are abbreviations spoken as words (e.g., LOL, NATO).

When it means "Be Back Later," BBL is used as a standalone declarative sentence (i.e., a statement). It is not normally used as another part of speech within a wider sentence.

What Did We Say before Texting and Social Media?

Before the digital era, we might have said something like "catch you later" instead of using BBL with the meaning "Be Back Later."

Example of BBL Used in a Text

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