grapevinelag
/ˈɡreɪpvaɪnˌlæɡ/nounVerified NewThe delay between a major life event and a relative learning of it, caused by news being released in a controlled order.
You tell the inner circle, then the aunts and uncles, then post publicly — and anyone told out of order takes it as a slight. Families now run release schedules for their own news, and the delay is felt by those at the end of it.
Etym. — grapevine (the rumor network) + lag, joining the "-lag" family alongside trustlag.
Rel. — tinselletter
Novelty check: NEW · checked 2026-11-08
review evidence: wordstoreview/review-batch-3-09-social.md
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