gnomophobia

English

Etymology

From gnome +‎ -o- +‎ -phobia.

Noun

gnomophobia (uncountable)

1. (informal, humorous) A fear or dislike of garden gnomes.
   • 2009 May 26, “Elton John, Ont. premier announce animation funding”, in CTV News:

     Pop superstar Elton John says "gnomophobia" is partly to blame for the delay in getting his animated film, "Gnomeo and Juliet," brought to life.

   • 2013 May 20, Sarah Lyall, “Common Gnomes Pop Up at Rarefied Flower Show, to Horror of Many”, in The New York Times:

     “It’s good to confront the received wisdom that all gnomes are nasty,” Mr. Llewelyn-Bowen said. Referring to his wife, he added: “Also, Jackie has had to overcome her poshness and confront her gnomophobia.”

   • 2014 March 29, Sonia Day, “Gnomes back in gardeners’ good graces: The Real Dirt”, in Toronto Star:

     As for me, I’m a fence sitter. The little red-shirted men sitting with fishing poles beside ponds are — ouch — insufferably cute. Yet I also think there is way too much snobbery in gardening.
     So if our gnomophobia is waning, that’s surely a good thing.

   • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:gnomophobia.