imaginary lat syndrome

English

WOTD – 11 August 2023

Etymology

From imaginary +‎ lat (“(slang) latissimus dorsi muscle”) +‎ syndrome.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ɪˌmæd͡ʒɪn(ə)ɹi ˈlæt ˌsɪndɹəʊm/, /-dɹəm/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ɪˌmæd͡ʒɪˌnɛɹi ˈlæt ˌsɪndɹoʊm/, /-dɹəm/
• Hyphenation: im‧a‧gin‧a‧ry lat syn‧drome

Noun

imaginary lat syndrome (uncountable)

1. (derogatory, humorous) A tendency for one to adopt a posture as if one had larger latissimus dorsi muscles than one actually has, especially a posture where the arms are held away from the torso.
   • 2001, Lee F. Monaghan, Bodybuilding, Drugs and Risk, London, New York, N.Y.: Routledge, →ISBN, page 42:

     Neophytes, for example, risk being ridiculed by other gym members if they walk this way: ‘Aghh, look at him! He’s got ILS [Imaginary Lat Syndrome]’.

   • 2011 July 13, Frank Seravalli, “Ranford tackling some weighty issues”, in Philadelphia Daily News, page 48:

     [Brendan] Ranford does not have washboard abs, like many of his prospect camp counterparts, and he does not walk around with Imaginary Lat Syndrome — or a deliberate, imposing gait to impress or attract.

   • 2015 March 19, Michelle Churchill, “Using your body weight to work out”, in Cape Life, Cape Coral, Fla.: The News-Press Media Group, page B2:

     Not everyone who does regular resistance training has to end up with tight muscles, inflexible joints, and a bad case of imaginary lat syndrome.

   • 2017, Andrew Ginsburg, Pumping Irony: How to Build Muscle, Lose Weight, and Have the Last Laugh, Skyhorse Publishing, →ISBN:

     ILS, or Imaginary Lat Syndrome, became popular in the late 1980s when pro wrestling peaked and every guy wanted to be like Hulk Hogan.

   • 2020 February 29, Patrick Strudwick, “This Is Why Queer People Of Color Are Becoming Addicted To Meth And Sex”, in BuzzFeed News‎^[1], archived from the original on 1 March 2020:

     His [Kenneth’s] arms talk: elbows cocked out, hands into fists, when illustrating the tough, dominant image he has worn for much of his time in white gay enclaves — jokily referring to “imaginary lat syndrome.”

Translations

tendency for one to adopt a posture as if one had larger latissimus dorsi muscles than one actually has

• Finnish: leveäharteinen ryhti
• Macedonian: please add this translation if you can

Further reading

• latissimus dorsi muscle on Wikipedia.Wikipedia