<dubbed> the Build Back Better bill

[Ostap]

Last month, House Republican leaders kicked the Chamber off their strategy calls about the Democrats’ climate and social-spending package, dubbed the Build Back Better bill, despite their shared opposition to the legislation.

The Washington Post

Hello, teachers. What does the verb "dub" mean in the sentence?

 

[SoothingDave]

To name. Unofficially, or as a nickname.

 

[Ostap]

To name. Unofficially, or as a nickname.

But isn't it a Democratic bill?

 

[emsr2d2]

But isn't it a Democratic bill?

What's that got to do with it?

 

[Ostap]

What's that got to do with it?

I thought if the bill was introduced by the Democrats, they must have been the ones who named it BBB, right?

 

[emsr2d2]

Not necessarily. I assume the writer simply means that the bill has come to be known by a lot of people as the "Build Back Better" bill.

 

[Ostap]

Not necessarily. I assume the writer simply means that the bill has come to be known by a lot of people as the "Build Back Better" bill.

There's a bill titled, Florida Parental Rights in Education Act. But it was dubbed by critics, and is more commonly known as, "Don't Say Gay". But as I know, nothing similar happened to BBB. Build Back Better is the official title of the act.

 

[5jj]

I believe the official title is “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022”.

 

[Skrej]

Things (not only congressional bills) get dubbed by both proponents and opponents. Sometimes the term sticks even with those of the opposite viewpoint.

For example, the US healthcare legislation formally known as the Affordable Care Act was derisively dubbed 'Obama Care' by those who opposed it, but the term soon came to be used by both sides. Those who were in favor of it simply viewed it as a compliment (Obama himself once said he took it as a compliment because he was proud of it), while those who opposed it still used it as a slander.

Once the term made it into the mainstream media, everyone started using it. I'm sure there are plenty of people who don't even realize that it's just a nickname and think that's the official title. Love it or hate it, it's widely called Obama Care regardless of your opinion about it.

The term 'dubbed' carries a neutral connotation, not a negative (or positive) connotation.