PEBCAK
Slang used in IT and technical support. An acronym of "Problem Exists Between Chair And Keyboard", it is a euphemism meaning that the cause of a problem is not a fault in the hardware or software but a mistake or lack of understanding on the part of the user operating it.
Variant spellings
The spelling PEBKAC ("Problem Exists Between Keyboard And Chair"), with the order of Chair and Keyboard reversed, is used about as often, and the meaning and usage of the two are the same.
Usage
It is an in-group term with a note of sarcasm and self-mockery, used mostly among support staff out of the user's hearing, as in "that one turned out to be PEBCAK". Because using it to the user's face causes friction, it tends to be avoided in person.
Origin
The exact first appearance is unclear, but a mention of PEBKAC has been confirmed on the language column site word-detective.com as of 1998. It is also known that in 2006 Intel used the phrase PEBKAC as the theme of an advertising campaign for its vPro platform.
To verify
- There is a theory that the term began among IBM engineers in the 1970s, but no primary source supporting it has been confirmed
- It is not known whether PEBCAK or PEBKAC was the spelling used first
References
- Mentioned in
- none
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