What is dabbing? Meaning, origin and videos of celebrities performing the dance move

DABBING has become a global craze over the past year with celebrities, politicians and even royals performing the dance move in public.

If you've never heard of it or simply aren't quite sure what all the fuss is about, then read on...

What is dabbing? Who started it?

The dabbing craze sees people point one arm upwards towards the sky while also bowing their head into their other arm. Yes, that's it.

The trend is thought to have been initially started in Atlanta by rappers from the group Migos and a few other artists that collaborate on their tracks, including Jose Guapo, Skippa Da Flippa, and PeeWee Longway.

Just like the Nae Nae, artists popularised the dance move by featuring it in their music videos and mixtapes and it was soon picked up by the American football player Cam Newton.

The Carolina Panthers quarterback has now become an ambassador for the dab and helped it become a household trend.

And over the past year dabbing has taken over social media, with almost everyone giving it a go at any occasion, including during one of Hillary Clinton's speeches in IowaCaucus.

What does dabbing mean?

While dabbing may seem like just an innocent dance move, it does actually have a darker meaning behind it.

The expression is also a term for smoking butane hash oil and extracting 90 per cent of the THC (the primary ingredient in marijuana).

Some have said the dance move is supposed to represent sneezing, something that often happens to people when they've taken  a lot of cannabis.

Which famous faces and celebs have dabbed?

Since the dabbing craze begun a lot of celebs, politicians and royals have performed the move in public. Here are some of the latest and greatest...

Woman dabs in Donald Trump's office

On April 11 2018, a woman was filmed dabbing as Donald Trump signed a bill combating online sex trafficking in the Oval office.

The activist, known as M.A., was the first woman to sue classified advertising website Backpage, for allowing adverts touting sex with underage kids.

If anyone can, Chuka can

Even Labour MP Chuka Umunna performed a dab in public (kind of), presumably under pressure from his young audience.

Labour leader gets animated

This cartoon version of Jeremy Corbyn dabbing first appeared on social media some time ago, but was resurfaced recently by election campaign supporters.

Tom Watson during Theresa May's PMQs

Labour MP Tom Watson dabbed during PMQs after Jeremy Corbyn hit out at Theresa May about the NHS.

The politician performed the move as Mr Corbyn sat down next to him.

Manchester United's Jesse Lingard loves a good dab

Prince Harry partakes in the trend while visiting Aberdeen's Robert Gordon University

Popular Saudi Arabian singer and TV host Abdallah Al Shahani 

Abdallah was arrested for “dabbing” at a music festival in the city of Taif in south-west Saudi Arabia - an act which is is illegal in the conservative country.

Good Morning Britain’s Susanna Reid tried it

After worrying that Kate Garraway would ‘knock herself out’ with the move, Susanna decided to get involved.

Kay Burley dabbing (badly) on Sky News

After Tom Watson dabbed on PMQs, Sky News presenter Kay Burley attempted a dab but it looked more like a Usain Bolt celebration.