camelonasophobia

(lit. "fear of the camel's nose") Psychological condition characterized by strong negative emotional reactions, not to what is actually happening at the moment, but to something that might possibly happen in the future if the present behaviors, circumstances, etc. are allowed to continue. (From the old story about a camel putting its nose into a tent, and eventually taking over the entire tent.)

Jim: "I tell you, if we don't stop these immigrants now, pretty soon we'll all be forced to speak Spanish all the time, eat nothing but bean tacos, listen to mariachi music all day, and do the Mexican hat dance! We real Americans will be outnumbered! Our culture will be overwhelmed!"

Tim: "Whoa, that's some serious camelonasophobia, dude."

10👍 9👎