My license plate says PMS. Nobody cuts me off.

This line is a stand-up joke associated with American comedian Wendy Liebman, known for observational humor and one-liners about everyday anxieties and social behavior. The premise riffs on driving culture—where anonymity and impatience often lead to aggressive behavior—and on the cultural shorthand of “PMS” (premenstrual syndrome) as a stereotype for irritability or volatility. By imagining a vanity license plate that advertises “PMS,” Liebman frames it as a deterrent: other drivers, anticipating an unpredictable reaction, give her extra space. The humor depends on the audience recognizing both the trope and the familiar experience of being cut off in traffic.

The joke satirizes how quickly people respond to labels and stereotypes. “PMS” functions as a socially loaded acronym that, in popular culture, implies heightened moodiness; the punchline suggests that merely signaling this label changes others’ behavior more effectively than rules or courtesy. It also flips a stigmatized condition into a form of power: what is often treated as an embarrassing or dismissive stereotype becomes a protective “warning sign” that grants the speaker control in a hostile environment (the road). Beneath the humor is a comment on fear-based politeness—people behave better not out of respect, but to avoid perceived consequences.