My last blogpost - "Fable" seems to have engendered collateral interest with regard to the business of insulting. The English language has a wealth of insult words. We really don't need to resort to swearing when we are peeved with someone or overcome with angry bloodlust.
Instead, just dip into the lexicon of insults to find words that will undoubtedly cause your target human to rock back on his or her heels. Here are ten of my favourites with definitions or notes
⦿
nincompoop - dating back to at least the 17th century - a foolish or stupid person.lickspittle - an obsequious licker of boots who sucks up to others
pillock Once one of the hundreds of euphemisms for the male sexual organ in the English language. For several hundred years this was apparently the main sense of the word. However, beginning in the late 20th century pillock took on another meaning, which is that of an idiot or fool of some sort. Both of these uses are almost entirely confined to British English
dipstick Someone who's being particularly dim or slow. Like the dipstick in a motor vehicle that has no other use but to measure the oil level in an engine.
wazzock - a stupid or annoying person. This only dates back to the 1970s. Favoured insult in the north of England - often applied to Londoners.
numpty - An incompetent or unwise person ("Don't be such a numpty, you can't charge your phone in the microwave!")
moldwarp - a stupid or shiftless person. I think this insult may be Shakespearean.
rapscallion - mischievous person - variation on "rascal"
numbskull - a stupid or shiftless person
scallywag - yet another word for an untrustworthy rascal
We use some of these, numbskull, dipstick, and nincompoop, along with a large number of others. My favorite words though are always swear words. I have a face like a nun (a patient told me that), so I think I just like the juxtaposition of swearing with a face like a nun. It rattles people:)
ReplyDeleteA face like a nun? Yes - I guess you do look a bit like Julie Andrews in "The Sound of Music".
DeleteDipstick was often used when my kids were growing up, though with time it morphed into dipshit. We also called folks maroons (morons) and turkeys, though the latter was usually with fondness.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting how some words traverse the English speaking world while others are more parochial.
Deletepersonally, i still think "twerp" carries some gravity...... as does jackarse (as opposed to jackass, of course)
ReplyDeleteI thought Jack Arse was The Chairman of the Conservative Party.
DeleteCuriously I knew most of these. Probably because I've been called most of them.😟
ReplyDeletePerhaps - if you strive to be a better human Bruce - you will attract fewer insults.
DeleteMost of these I could use to describe felon 47, except a couple of them that are too nice for that lickspittle. I like cursing though, it's very satisfying.
ReplyDeleteThe Orange Turnip has inspired an amazing amount of full-blooded swearing. Great exercise for the salty tongue.
DeleteI've heard of five of these. How about being short of a full load or a few bricks missing.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like "one sandwich short of a picnic".
DeleteLots of choice words. I may have to add them to my repertoire!
ReplyDeleteA new insult that is taking a hold in the English language is "musk" which means a loathsome, arrogant twerp in a black baseball cap.
DeleteDipstick also means idiot here in Australia.
ReplyDeleteAn Australian once told me that a "pom" or "pommy" means an intelligent, sexy fellow of noble birth. Please confirm.
DeleteSix of these I knew, and you can probably guess that my late husband is to blame for most of my knowledge of (northern) English swear words. The one he affectionately used for me was daft bint; not on your list so I guess you never call Shirley anything but love, sweetheart, darling or some other term of endearment.
ReplyDeleteSteve gave you a good grounding in proper English - Yorkshire English! I call Shirley "bunnikins" or "snugglepuss" but please don't tell anybody else!
DeleteMoldwarp or Mouldwarp is from a medieval prophecy. It states that the sixth king after King John would be the Mouldwarp and would bring down the church of Rome.
ReplyDeleteThe sixth King was Henry viii.
Thank you for this input Professor Christina. How is life at The University of Blackburn?
DeleteOh you know, I keep buggering on. Am I allowed to say that these days? 😂
DeleteI am afraid I am not familiar with the term "to bugger on". Perhaps it is a Lancastrian activity.
DeleteDipstick was often said in the Dukes Of Hazzard.
ReplyDeleteNot a programme I have ever seen. I prefer Shakespeare where there are many great insults.
DeleteI know some of them from earlier Australian English, English. But all are no longer in Australian English. Dipstick might be an exception.
ReplyDeleteAustralians seem to have invented a whole new treasury of insults.
DeleteI came across this this morning ;) now that is really a putdown....
ReplyDeletehttps://londondaily.com/british-writer-pens-the-best-description-of-trump-i-ve-read
Thank you for sharing that link Thelma. It is, I think, a very accurate analysis. Agreeing an endgame with a tyrant before consulting with the tyrant's victim is as wrong as it is stupid.
DeleteSuch a colorful and useful language.
Delete"Rapscallion" is sometimes used around here to describe one grandchild or another.
ReplyDeleteSo many perfect words to describe our current president.
ReplyDeleteLike the article Thelma cited, I'm so shocked and disgusted that others can support him at all.
Enough hate - can you have a post of words that are compliments?
The words you've mentioned that originate in the 70's seem to have been purloined by the writers of "Only Fools and Horses"!
ReplyDelete