Questions related to words or phrases that may be considered offensive in English
10
votes
5answers
20k views
Meaning and usage of “bite me”
I often come across the phrase bite me in many TV shows. What does it mean and is there a specific context in which this phrase can be used?
0
votes
2answers
87 views
Meaning and usage of the swear word pronounced /ˈkʰʌnt/? [closed]
I’ve been hearing the word cunt used several times now. What kind of situations do you usually use this word, and what sort of person does this swear word usually describe?
13
votes
10answers
6k views
Is it offensive to call a redhead a “ginger”?
So I just re-watched this great comedy by Tim Minchin, and here are the questions:
How bad/offensive is the g-word
really (other than being an anagram of the n-word)?
What are alternatives? Is ...
2
votes
2answers
129 views
Question about likely vulgar expressions
The terms "screw up" and "crap" are frequently used on American TV that I'm not sure whether they're euphemisms, my first assumption, or just vulgar.
I don't want to make mistakes, especially when ...
6
votes
6answers
4k views
Is “Saffer” an offensive term for a South African?
I've always believed that "Saffer" is a derogatory term for a South African.
But a few minutes earlier, I saw this tweet by ESPN:
So, isn't "Saffer" a derogatory term?
4
votes
2answers
100 views
What's a useful replacement idiom for “money shot?”
I'm afraid I have been somewhat innocently causing offense by using the term "money shot" in its general, non-pornographic sense. My coworkers either have dirty minds or lack awareness of the other ...
6
votes
5answers
6k views
How serious an insult is “wanker” in British English? [NSFW]
In the spirit of this question, "How profane is it to call someone a
'slag' in British English", how insulting is "wanker" in British English on the spectrum of profanities and vulgarities? What's ...
0
votes
1answer
120 views
How bad is the use of “n***er” today?
If I call a black people of "nigger", how bad is this today? If a black call another black with this word, it is wrong?
3
votes
3answers
146 views
How offensive is a word f**k in English? [duplicate]
I hear it quite often in movies, radio , books, songs even in some interviews with actors .In my native language is a word like that very strong and awfully offensive but I think it is not that strong ...
9
votes
3answers
454 views
Does using the word “crony” necessitate a negative connotation?
I have always heard the word "crony" in the context of acquaintanceships between people exploiting their closeness for less than noble means. Despite its definitions in the usual places as simply ...
5
votes
2answers
570 views
Why are the “donkey” and the “butt” both named “ass” the same? [closed]
Is there any similarity between them that they have the same name, or is the reason something different of having a physical similarity?
I found different meanings for both, but none of them ...
13
votes
5answers
911 views
“Woman is the 'n-word' of the world”?
The other day I was watching a video, in which one white teacher was being accused of using the word "nigger" in reference to one of his students who was black. The newscasters, before showing the ...
1
vote
1answer
104 views
How should I use the phrasal verb “to d**k around”?
To waste time
Stop dicking me around and get to the point.
Would you please stop dicking around with her?
To take advantage of
You're dicking him around, you know?
Don't ...
1
vote
1answer
71 views
Polish your mug idiom
Recently I've heard couple of interesting idioms one of which was "Make yourself scarce or I'll polish your mug".
So, I was wondering is it really used like that?
I've heard of "Make yourself scarce" ...
11
votes
3answers
354 views
Is “Dutch wife” one of those “Dutch words”?
The term "Dutch wife" is listed as having several somewhat related meanings. Wiktionary describes it as meaning 1) a body-length pillow, 2) a wicker or bamboo tube that someone sleeps in (also called ...
5
votes
2answers
13k views
Correct usage of replacing cuss words with symbols
I've noticed that symbols (i.e. #, $, %, !, *, etc.) are commonly used to filter profanity/foul language.
Just out of curiosity, is there a specific way to do this. I've noticed sometimes there ...
15
votes
4answers
886 views
Is there anything wrong with the word “denigrate”?
A few years ago there was a controversy over the word niggardly — a perfectly innocent word that unfortunately sounds like a racial slur.
Given that controversy, is it safe to use denigrate, which ...
7
votes
3answers
2k views
What does “it’s not going to suck itself ” mean?
In Goa, I see tourists wearing t-shirts that have the following text on them, along with a red arrow:
It’s not going to suck itself
What does this mean?
4
votes
4answers
181 views
Is “ass-wise” an acceptable English word? Is it a noun, or adverb?
I was surprised to see the New Yorker’s (February 26) article titled, “Boehner defends decision to remain on ass,” which was chockablock with the word, “Ass.”
“Minutes after telling the United ...
-3
votes
1answer
104 views
Do nonsense and bull**** have corresponding plural forms?
For example, I've heard nonsenses, but I've never heard bullshits.
Why one is plural and the other is singular? They mean the same thing.
2
votes
1answer
176 views
How to describe factually correct but irrelevant answers [closed]
When you ask someone a question and they provide a factually correct but irrelevant answer how can you describe that answer with a few choice words indicating your poor opinion of the answer?
I'm ...
7
votes
6answers
6k views
Madam vs. Ma'am
I suspect that the answer to this depends on region, so insights from multiple areas would be beneficial:
It has been my impression that in the US addressing a woman as "Madam" is considered ...
3
votes
4answers
264 views
Is there a clean version of “no sh*t, Sherlock”?
The phrase "no shit, Sherlock" or just "no shit" is a reply used when someone else points out something obvious.
I was thinking about it the other day and I realized I don't know if there is a clean ...
6
votes
2answers
262 views
Is it derogatory or offensive to call a detective a dick?
The word dick is generally considered offensive and is marked so in dictionaries. But there is also a meaning of detective that it carries. I usually find no derog indication for this meaning.
Is it ...
1
vote
5answers
214 views
Is “monkey around” offensive?
Someone asked me for something and I said, "Do you need it right now, or do I have a couple hours to monkey around with it?" They got really quiet. While certainly unprofessional, is this also ...
3
votes
2answers
227 views
Is schmuck really an obscene word?
Schmuck is supposedly an obscene Yiddish term for the male sex organ, yet it appears all of the time in the media as an American idiom for a jerk. Can one use it in polite company?
-1
votes
3answers
644 views
How does 'don't give a toss' differ from 'don't give a damn'?
I was told it is very unusual to say 'I don't give a toss'. If so, why is that?
8
votes
3answers
1k views
Why is “bloody” considered obscene in the UK but not in the US?
Why is the word bloody considered obscene in the UK but not so in the US?
8
votes
3answers
425 views
Etymology of “half-assed” [closed]
The term "half-assed" is used to refer to something being sloppy or partially completed. For example, "You really did a half-assed job on those TPS reports, Bob." What is the etymology of this phrase? ...
9
votes
2answers
383 views
What is the origin / reason for adding asterisks within swear words like f**k?
Several variants of this topic have already been covered here, such as:
What name for bowdlerisation with asterisks (e.g., “f*ck”)?
What the #$@&%*! is that called?
However, these deal with the ...
6
votes
6answers
574 views
Is 'Jap' still considered an ethnic slur?
~Seventy years after 'The War', is Jap still considered to be an ethnic slur in the US? Is/was it also considered offensive in the UK?
12
votes
7answers
876 views
Is “Canuck” offensive?
I was criticized the other day for using this word. It never occurred to me that it was offensive, but Wikipedia says it "may" be derogatory. Given Vancouver's hockey team, I tend to think it's ...
7
votes
2answers
3k views
What is the origin of the word “wog”?
Some friend of mine told me it was an acronym for "western oriental gentleman" and was a form of sarcastic politeness. Is this true, and is it offensive to use this word?
5
votes
3answers
148 views
Is it safe to use “old” to mean “previous” for a person?
Is it safe to use "old" to mean "previous" or "former" for something like "my old teacher"? Or is it a bit risky, because "old" also has a meaning with respect to age (i.e., chronologically gifted)?
...
10
votes
7answers
10k views
Is it true that “tuppence” refers to a woman's vagina in British English slang? If so, why?
I was looking up a definition online, as I often do, in this case the British slang word tuppence; I got the standard "a slang reference to a coin denomination" definition from Wikipedia, but stumbled ...
2
votes
3answers
199 views
Is “I'm not racist, but …” more common in Australian English than other dialects? [closed]
Is the phrase "I'm not racist, but ..." more common in Australian English than other dialects? The phrase is used as a prefix to something that's likely to be interpreted as racist, probably because ...
9
votes
3answers
232 views
Meaning of abbreviated vulgarity
Preface: Despite the fact that this question includes vulgar language, it is not intended to be offensive, unprofessional, or humorous, but rather is a serious question.
In the statement, "F**king ...
6
votes
2answers
1k views
What does “to pick someone's cherry” mean?
Does it strictly refer to taking someone's virginity, or does it express sexual intercourse in general?
33
votes
6answers
2k views
How did “Jew” become pejorative?
For some reason, the word Jew often carries a pejorative or offensive connotation, which the related adjective Jewish does not carry. This is most obvious when either word is used as an attributive:
...
3
votes
2answers
422 views
Shut your mouth
I’m confused regarding these expressions:
Shut up
Shut your mouth
Shut your mouth up
Shut up your mouth
After some research, I’ve come to believe they are all correct except “Shut ...
3
votes
3answers
632 views
In the movie “Meet the Fockers” does the word “Focker” really sound different?
In the movie "Meet the Fockers" does the word "Focker" sound really different from the four-letter word? I don't hear any difference. Do all the actors pronounce this word really differently from ...
0
votes
3answers
2k views
How to use “you are so lame!” or “you are so retard!” with friends? [closed]
I heard lots of these words from my colleagues.
Definitions in Dictionary do not help me much.
What I really want to know is what these words actually mean when using with friends and what situation ...
9
votes
4answers
9k views
Difference between “smart” and “clever”
What is the difference between smart and clever?
As far as I understand the latter is offensive. But the Cambrige Dictionary gives similar definitions of smart and clever.
10
votes
3answers
502 views
Why are nouns sometimes pejorative when used attributively?
Certain nouns can often be used as noun adjuncts in place of a corresponding adjective, with no change in literal meaning, where:
The noun is not pejorative when used nominatively by itself.
Nor is ...
20
votes
5answers
2k views
Is “what on earth” still commonly used in real life? Is there any alternative that is not cursing or obscene?
I'm a non-native speaker. When I was at school, we were taught that "on earth" is used for emphasis in questions such as:
What on earth are you talking about?
However, from my experience ...
9
votes
6answers
463 views
Vulgar way of saying “he killed himself”
I'm trying to translate my acquaintance's cartoon to cite it in an article written in English. For the subject of the article it is important that the translation will be direct, thus very vulgar ...
5
votes
4answers
23k views
What exactly does “fap” mean? [NSFW]
Sorry for the ridiculous question, but I can't understand the difference between fap and masturbation. Does fap mean the whole progress?
4
votes
2answers
190 views
Isn't “dummy” in “HTML Parser for Dummies” considered offensive?
What does "dummy" mean here (in the section Getting Started)?
Getting Started
For novice users, an introductory guide on how to set
up your environment to use the HTML Parser is provided in ...
24
votes
5answers
2k views
Less vulgar synonyms for “circlejerk”
Someone asked in the Math.StackExchange chatroom what a "more refined word for circlejerk" might be. UrbanDictionary defines this (in our desired usage) as:
[...] pompous, self-congratulatory ...
0
votes
3answers
204 views
What drives the usage of 'God', 'Jesus', and 'Jesus Christ' as expletives? [closed]
I grew up in a conservative Christian home, and was taught that we do not 'take God's name in vain'.
Interestingly, among some churches I grew up in, the consensus was that the common usage of God or ...
