"useless idiot!"

[Mehrgan]

Hi all,
May I have some informal or slang terms for such a person? (especially in BrE, please)




Many thanks in advance.

 

[bhaisahab]

Hi all,
May I have some informal or slang terms for such a person? (especially in BrE, please)




Many thanks in advance.

This one seems to be quite popular at the moment: numpty Noun. A fool, idiot. Also spelt numbty and numptie. [Orig. Scottish]

From: A dictionary of slang - "N" - English slang.

 

[Mehrgan]

This one seems to be quite popular at the moment: numpty Noun. A fool, idiot. Also spelt numbty and numptie. [Orig. Scottish]

From: A dictionary of slang - "N" - English slang.

Is the stress on the "useless" part? (Which is what I need! )

Ta!

 

[bhaisahab]

Is the stress on the "useless" part? (Which is what I need! )

Ta!

Yes, from what I've heard it means "useless idiot" mainly.

 

[Mehrgan]

And, are the /p/ and /b/ sounds pronounced on numpty and numbty?

Cheers!

 

[bhaisahab]

And, are the /p/ and /b/ sounds pronounced on numpty and numbty?

Cheers!

Yes, the "p" is sounded, not emphasized but present. I'm not familiar with the version with "b" but I would imagine it would be silent.

 

[Tdol]

A waste of space- you could also use twit/prat/berk, though these have a less specific meaning.

 

[birdeen's call]

You could also use "worthless" instead of "useless".

 

[JMurray]

I'll offer "drongo" because although it's essentially Australian I know that it's had some currency in GB.

 

[5jj]

Dingbat

 

[Mehrgan]

Thanks to you all!

 

[probus]

Airhead

 

[5jj]

Space cadet.

 

[Tdol]

Tosser

 

[Tdol]

I'll offer "drongo" because although it's essentially Australian I know that it's had some currency in GB.

It did the rounds in the UK- and deservedly so as it's a great word.

 

[Raymott]

Hi all,
May I have some informal or slang terms for such a person? (especially in BrE, please)


Many thanks in advance.

There are numerous terms for this, given that it applies to so many people! ;-)
It really depends on how offensive and nasty you want to be. The number of possible terms depends only on your imagination.

"Clueless moron", "pointless retard", "pea-brain", "insignificant loser" - these are all pretty much guaranteed to be offensive.

 

[Mehrgan]

Wow! Many thanks! And about this word loser, does it mean the same as 'They can't do anything for toffee?


Ta!

 

[bhaisahab]

Wow! Many thanks! And about this word loser, does it mean the same as 'They can't do anything for toffee?


Ta!

Yes, the meaning is the same but "...can't do anything for toffee" is very mild and very dated, it was common when I was at junior school over 50 years ago.

 

[Mehrgan]

Yes, the meaning is the same but "...can't do anything for toffee" is very mild and very dated, it was common when I was at junior school over 50 years ago.

So, can I conclude that "loser" is a single word referring to a person whom we can't rely on, because they can't do anything properly?

 

[5jj]

So, can I conclude that "loser" is a single word referring to a person whom we can't rely on, because they can't do anything properly?

Not really, in my opinion. A loser is someone who can walk into a revolving door first and come out the other side last,and who can step on the only piece of glass in the whole park - just two seconds after taking off a shoe to take out the only stone the park that ended up inside the shoe. However, losers can do things properly. In personal affairs we may be able to rely on a loser; losers can be honest, truthful and 'reliable.