Is wonk a derogatory term?

It's recorded from the 1930s as a derogatory word used by Aborigines for a white person, and by white people for others who looked down on them. Overlapping in time from the end of WWII, wonk was used to refer to an effeminate or homosexual man.

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Is wonk a rude word?

The noun wonk is an informal way of referring to an overly studious person. Wonk is as derogatory as words like "dweeb" or "geek," and it implies someone who is boringly focused on work or school — like your physics major friend "the science wonk." Extreme fans of politics are sometimes called policy wonks.

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What is wonk slang for?

ˈwäŋk ˈwȯŋk. Synonyms of wonk. : a person preoccupied with arcane details or procedures in a specialized field. broadly : nerd. a policy wonk.

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Is there such a word as wonk?

wonk | Business English

someone who knows all the details about a particular subject, particularly one that other people might find boring: The Senator was considered to be a policy wonk.

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Where did the term policy wonk come from?

The term is recorded from the mid 1980s, in terms of the American political scene, and there is often an implication that the high level of theoretical knowledge involved has unfitted the policy wonk for dealing with practical matters.

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Is the term 'migrants' derogatory? - Newsnight

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When did people start saying wonky?

The first reference for “wonky” in the Oxford English Dictionary is a 1919 citation in which Lord Northcliffe, a newspaper magnate, writes of being “weak, and wonky, as the telephone girls say, after a bad morning with the subscribers.”

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Do Americans say Wonky?

Although the traditionally American version of the word wonky or wonk refers to someone who is extra studious or knowledgeable about the mundane details of a specialized field (à la “policy wonk”), the British version is taking hold in the U.S. as well. In the latter case, wonky means awry, unsteady or off-kilter.

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What is British slang for wimp?

Melt (noun)

A slang word used in London youth culture for years that was made famous by the reality TV show 'Love Island,' a 'melt' is someone who is a wimp or a coward.

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Is Cattywampus a bad word?

Cattywampus is a variant of catawampus, another example of grand 19th century American slang. In addition to “askew” catawampus may refer to “an imaginary fierce wild animal,” or may mean “savage, destructive.”

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What are kaboodles slang?

Caboodle is an informal way to talk about an entire bunch of some item or category, frequently within the phrase "the whole kit and caboodle," which has the same meaning. You might say you love everything about movies — the whole caboodle — or buy all the ice cream from your neighborhood shop, the entire caboodle.

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What is UK slang for grumpy?

Nark - If someone is in a nark, it means they are in a bad mood, or being grumpy.

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What is the oldest rude word?

The word “fart” has been recorded since the 13th century and comes from the Old English word “feortan,” making it the oldest swear word ever recorded. It has been used as a vulgar slang term for flatulence, and its usage has been recorded in various works of literature and poetry throughout history.

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What is Australian slang for wimp?

Sook. In Australia, a SOOK is a type of calf. But, when used as an Australian slang word, it refers to someone who is a crybaby, wimp or coward. Example: “Mate, stop being such a sook and go tell her that you want to take her to dinner.”

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What is slang for girl in UK?

'Lass' or 'lassie' is another word for 'girl'. This is mainly in the north of England and Scotland. 'Lad' is another word for boy.

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Why do Brits say cuppa?

We all know the Brits love a good cup of tea, but did you know that tea can also be called a cuppa. This slang word came from the phrase “cup of tea” which was shortened to “cuppa tea” and eventually just cuppa. There's evidence of it being used back in the early 1900s so it's not new slang, but it's stuck.

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What is the British slang for wow?

Blimey: my goodness, wow.

Blimey is a slightly more old-fashioned term, but it's still a great way of expressing excitement that no one will expect.

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Why don t Americans use fortnight?

Fortnight is not said in America whereas two weeks is. When the TV programmes and the films we're watching aren't using the word fortnight, we aren't being exposed to it on a regular basis and therefore we're now using the word less.

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What is the British phrase for silly?

Nitwit. An inoffensive way of describing someone a bit silly.

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What is the Aussie slang for lazy people?

The Australian slang term for lazy is bludger. A bludger is a lazy person, someone who doesn't like making effort or doing real work. Australians might also call a lazy person a “layabout” or a “couch potato”, in the same way that other countries use these terms. The most common, though, by a long way, is bludger.

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Do Australians say no weirdly?

While some Australian speakers would pronounce “no” as a diphthong, starting on “oh” as in dog and ending on “oo” as in put, others begin with an unstressed “a” (the sound at the end of the word “sofa”), then move to the “oh” and then “oo”.

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What is the most hated word in English?

These are the 9 most hated words in the English language
  1. Moist. Moist is by far the clear winner when it comes to least favorite words. ...
  2. Flap. It can be used to refer to a bird in flight, or extra skin, or, you get the idea. ...
  3. Whatever. ...
  4. Dude. ...
  5. Like. ...
  6. Literally. ...
  7. Flaccid. ...
  8. Panties.

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What is the rudest word to call someone?

Rare and Amusing Insults: Cockalorum, Snollygoster, and More
  • Cockalorum. Definition - a boastful and self-important person; a strutting little fellow. ...
  • Snollygoster. Definition - an unprincipled but shrewd person. ...
  • Pillock. Photo: via Budweiser. ...
  • Lickspittle. ...
  • Smellfungus. ...
  • Ninnyhammer. ...
  • Mumpsimus. ...
  • Milksop.

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