One of the greatest strengths of the English language is any noun can be an insult if delivered in the right tone.

@afewbugs See Australian usage of "mate" ...

@afewbugs also nearly every alliterative “verbing the noun” construction sounds like an euphemism for masturbation.

RE: https://mstdn.social/@sodslawyer/116056688380387248

One of the greatest strengths of the English language is any noun can be an insult if delivered in the right tone.

@afewbugs @DamonHD @Flisty

But then it occured to me, he wanted to get verbed! Ah, good ol' Timmy, what an absolute noun!

RE: https://mstdn.social/@sodslawyer/116056688380387248

One of the greatest strengths of the English language is any noun can be an insult if delivered in the right tone.

@afewbugs
Haha, not only the English language. My mom freaked when I called my brother "een aangebrand stuk protoplasma" = a piece of burnt protoplasm in my teens.
‍️

RE: https://mstdn.social/@sodslawyer/116056688380387248

One of the greatest strengths of the English language is any noun can be an insult if delivered in the right tone.

@amro @afewbugs

Heh, well since another Dutch speaking person chimed in as well, I'll add 2 of my own...

I've been to call people:

"ongelofelijke natte sok" (incredible wet sock) for when I want to say a vulgar thing but can't or won't

"slappe pannekoek" (weak/soft pancake" for when someone is being a spineless wet sock

@Aprazeth @afewbugs
To be fair "pannenkoek" has become more en-vogue as a swearword in dutch the last couple of years.

@amro @afewbugs

That it indeed is. And we are all better for it

There is of course "spetterpoep hoofd" as well, but how do you translate that? Should we translate that?

Also, bonus points for finding and posting that photo (and including alt-text!)

RE: https://mstdn.social/@sodslawyer/116056688380387248

One of the greatest strengths of the English language is any noun can be an insult if delivered in the right tone.

@quixoticgeek @cassana @afewbugs or mix and match!

"You're totally tabled, you utter biro!"

@jetlagjen @quixoticgeek @afewbugs The funny thing is that it only works with a solid British accent. I used to get mistaken for Canadian when talking English for a long time, but then I moved to the UK, and all that shifted to modern RP with hints of Essex and London. And suddenly this magical world of creative vocabulary and wordplay opened up to me.

RE: https://mstdn.social/@sodslawyer/116056688380387248

One of the greatest strengths of the English language is any noun can be an insult if delivered in the right tone.

@cassana I don't think 'only," but I do think maybe "better"...

RE: https://mstdn.social/@sodslawyer/116056688380387248

One of the greatest strengths of the English language is any noun can be an insult if delivered in the right tone.

@afewbugs
Haha, not only the English language. My mom freaked when I called my brother "een aangebrand stuk protoplasma" = a piece of burnt protoplasm in my teens.
‍️

@Aprazeth @afewbugs
To be fair "pannenkoek" has become more en-vogue as a swearword in dutch the last couple of years.