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What are some insults in english that will make non-native speakers have to ask someone their meaning? (lemmy.world)

submitted 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 53 points 6 months ago (2 children)

He'd peel an orange in his pocket

He has two brains cells and they're both fighting for third place

He's a face like he's trying to eat an apple through a tennis racket

The tide wouldn't take her out

Scarlet for your mam for having you

Your arse is jealous of your mouth

Snipers dream

Spanner

[–] [email protected] 21 points 6 months ago (2 children)

I am a native English speaker and had to Google "peel an orange in his pocket". It does not mean what I assumed.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Non native speaker here and is the only of the 2 I didn't get. Spanner is the other one.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Spanner is British/Irish means idiot or tool. See also muppet.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 months ago (1 children)

What did you think it meant?

I did have to think about it like, context helped.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (2 children)

You understood it? Are you Irish? I'm Murkin and I thought it meant running one out from his pocket or something.

Peel a banana in his pocket: Tight-fisted, cheap. Often the phrase is “peel an orange in his pocket.” The idea is that someone is so cheap, he will peel a piece of fruit inside his pocket so no one will see it and ask for a bite. - Don’t Be a Muggins: Learn Some Irish Slang

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

It helped that numerous “he’s tight fisted” type comments and insults had been made in the same conversation, before that was said.

No, not Irish.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago

That's what I thought, too*

~~running~~ *rubbing

[–] [email protected] 9 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I've never heard a single one of these

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago

I've heard about half.