cimorene: closeup of a large book held in a woman's hands as she flips through it (reading)
Cimorene ([personal profile] cimorene) wrote2023-08-11 06:00 pm
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Nuances of 'twerp'?

I was surprised to find only these definitions of "twerp" at wiktionary:

Noun

twerp (plural twerps)

(UK, colloquial) A fool, a twit.

Now you've broken it, you twerp!

1940, Fred Godfrey (lyrics and music), “Bless 'Em All”‎[1], performed by George Formby:

There's many an airman just finishin' his time. There's many a twerp signing on.

(US, colloquial, childish) A small or puny person; one regarded as insignificant, contemptible.

Get out of my way, you little twerp!

(US, colloquial, childish) A person who can be bullied playfully, or easily teased. Sometimes used as a pet-name (often for a younger sibling).


I would have said that it also carries an implication that the puny character is a pest, like... a terrier, or Brad Marchand. But this definition definitely doesn't allow for that implication.

Glancing through a page of search results, only Britannica and Urban Dictionary seem to have that nuance ("annoying" and "obnoxious").

What about everyone else?
wychwood: chess queen against a runestone (Default)

[personal profile] wychwood 2023-08-11 03:29 pm (UTC)(link)
As a UK English speaker, I don't think of it as being someone inherently aggravating - that would be "an annoying little twerp", I would need to specify.
phosfate: Ouroboros painting closeup (Default)

[personal profile] phosfate 2023-08-11 05:10 pm (UTC)(link)
In current American English a twerp is more likely to be called a "little shit."
zana16: The Beatles with text "All you need is love" (Default)

[personal profile] zana16 2023-08-11 06:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes, that’s my connotation for “twerp.” Though it’s been years since I’ve heard the word.
phosfate: Ouroboros painting closeup (Default)

[personal profile] phosfate 2023-08-11 06:23 pm (UTC)(link)
I think it lasted a lot longer on TV than it did in real life. I hear it on old radio shows a lot, where you weren't even allowed to say "belly" or "guts."
krait: a sea snake (krait) swimming (Default)

[personal profile] krait 2023-08-12 02:46 am (UTC)(link)
Ehhhh, I don't think annoyance is a required component, but (like 'little') certain usages can imply it. Both the "fool" and the "contemptible" meaning could be based on repeated pestering, for instance - That twerp from the insurance company called again, or Wish this twerp would buzz off!
torachan: (Default)

[personal profile] torachan 2023-08-12 03:30 am (UTC)(link)
I can't say it's a word I've ever used/heard/thought about too much, but I definitely feel like it has some of the UK meaning in the US as well. idk, I don't think it's used that often these days, so it's hard to say.