cimorene: closeup of a large book held in a woman's hands as she flips through it (reading)
[personal profile] cimorene
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?

(no subject)

Date: 12 Aug 2023 02:46 am (UTC)
krait: a sea snake (krait) swimming (Default)
From: [personal profile] krait
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!

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