Insulting English

by Ammon Shea and Peter Novobatzky

At last, a compendium of ingeniously insulting words for every occasion. For anyone who's been stymied by the level of sloth, bad looks and low intelligence of his fellow man (and woman), help is on the way. You can't change the tiresome creatures around you, but now you can describe them behind their backs with pleasing specificity. Yes, Insulting English is a user's guide to little-known and much-needed words that include: Gubbertush: Buck-toothed...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312272081
• ISBN13: 9780312272081
• Release Date: June 2001
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.3" x 7.5"

Customer Reviews

A swimmingly good read!!!

There is only one thing that need be said about this book and that is that it is funny. It is laugh out loud when you're reading it alone funny. It is also deliciously vulgar. Not quite too good to be true, but almost.

superb wit

Quite possibly the funniest thing I've ever read. Warning: do not give this book to anyone who is easily offended. Not for the faint of heart, but well worth it.

The right word just when you need it

Okay, so the guy is a simple-minded little glump. The trouble is, sometimes those simple-minded glump have simple-minded big fists that can do a complex rearrangement of your face before you get a chance to say "But, I mean that in a nice way." So, the next time a self-important little man upsets you, just call him a cockalorum. If he's as dumb as you suspect, tell him it really flatters his personality; if he's smart, you're taking our chances in using any insults -- deserved or naught. It may show that you are a dunderwhelp ? -- that's a detestable numbskull. Or perhaps you could call him a peniculas ? Look that up in your Latin dictionary. A favorite of mine is "snollygoster" -- that's an unprincipled politician. Nah, George Bush wouldn't be that, would he ? Of course not. Let's just say he's an empleomaniac entheomaniac -- relax, he won't know what it means until he can find a dictionary. (Even then he might look it up as "impleomaniac.") An emploeomaniac is a person who is excessively eager to hold public office. An entheimaniac is someone who is literally insane about religion. Or would you just prefer to call me a "philodox" ? It applies to those who writes opinionated reviews. It's a fun book. Granted, you're not likely to memorize a couple of dozen of these words and drop them into casual conversation. Instead, the delight comes from seeing the words and reading the descriptions; some are so fitting, so perfectly fitting -- especially to be used behind someone's back (to be sure of avoiding any big stupid fists). These aren't the usual words you find in a dictionary. On my computer, every one is flagged by SpelChek. If you want to be truly insulting, and who doesn't have at least a few friends who need to be truly insulted, it's why you need the book Naffin. Now, there's a nice gentle-sounding term. Almost affectionate. It describes a person who is almost an idiot. Ever meet a shotclog ? That's a nasty person who is tolerated because he's buying all the drinks. Even at that, it's probably best not to use the term until he quits buying the drinks and leave. We all know what "geek" means, but what about "gink." It's an insignificant person. Perhaps, instead of the too-often-heard "it looks like ...," it would be better just to say it looks grizely -- it means extraordinarily ugly. You've all heard about "impeccable" as praise ? How about "peccable" ? Yes, it's a real world, it means liable to sin. Once, many years ago, I knew a publisher whose favorite term was "cretin." Unfortunately, in his limited acumen, he was never able to come up with a new word and he soon bored everyone with his snoutband attitude. Well, if nothing else, you may conclude that I'm a sophomaniac. I won't tell you what that means -- instead, buy the book.

Delightful, empowering, strange, funny

This innocent-looking little hardcover book will arm you with wonderful, little-known words that are perfect for describing all mannner of offensive people (compulsive shouters, men who wear too much cologne, unpleasant drinking companions tolerated only because they are buying the booze, and on and on). Surprises abound in this no-holds-barred tour of the rich underbelly of our language. Everyone will find something useful and funny in it. in it. Nicely illustrated, with amusing sample sentences, anecdotes and histories of the words included. A cool gift.

No decency here, thank god

Glossaries of obscure words are not generally regarded as being within the most humorous of genres but Insulting English proves to be the exception. Finally, a book that enables one to increase one's vocabulary and learn how to better verbally eviscerate one's fellow man in one fell swoop. At long last the fetid treasure trove that is the English language has been laid open to the masses.