We know what frak, popularized through television's cult hit Battlestar Galactica, quite capacity. yet what approximately feck? Or ferkin? Or foul--as in FUBAR, or "Fouled Up past All Recognition"?
In a completely up-to-date variation of The F-Word, Jesse Sheidlower bargains a wealthy, revealing examine the f-bomb and its illimitable makes use of. because the 15th century, no different observe has been tailored, interpreted, euphemized, censored, and shouted with as a lot ardor or strength; think Dick Cheney telling Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy to "go rattling himself" at the Senate floor--it does not have really an identical impression as what was once quite acknowledged. Sheidlower cites this and different infamous examples all through background, from the satiric sixteenth-century poetry of James Cranstoun to the bawdy parodies of Lord Rochester within the 17th century, to newer makes use of by way of Ernest Hemingway, Jack Kerouac, Ann Sexton, Norman Mailer, Liz Phair, Anthony Bourdain, Junot Diaz, Jenna Jameson, Amy Winehouse, Jon Stewart, and Bono (whose use of the note on the Grammys approximately acquired him fined through the FCC).
Collectively, those references and the multiple hundred new entries they illustrate double the dimensions of The F-Word because its past version. millions of additional quotations come from newly to be had digital databases and the assets of the OED, increasing the variety of quotations to hide British, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, Irish, and South African makes use of as well as American ones. hence we study why a fugly needs to hone his or her humorousness, why Canadian top Minister Pierre Trudeau muttered "fuddle duddle" within the Commons, and why Fanny Adams is so candy. a desirable introductory essay explores the word's background, recognition, and altering recognition over the years. and a brand new Foreword by way of comic, actor, and writer Lewis Black bargains readers a sensible and enjoyable tackle the booklet and its material.
Oxford dictionaries have gained renown for his or her expansive, ancient method of phrases and their etymologies. The F-Word bargains all that and extra in an exciting and informative examine a notice that, whereas now mostly authorised as an essential component of the English language, nonetheless confounds, provokes, and scandalizes.
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Extra resources for The F-Word
Rukuza West Coast Turnaround eight: a few fuckwad was once shootin’ up da surroundings wit’ a desktop gun. 1997 S. Lopez Sunday Macaroni membership 209: those fuckwads choose to pass swimming and now they bitch approximately getting rainy. Joey hated operating with amateurs. 2002 A. Davies Frog King 284: take into consideration another person for a metamorphosis, fuckwad. 2006 J. McManus actual 87: As I played my husbandly responsibility sans condom, in spite of the fact that, i used to be hoping, like a bona fide fuckwad, that one way or the other it wouldn’t relatively take. fuckwind noun the kestrel. Cf. WINDFUCKER noun. 1611 R. Cotgrave Dictionary of the French & English Tongues s. v. Crecerelle, A Rattle, or Clacke for kids to play wtih; additionally, a Kestrell, Fleingall, or Fuck-winde. [1847 J. O. Halliwell Dictionary of Archaic & Provincial phrases I. , Fuckwind, a species of hawk. North. ] fuckwit noun mainly Australian & British a silly individual. consequently fuckwittage, noun, stupidity. 1968 A. Buzo in performs 89: good, ta-ta for now, fuckwit. 1970 S. Jarratt Permissive Australia 142: in fact they do, you fuckwit. 1979 in Australian nationwide Dictionary: It appeared like a load of fuck-wit shit to me. 1986 M. Johnson Lear 7: it's not your flip, fuckwits! 1992 I. Banks Crow street vi. one hundred forty four: How can he be this kind of nice man, and smart and just…just a great buddy, and a few fuckwit forgetting to seem either methods cancels out all that…probably now not even a fuckwit; most likely a few usual man pondering whatever else. 1995 Will Self in Esquire (Feb. ) 108: pricey Fuckwit. 1997 N. Y. Press (Aug. 27) 30: Fuckwit on a wet-bike. 1998 H. Fielding Bridget Jones’s Diary 18: Sharon began on an extended illustrative checklist of emotional fuckwittage in growth in our acquaintances: one whose boyfriend of 13 years refuses to even speak about residing jointly [etc. ]. Ibid. sixty six: i'm really not drawn to fuckwittage. 2000 Z. Smith White tooth viii. 185: I’m the sympathetic aspect of the provider undefined, I’m carrier with a fucking smile, I’d put on a bit crimson tie and a bit purple hat like them fuckwits in Mr Burger if my fuckin’ head weren’t so tremendous. 2004 vainness reasonable (Apr. ) 222/1: I simply can’t think I obtained combined up with this type of unusual staff of fuckwits. 2007 B. Eisler Requiem for an murderer ninety eight: the 1st time it have been within the intestine, yet Dox had noticeable it coming or even although the fuckwit knew the right way to punch, the wear hadn’t been too undesirable. fuckwitted adjective mainly Australian & British silly. 1971 in J. Hibberd Stretch of mind's eye forty: You two-timing, fuckwitted mongrel of a slut! 1973 in Australian nationwide Dictionary: That fuckwitted agent of yours is actually riding me correct off my mind. 1982 E. Haley & L. Rosser stories of an Australian Girlhood 25: Pancho’s the single man fuck-witted adequate to place up along with her. 1996 ikon (Jan. –Feb. ) 35/2: She is aware enterprise adequate to understand that mindlessly “political” songs approximately eire will cross down a typhoon 7,000 miles away with fuckwitted americans who've simply made up our minds that they're, like, rilly down with the placement in Northern eire. 1998 E. Brimson Hooligan xxxv. ninety eight: He knew the town lads good and now had a pub filled with severe drinkers instead of soppy, fuck-witted travelers.