Describing a person as ‘rough’

[hannall]

I think this is incredibly offensive, yet I hear people do this all the time! Oh Sandra, she’s nice but a bit rough. Oh Eric, be careful he’s a big rough!

What does it even mean? I can’t actually believe how often I hear it and people don’t seem to think twice about using that description!

I live in a mostly working-class area, but it is not rough. It's safe, pleasant, people are nice, I'm not afraid to go out any time of night. The people are not rough either, in the main. Individuals who are rough don't abide by social norms, like swearing a lot in public, behaving in an aggressive or 'out there' way and don't care about others very much. In my head, anyway.

To me, a rough area would be one where there's a lot of open drug dealing, alcohol problems, crisis families, feels unsafe, you might call it 'underclass' or very deprived. Rough families tend to not care for the opinions of their neighbours about the state of their house, or their behaviour.

It can be used in a slightly different sense: 'I like a bit of rough' means I fancy a hot working-class guy. So it depends on context.

It used to be rough and ready. Night watchmen, bin men used to be the rough and ready type, because they did dirty/rough work or had to rough it, going the toilet outside/no washing facilities/sleeping on a makeshift bed etc. My gardeners are rough, they don't care about cleaning up dead rats, scooping out drains etc. Sound people, but happy to rough it and don't care if their lives/homes lack the polish some of us want. You wouldn't let them try to landscape.
But my definition might be used by people over 45, or it's regional, because it wasn't an Insult.

Swearing.
Smoking.
Shouting at their children.
Eating in the street (the shame). lol.
Mainly the swearing.

I think the full saying is 'rough as a bear's arse'.

It's what was referred to in times of yore as chavvy, or what my mum would call 'common'.

And 'rough trade' is what men called a male prostitute who, ahem, liked to give ( presumably roughly) rather than receive.

Before it became a record label.

See, I do all of those. But only in the privacy of my own home!

Jeremy Kyle’s guests were always rough as fuck. There’s your stereotype.

Hmmm

Members of the middle & upper classes never get referred to as rough. So whilst you're all talking around it, yes it's very much rooted in class & snobby af

It's only offensive if you say it to their face

I think of Rab C Nesbitt

The area I live in is most definitely rough and although I haven't been described as rough (to my face at least!) I have been called unkempt in appearance. When I think of rough type of people I am referring to the drug addicts and street drinkers that frequent my area (near city centre). My actual neighbours are fine and not remotely scary or rough. To me it means loud, obnoxious and rude. Also chaotic lifestyle.

You win. First one to mention tattoos and piercings

I always took it to mean prone to violence/aggressive.

It means lower social class, not afraid to speak her mind and perhaps might have a reputation. Its not a word i’ve used for many years but I have used it before in my youth.

No airs and graces - wouldn’t think twice about having a blazing row in the street & would tell anyone who was looking at them to f-off.

My mother often says how lovely people are but their family are a bit rough, so I suppose a bit of a chaotic home environment.

Hate it, some of the nicest, most honest people I know have been described as 'rough' while some of the most polite, smooth talking people i know are slimy, creepy AF boot lickers 🤮

I love how these answers run the full gamut from "eating in the street" to "openly dealing drugs"
Clearly milage may vary!

If I heard someone described as rough I would assume they are working class and know how to fight.

Next time someone says it OP, ask them what they mean? Oh, and avoid Eric and Sandra..

My neighbours are rough. They thought setting their big loud fireworks off in the middle of the street rather than their garden was a good idea . It’s a cul de sac so they were very close to cars etc and had to move when their takeaway turned up !

I don't think it's offensive if used to describe behaviour which is rough.

Using it to describe someone based on what they wear or their appearence could be rude and classist.

There's loads of rough women in my town centre. Rough to me means loud, sweary, likely to beat you up if you look at them wrong.

Or you hang around with a lot of rough people?

It’s a badgers bum here!

Very middle class job respected etc I'm very middle class, my kids are etc my ex husband was I worked hard go get to where I am I've bought my husband out etc going through divorce. Now my bf I met him going through the separation and tbh I was down. I met him and he was different and it attracted me. It doesn't now and I need to work out things such as getting rid or working on. So I would describe him as rough. Prison bad upbringing swears in every sentence literally and wont stop. Shouts, doesn't listen, iv found a needle in his draw he had a bag of coke delivered other day whilst I was in with kids my daughter noticed it and asked who he was talking to. He ushered in kitchen I followed he put a hammer in draw. Anyways full of cocaine. So I washed it. Not said anything since but inside I want rid but again he's a big bloke has anger issues and is controlling so yano this rough bloke could hurt me so I have to be careful but yes that's rough