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Pedants' corner

It's "knob", not "nob", you absolute KNOBS!

38 replies

LaMarschallin · 05/01/2021 15:44

There.
All calm again.
I've seen this a lot, but today it's lockdown, I'm bored and am moved to post after seeing this twice in the last hour.

If trying to insult someone, call them a Knob. With a "k".
I presume this comes from "door knob" and other knobs of similar type/appearance (eg drawer knobs) becoming slang for a penis.
Basically, you want to call someone a dick.
And why not?

"Nob" with no "k", on the other hand, is old-fashioned slang for a posh person.
Now, depending on outlook and/or political affiliation, that may also seem quite the insult.

However, if as in most cases (and I would bet folding money that this is mostly what is meant*), the wish is to call someone a complete cock, "knob" is the word you want.

*You know - within reason. Think I've got a €5 note somewhere. Not much use to me at the moment.

PS I am fully expecting:

  1. To be corrected and have the proper use of "nob" as an insult explained to me.

and

B) To have my spelling and my grammatical mistakes painfully picked apart.

Wink
OP posts:
ErrolTheDragon · 05/01/2021 15:47

Very clear, OP, but I'm still at a loss what to call Jacob Rees-Mogg.

betlynchsearrings · 05/01/2021 15:48

Jacob Rees-Knob?

Lottapianos · 05/01/2021 15:49

I hear you. Why can NO ONE spell anymore?!

LaMarschallin · 05/01/2021 15:49

ErrolTheDragon

Smile

That's a whole new ballgame, I suspect.
A kunt?

OP posts:
LaMarschallin · 05/01/2021 15:52

ErrolTheDragon

Actually, a "nobby knob" or "knobby nob" would both do, probably.

Kudos, btw Smile

OP posts:
SingingSands · 05/01/2021 15:52

@betlynchsearrings

Jacob Rees-Knob?

Perfect 😄

YouBoughtMeAWall · 05/01/2021 15:52

@Lottapianos

I hear you. Why can NO ONE spell anymore?!
I can!

N-E-M-O-

Oh, wait, back in a mo...

LaMarschallin · 05/01/2021 15:54

betlynchsearrings

Jacob Rees-Knob?

My compliments; didn't see this before Smile

OP posts:
Topseyt · 05/01/2021 15:55

I totally agree, and have seen this a fair bit recently.

If you want to insult someone then at least get the insult right or you just look like an arse yourself.

bengalcat · 05/01/2021 15:57

Lol loving the nob/knob refs . Jacob Rees Moggy is quite possibly both .

Bananalanacake · 05/01/2021 15:58

In Germany there was a train company called 'Nord Ostsee Bahn'
The staff would have 'NOB' written on their uniform jackets. I don't think they operate anymore though.

Lottapianos · 05/01/2021 15:58

Apart from you and me of course, YouBoughtMeAWall Grin

ErrolTheDragon · 05/01/2021 16:03

@Lottapianos

I hear you. Why can NO ONE spell anymore?!
Americans can spell 'anymore' I believe.
TellingBone · 05/01/2021 16:03

I'm a pedant too but on this occasion I believe the use of 'nob' came about in the early days of the internet when people were trying to get around profanity filters on message boards [rather than through an inability to spell].

While I'm here though, may I please mention the abominable misuse of discrete/discreet hereabouts? Grin

KirstenBlest · 05/01/2021 16:05

nob1
/nÉ’b/
nounINFORMAL•BRITISH
a person of wealth or high social position.
"it was quite a do—all the nobs were there"

KirstenBlest · 05/01/2021 16:06

knob
/nÉ’b/
Learn to pronounce
Filter definitions by topic
See definitions in:
All
Mountaineering
Geography
Zoology
Sex · Vulgar Slang
noun
1.
a rounded lump or ball, especially at the end or on the surface of something.
Similar:
lump
bump
protuberance
projection
protrusion
bulge
swelling
knot
node
nodule
gnarl
growth
outgrowth
excrescence
carbuncle
tumour
boss
stud
ball
knop
nub
umbo
tumescence
nugget
nubble
pat
cake
cube
chunk
dollop
piece
bit
portion
wedge
hunk
bar
slab
gobbet
wodge
gob
2.
NORTH AMERICAN
a prominent round hill.

TSBelliot · 05/01/2021 16:06

Jus goes knob an nob an your ok.

ErrolTheDragon · 05/01/2021 16:10

Having mentioned Americans, I'm not sure 'knob' translates. We lived in the US some years ago and went to a ski resort rejoicing in the name 'Blue Knob' a couple of times. The locals didn't seem to understand why the Brits were making jokes about how cold it was.

Deux · 05/01/2021 16:12

I’m still reeling from seeing cubird the other day. 😀

YouBoughtMeAWall · 05/01/2021 16:12

@Lottapianos

Apart from you and me of course, YouBoughtMeAWall Grin
Grin
LaMarschallin · 05/01/2021 16:13

TellingBone

I'm a pedant too but on this occasion I believe the use of 'nob' came about in the early days of the internet when people were trying to get around profanity filters on message boards [rather than through an inability to spell].

I take your point: I used to post on a board where you couldn't even post "fresh fruit salad" because people had tried to use it to represent "FFS".*

But if people haven't realised that it was a way to sneak past filters then, unfortunately, they've learned bad spelling, albeit unintentionally. It still bears pointing out, imo.

the abominable misuse of discrete/discreet hereabouts? grin

Oh yes! And past/passed and bear/bare Smile

*You also had to put things like "Stopflower" instead of "Waitrose"...

OP posts:
Regularsizedrudy · 05/01/2021 16:16

Oh don’t be such a nob Wink

Apileofballyhoo · 05/01/2021 16:20

@Deux

I’m still reeling from seeing cubird the other day. 😀
What on earth is cubird?
LaMarschallin · 05/01/2021 16:20

Regularsizedrudy

Oh don’t be such a nob wink

I can't help being nobby - I was born that way SadWink

Not "Nobby" though, for any Pratchett fans (or, indeed, football aficionados).

OP posts:
Poppins2016 · 05/01/2021 16:23

Thank you. I've been silently correcting people (on MN) all week... Grin

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