Shocking modern decline in the quality of terms of insult

[thefourthbeatle]

I am thinking of three particularly feeble, puerile terms that have achieved popularity:

Muppet
Cockwomble
Numpty

(I have neither any idea of the etymology of the second and third, nor any curiosity regarding the matter).

The supposed insult 'prat' was regularly bandied about when I was younger. The use of this insipidity has fortunately declined; the above trio are, however, worse.

The apparent lack of capacity for the modern British to compose a decent insult is only one symptom of Western decline.

Where does cuntwaffle fit on your scale? Asking for a friend.

Muppet and numpty have been around at least since the 1980s

Hadn't heard it before. I dislike it. Pointless addition of 'waffle'. 🤷🏾‍♀️

Yes, all, three of those have been used by me and my peers for over 25 years.

My personal favourite remains "tuss".

Not too strong to use at work, nicely westcountry, very simple. Can be made more pointed with "absolute" added - ie "he's an absolute tuss".

We were treated to a smasher of an insult at work this week: “scum sucking toilet hogs”.

I love customer service and the great British public.

I like spanner personally. Something satisfying about calling them a tool in a roundabout way.

Spanner means partner (as in 'other half') where I'm from.

I associate the use of cockwomble with a certain type of pompous middle-class craft beer drinking mansplainer, for some reason.

Gobshite remains a particular favourite of mine, not least because it's so emphatic

I agree on both 👍🏾. Gobshite feels underused.

Another dud modern term is 'wet wipe' 🤢.

I've used numpty all my life and I'm 63.

Arsewipe anyone?

I remember gobshite being used by my Scottish family....also rent a mouth for someone who wouldn't stop talking!

Personally I like fucknuts

I rather liked prat. Short, to the point and not overly offensive

See that just seems forced to me

@ButterYellowHair really??? Its my ultimate swear saved for the worst offenders Lol

I like gob on a stick, it's an old one where I come from.
My Scottish grandparents used to call someone silly a gobbinhead.

If you want decent insults....

The devil damn thee black, thou cream-faced loon.

Thou sodden-witted lord! thou hast no more brain than I have in mine elbows.

Would thou wert clean enough to spit upon!

There’s no more faith in thee than in a stewed prune

Thou whoreson zed, thou unnecessary letter!

Wet wipe makes my toes curl.

Not to get political but I also hate "lefty bedwetter". For some reason, righties don't wet beds.

I used to hear ‘Yer reprobate’ often growing up in Dumfries. I do like a four syllable insult.

Some favorite Arabic ones:

May your face be forever black

May your vinyards wither and all your wives be barren

And some of my own📧

You are nobody and nothing to me. If you died tomorrow I wouldnt cross the street to spit upon your coffin.

I wouldnt pee in your ear if your brain were on fire

I wouldnt give you a fright if I was a ghost

We like to call people penises a lot in Wales - which I favour. It's always annoyed me that the 'worst' swear words in English relate to female parts - so I hope that from my side of the bridge we are trying to rectify that a bit!

Take your pick from:

Y Coc One - you lamb penis
Coc Y Gath - the cat's penis

Both are basically FFS-style insults.

Tosser, bellend, and knobhead are favourites in this house, preceeded by 'total' or 'absolute' for emphasis.

DYAC - it's Y Coc Oen... my laptop doesn't speak Welsh and changed it to 'One' and I would hate for anyone to go out tonight and call someone a One Penis.

The beginning of The Alchemist entranced me, when I came across it as a teenager:

FACE. Believe 't, I will.
SUB. Thy worst. I fart at thee.
DOL. Have you your wits? why, gentlemen! for love—
FACE. Sirrah, I'll strip you—
SUB. What to do? lick figs..

What I remembered was “I fart at thee”. But “lick figs” is excellent and if you can’t guess the meaning, then pray Google