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.

Excellent 👌. I think it's also a Jonson play where a nonplussed character comes out with the superb "Turd in your Teeth" (possibly "i' your Teeth"). At the theatre even 25 years ago, this had much of the audience squirming.

It dates back centuries, according to 'Unspeakable' on R4 just now. Surprised me!

I like knobhead, knucklehead, or plain old knob. Not sure why that silent k makes all the difference, but it does. Thundering is a satisfying adjective, for polite company.

Fuckwit, gobshite, dipshit and fuckity, fucking, fuckering when the air is already blue.

Bastardly to rhyme with dastardly, if there’s a smidgen of admiration creeping through. Wanker for derision, but with a title if they think highly of themselves : Lord Wanker, Sir Wankalot.

I’m unwell, in bed, and welcomed this challenge. Indeed it is Bartholemew (“Bartholmew”) Fair:

Was. Upon your Justice-hood? Marry shite o'your
Hood, you'll commit? Spoke like a true Justice of
Peace's Wife, indeed, and a fine female Lawyer! turd
i' your Teeth for a fee, now.

VVas. Good Master Hornet, turd i' your teeth, hold
you your tongue: do not I know you? Your Father was
a Pothecary, and sold Glisters, more than he gave, I wusse:
and turd i' your little Wives teeth too (here she comes),
'twill make her spit as fine as she is, for all her Velvet
Custard on her head, Sir.

Marry shite o’ your Hood…?
Velvet Custard…?

Wazzock is sadly underused these days.

Dickhead doesn't get the airtime I feel it deserves.

Fuck pig.

I like calling people jerks, twerps, dicks and idiots. Only in my head though.

Yes, was surprised that both Numpty and Plonker are considered 'old fashioned' now 😳. Also agree with them that Berk is criminally underused these days. I love Berk.

An idiotic told me that he called me spanner because every time he saw me his nuts tightened up.
Bastard.

I'm still partial to pillock.

Byron nicknamed Wordsworth Turdsworth. My A level class were very taken with that!

Numpty is Scottish I think or perhaps Northern English and Scottish. It's quite gentle.

I like twerp someone mentioned, forgot about that one. Again, quite mild.

Wazzock is underused.

I bought ds a book of Shakespearean insults for Xmas. Quite good fun.

Munter is my favourite. Best pronounced with a west country accent. "Munt-urrrr!".

Ohhh Munter as in ugly woman? That would never be a favourite for me unless it means something different down your way.

'Tosser' said in a contemptuous tone and Cockney accent. That has impact.

Agree 👍🏾. For some years often incorrectly confused with 'tosspot' - meaning 'drunkard' - by a bunch of right tossers*

*(contemptuously recited in Cockney accent)

Gowl, gom, langer, langball, gurrier, shitehawk, mog, pox, waggon, dryshite, barmoot, pooka,

That is hilarious - in part because, although a fan of Byron ('Birron' as the name was pronounced in his time 🤔) - I wasn't aware of this; I generally refer to the Bore of the Lakes as Turdsworth myself, & was convinced I had coined the term! 🤯😧🤷🏾‍♀️

A fund of interesting information 🤝. Get well soon.

Since you may possibly be an authority on Elizabethan / Jacobean drama, perhaps you are in a position to recommend some plays? I have read most of Shakespeare's plays, Marlowe, a good amount of Ben Jonson, but have always failed to tackle the 'lesser' period dramatists with aplomb. I've read perhaps one each by Dekker, Tourneur, Ford, Massinger, Beaumont & Fletcher, others too. But I have never got to grips with the field, tending to stray into the Restoration (albeit excellent). Could do with some hints 🤨

Nothing wrong with “muppet”. Streets ahead of twee twattery like “cockwomble” and “wankpuffin”.

Fuck pot

The Malcontent by John Marston. Read it for A level.

I like:

Dickhead
Twat
Cretin
Daft Sod
Mardy Arse

Most of these would said light-heartedly "stop been such a daft sod"