asshat

English

Alternative forms

arsehat (UK, Ireland, Commonwealth)

Etymology

From ass +‎ hat, from the slang expression have one's head up one's ass, thus, wearing the ass as a hat. The term is extended to people who are clueless or bumbling, who don't understand what is going on.

Pronunciation

(US) IPA^(key): /ˈæshæt/
Audio (Southern England): (file)

Noun

asshat (plural asshats)

(Canada, US, derogatory, slang, sometimes considered, vulgar, often humorous) An obnoxiously ignorant person; a fool.
- 1998 July 23, T..., “Re: GREEN RIVER NARROWS, NC: ALL PUTINS CLOSED!!”, in rec.boats.paddle‎^[1] (Usenet), retrieved 2018-10-04, message-ID <6p7j7t$r21$1@nnrp1.dejanews.com>:
  the same connotations as "FUCKWITS." for less extreme cases i suggest ASSHATS
- 1999 July 23, madge, “California Hustle,”, in alt.fan.erik‎^[2] (Usenet), retrieved 2018-10-04, message-ID <m-2307991051020001@ppp204184.asahi-net.or.jp>:
  1977 CHiPs 3 3/4" action figures (5 different: Ponch, Jon, Sarge,Jimmy Squeaks, Stupid Fucking Asshat Erik Mouse, and Wheels Willie) $10-15 each
- 2006, Jen Lancaster, Bitter is the New Black […] , Penguin, →ISBN, page 224:
  While I wait, the air is abuzz with tales of other marathons while many set of eyes cut in my direction. Eventually an asshat in a JUST DO IT T-shirt asks me, “How's your training going?”
- 2007, John Hargrave, Prank the Monkey: The Zug Book of Pranks‎^[3], Citadel Press, →ISBN, page 188:
  Anyone who would make a claim like this on national TV is a real asshat.

Synonyms

See also Thesaurus:idiot

Derived terms

Translations