Linguists are warning that loads of classic British insults like pillock and plonker could be “at risk of dying out”.
When was the last time you heard the word ‘tosspot’? Can you remember when you last called somebody a ‘prat’, a ‘git’, or maybe a ‘nitwit’? Or perhaps branded a clumsy or stupid person a ‘lummox’? Well, when it comes to Gen Z, there’s a good chance the answer to all of those questions is never.
That’s because a new survey has discovered that a significant number of those born between 1997 and 2012 aren’t familiar with a wide range of classic insults used by Brits.
Instead, Gen Z were found to be embracing newer insults such as ‘Karen’, ‘simp’, and ‘basic’.
This shocking revelation comes after international research agency, Perspectus Global, recently carried out a survey asking 2,000 people which insults they recognised from a long list of words that are used both nationally across the UK and regionally too.
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Loads of classic British insults like pillock and plonker are ‘at risk of dying out’ / Credit: Joshua Hoehne (via Unsplash)
Topping the list of insults that are at risk of dying out is the aforementioned ‘lummox’, with 62% of people surveyed under 28 years of age, and just over half of all those surveyed, being unfamiliar with the term – which is most commonly used in East Anglia.
‘Bampot’ was second on the list, with 60% being unfamiliar with the word, while ‘blighter’ was third, having stumped 54% of young people, and ‘ninny’ – which is a light-hearted word for a silly person – and ‘cad’, which is a word for a dishonest man, both rounding out the top five and flummoxing just over half of those surveyed.
‘Numpty’, ‘scallywag’, ‘toe rag’, and ‘prat’ are some of the other insults featured on the list.
Fans of the absolute classic British sitcom that is Only Fools And Horses might also be a bit miffed to find out that one of Del Boy’s favourite insults to fire at his brother Rodney, ‘plonker’, was unknown by a quarter (25%) of Gen Z.
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“Language changes, evolves and moves on,” explained Harriet Scott, who is the CEO of Perspectus Global, as the shocking survey results were released.
“Our research shows that calling someone a plonker or a prat is no longer a fashionable way to insult them, and interestingly, the research highlights the extent to which Brits feel some of the more traditional jibes, feel softer and less severe, than some of today’s more controversial ones.”
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Channel 4 is looking for Mancs who think they can survive the apocalypse for a new TV series
Lydia Mastrolonardo
Have you always wanted to see how long you’d last in an apocalypse?
Well now’s your chance, as Apocalypse is potentially coming back to Channel 4 for a second series, with producers having put out a nationwide casting call for contestants willing to take part.
The casting call simply reads: “Do you think you have what it takes to survive the end of the world?”
Described as a dystopian series designed to test the creativity, resourcefulness, and resilience of our nation, Apocalypse sees players are pushed out of their comfort zones and put to the ultimate test.
In the series, ordinary people are tasked with surviving for 28 days in an abandoned city – used previously only for the military to practice urban warfare – with no food, running water, electricity or heat.
Produced by The Garden – which is part of ITV Studios – for Channel 4, the show’s creators are now calling on Mancs and people up and down the country with the ‘courage and ingenuity’ to compete, to get in touch and apply for the potential second series.
Does your mate always bang on after watching a post-apocalyptic film that they would’ve done things differently? Or is the news at the moment freaking you out and you want to give the end of the world a bit of a practice run? Either way, sign up, test that plan you’ve built in your head, and see if you’ve really got what it takes.
Applications are now open, and all you need to do is fill in a short application form and one of the production team will get back to you if they would like to proceed. Come on, let’s prove what Mancs are made of.
Hundreds of katsu curries are being given out for FREE in Manchester this week
Emily Sergeant
Hundreds of katsu curries are being dished up and given out for free in Manchester this week, but only for certain people.
And those lucky people will be students.
That’s right… a new semester is upon us, and thousands of freshers and returning students are descending on the city and Manchester‘s many universities for another year. But the life of a student isn’t exactly the cheapest sometimes, especially for those who haven’t had to live on a budget before moving out or into halls.
But to make things a little easier, Tampopo has announced it’ll be serving hundreds of one of its most popular dishes for free this week.
Tampopo is celebrating National Katsu Curry Day in the most delicious way possible, by giving away 700 Katsu Curries with rice for free, exclusively to freshers and students this Sunday (27 September).
Whether you’re brand new to the city, settling back into uni life, or you’re simply in need of a katsu fix, students can head to their nearest participating Tampopo and tuck into a hearty meal without needing to spend a penny.
100 katsu curries will be available each from 12-2pm at both Tampopo restaurants in Manchester city centre – which are on Albert Square, and in the Corn Exchange – or if you head over to the Trafford Centre, both the Tampopo there and the East Street sites are taking part.
“[Our] Katsu Curry has long been one of our most-loved dishes, so National Katsu Curry Day felt like the perfect excuse to give students a proper welcome to the new academic year,” Tampopo said in a statement.
So, are you feeling hungry then? The offer is exclusively available for takeaway only to freshers and students with a valid student ID, which they must present on collection.
100 portions are available at each participating location, and just one free katsu curry with rice will be available per person.
Emily Sergeant -
13th May 2024 
