Muppet (slang)

Muppet (slang)

[
Hibernian Direct Limited in Ireland, is an example of the usage of the term as slang.]

The term "Muppet" (capitalized), coined in 1954 by Jim Henson for his puppet act, has unofficially become a slang term (lowercase) with different meanings in various regions. The term is currently owned by the Walt Disney Company's subsidiary, Muppets Holding Company.

Outside of its regional usage -- in the United States for example -- calling an individual a "muppet" has caused some confusion for some, misinterpreting it as a compliment. [ [http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_soccerblog/2007/06/mls_rankings_it.html "Orlando Sentinel" "MLS rankings: It's the Muppet Show" by Brant Parsons, 06/19/07] ] Dubious|date=September 2008 These cases have assumed a literal interpretation of the Muppet characters, the property for which the term is trademarked.

Regional usage

In Great Britain and in Ireland the word "muppet" has come to be used as a mild term of abuse, meaning a stupid, incompetent, or moronic person, or the obvious interpretation of someone who is inanimated or somehow not there. [ [http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/news/tm_headline=chef-sacked-for-calling-boss-s-son-a-muppet&method=full&objectid=19622673&siteid=66633-name_page.html "The Daily Record" "Chef Sacked for Calling Boss's Son a Muppet" 08/14/07] ] In a physical context alluding to the tendency for Muppets to wave their arms around or otherwise move clumsily on-screen.Fact|date=December 2007 It is often used mildly affectionately. It can also be applied (in the United Kingdom but not in Ireland) to an aesthetically displeasing individual.Fact|date=December 2007

In the video game , Captain Price, the squadron leader of the player's SAS unit refers to the player's character as a "muppet." "What the hell kind of name is 'Soap'? How'd a muppet like you pass Selection, eh?"

The term is frequently used by English football fans to describe an inept performance by an individual player, or a player or manager perceived to be lacking in skill.

The film "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels", penned by British writer/director Guy Ritchie, features an example of the regional usage of the term in pop culture. The character "Hatchet" Harry Lonsdale (played by P.H. Moriarty) remarks, "I don't want to know who you use, as long as they're not complete muppets."Fact|date=September 2008

The term "muppetry" is also rapidly gaining popularity as a description for an individual, or group of people collectively behaving in a "muppet"-like fashion. The origins are believed to have come from workers in large organisations, who were unhappy with the low to non-existent level of thought or application, that other colleagues put into their work. For example - "I'm sorry the figures will be late this quarter, due to the high amount of "muppetry" going on in the accounts department", or "Gregory's "muppetry" appears to have been infectious." [ [http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/m/muppet.asp Richard Jolley comic strip] ]

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • muppet — /mupˈit/ (slang) noun A foolish or stupid person ORIGIN: From the puppet characters in The Muppet Show, US television series created by Jim Henson (1936–90) …   Useful english dictionary

  • Muppet — noun a) A type of puppet popularised by and , typically operated with one hand of the puppeteer inside the head and a rod to move one arm of the puppet. b) Slang term of abuse implying stupidity and incompetence …   Wiktionary

  • muppet — I Everyday English Slang in Ireland n fool, idiot II Glesga Glossary Stupid, thick III Scottish Vernacular Dictionary somebody who is not too bright …   English dialects glossary

  • Dinosaurs (TV series) — Dinosaurs Format Sitcom Created by Michael Jacobs Bob Young Voices of …   Wikipedia

  • Valley girl — Articleissues copyedit = January 2008 tooshort = January 2008 refimprove = October 2008 POV = January 2008 disputed = January 2008Valley Girl (less commonly, Val ) is a term referred to affluent middle class young girls living in the neighborhood …   Wikipedia

  • New Zealand words — The following is a list of words used in New Zealand English, both shared with Australian English and unique to New Zealand English. Contents 1 Unique to New Zealand 2 Shared with Australia or other countries 3 Bibliography …   Wikipedia

  • Rugrats — Rugrat is also a slang term used for toddler. For the 1980s Canadian children s band, see The Rugrats. Rugrats …   Wikipedia

  • J. Arthur Rank, 1st Baron Rank — Joseph Arthur Rank, 1st Baron Rank (December 22 1888 ndash; March 29 1972) was a British industrialist and film producer, and founder of the Rank Organisation, now known as The Rank Group Plc. Family business Joseph Arthur Rank was born on… …   Wikipedia

  • My Old Man (Said Follow the Van) — My Old Man is a music hall song written by Fred W. Leigh and Charles Collins, made popular by Marie Lloyd. It is a humorous song, but it also reflects some of the hard aspects of working class life in London at the beginning of the 20th century.… …   Wikipedia

  • The Pirates of Penzance — The Pirates of Penzance, or The Slave of Duty, is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It is one of the Savoy Operas. The opera s official premiere was at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in New York… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”