May 9th 2024.
Let's not allow these iconic insults to fade away! If you were raised on a healthy dose of Only Fools and Horses, then you're probably familiar with terms like 'plonker' and 'prat', as Del Boy was known for flinging these insults at his brother, Rodney, on a regular basis. But it seems that these classic British words are in danger of becoming extinct, as they are not being passed down and used by the younger generation. In fact, a significant number of people under the age of 28 admit that they have never heard these insults before and have no idea what they mean.
A recent study has revealed that for the younger generation, insults are now referred to as 'put downs' and are more likely to sound like 'you're so basic' or 'don't be a Karen', rather than the traditional terms like 'stop being a pillock'. This means that old-school words like 'nitwit', 'git', and 'numpty' could eventually disappear as language continues to evolve and change.
Remember how Del Boy used to call Rodney a 'plonker'? Well, nearly half of the young people surveyed in the study had never even heard of the term 'cad', which refers to an unreliable person, especially a man who has mistreated women. And the numbers are even higher for words like 'berk' and 'lummox', with nearly six in 10 and a whopping 62% of Gen Z respondents respectively, admitting they had never come across these insults before.
Despite the generation gap when it comes to language, it seems that British people of all ages can agree on one thing – we have a unique style when it comes to insults. In fact, 72% of all ages believe this to be true. And we also have a tendency to insult our loved ones with backhanded terms of endearment, with a whopping 81% of people agreeing that this is a very British thing to do. Additionally, 68% are convinced that Britain has the best insults in the world. So maybe we shouldn't be so quick to let go of these classic terms just yet...
Harriet Scott, CEO of Perspectus Global, shared her thoughts on the research, saying: "Our findings show that calling someone a plonker or a prat is no longer considered a trendy way to insult them. Interestingly, the research also highlights how some of the more traditional insults are now seen as less severe compared to the more controversial ones used today. It's fascinating to see how even the language of insults has evolved over time, with words like 'mooncalf' and 'cozener' dating back to Shakespearean England."
This comes after a survey by Uswitch revealed that almost a quarter of young people aged 18 to 34 have never answered a phone call, choosing to ignore it and text instead. The main reason cited for this is the perceived pressure of answering a call, with over half assuming that it means receiving bad news. In fact, the only way most of them will answer a call is if it has been pre-arranged.
Freya Mallard, a 26-year-old comedian from Haringey, explains her aversion to spontaneous phone calls, saying: "I would never pick up a phone call unless I'm expecting it. I just can't handle the uncertainty of not knowing what to expect, so I always prefer to schedule a time to speak on the phone. And my friends are the same way. We just don't do spontaneous calls anymore – I much prefer a voice note, it takes away the pressure. But my mum, on the other hand, loves a surprise phone call, no matter how I feel about it!"
Do you have a story to share about your experience with traditional British insults or phone calls? We would love to hear from you – get in touch by emailing us.
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