cobbler's pegs: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, chiefly Australian, New Zealand, and British garden/rural conversation.
Quick answer
What does “cobbler's pegs” mean?
A plant (Bidens pilosa) known for its small, barbed seeds that stick to clothing and animal fur.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A plant (Bidens pilosa) known for its small, barbed seeds that stick to clothing and animal fur.
A persistent, tenacious, or hard-to-remove person, thing, or problem.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Commonly known in the UK and Commonwealth (especially Australia/NZ); the plant is typically called 'beggar's-ticks' or 'bur marigold' in American English.
Connotations
Connotes nuisance, persistence, and common weeds. In extended use, a mild, often affectionate annoyance.
Frequency
Most frequent in Australia and New Zealand; rare in modern American English.
Grammar
How to Use “cobbler's pegs” in a Sentence
The garden was full of [cobbler's pegs].He's as persistent as [cobbler's pegs].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cobbler's pegs” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- He's got a cobbler's-pegs kind of persistence.
- It was a cobbler's-pegs problem.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Academic
Used in botany or ecology papers discussing invasive species.
Everyday
Complaining about weeds in the garden or metaphorically about a clingy person.
Technical
Botanical identification of Bidens pilosa.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cobbler's pegs”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cobbler's pegs”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cobbler's pegs”
- Misspelling as 'cobblers pegs' (without apostrophe).
- Using it to refer to literal shoe-making tools.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it's most common in Australia and New Zealand. In other regions, 'beggar's-ticks' or 'bur marigold' are more frequent.
Yes, metaphorically. E.g., 'He's like cobbler's pegs, you can't get rid of him.'
Typically, yes, as the term refers to the multiple, peg-like seeds.
The seeds are thought to resemble the small wooden pegs (tacks) used by cobblers in shoemaking.
A plant (Bidens pilosa) known for its small, barbed seeds that stick to clothing and animal fur.
Cobbler's pegs is usually informal, chiefly australian, new zealand, and british garden/rural conversation. in register.
Cobbler's pegs: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɒb.ləz ˈpɛɡz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɑːb.lɚz ˈpɛɡz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “cling like cobbler's pegs”
- “be a real cobbler's peg (of a problem)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a cobbler's workshop where tiny pegs fly out and stick to your socks, just like the seeds of this plant.
Conceptual Metaphor
PERSISTENCE IS ADHESION; NUISANCE IS A WEED.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'cobbler's pegs'?