craw-thumper: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowInformal, Derogatory, Archaic/Regional
Quick answer
What does “craw-thumper” mean?
A person who makes a loud, ostentatious, or hypocritical display of religious piety.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who makes a loud, ostentatious, or hypocritical display of religious piety.
By extension, a person who is self-righteously moralistic or who loudly and publicly professes strong beliefs (religious, political, or otherwise) to gain approval, often while acting contrary to those beliefs in private.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term originated in and is primarily associated with British English, specifically regional dialects (e.g., Northern England, Scotland). It is virtually unknown in contemporary American English.
Connotations
In British usage, it evokes a specific, somewhat archaic cultural image of religious hypocrisy. In American English, if encountered, it would likely be seen as a curious, opaque Britishism.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both varieties. More likely to be found in historical texts, regional literature, or used self-consciously for stylistic effect in British contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “craw-thumper” in a Sentence
[Subject] is/was a craw-thumper.They dismissed him as a [adjective] craw-thumper.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “craw-thumper” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- He gave a craw-thumping sermon that nobody believed.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Potentially used in historical or cultural studies discussing religious expression or hypocrisy.
Everyday
Very rare. Could be used humorously or critically to describe someone seen as insincerely moralistic.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “craw-thumper”
- Misspelling as 'crawthumper' (the hyphen is standard).
- Using it in a neutral or positive sense.
- Confusing 'craw' (throat/stomach of a bird) with 'craw' as in 'crawl'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is considered archaic and regional. You are most likely to encounter it in older literature or in deliberate use for stylistic effect.
'Craw' is an old word for the throat, gullet, or stomach of an animal, especially a bird. Here, it metaphorically refers to the chest or heart, the seat of emotion from which one's supposed piety emanates.
While its primary meaning is religious, the core idea of ostentatious and insincere moralising allows it to be extended to other areas like politics or social activism, though this is rare.
Not a standard verb. The related adjective 'craw-thumping' (as in 'craw-thumping piety') is more commonly derived from the noun than a verb form.
A person who makes a loud, ostentatious, or hypocritical display of religious piety.
Craw-thumper is usually informal, derogatory, archaic/regional in register.
Craw-thumper: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkrɔː ˌθʌmpə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkrɑː ˌθʌmpər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated, but related to the concept of 'making a public show of piety'.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine someone loudly THUMPING their CRAW (old word for throat/chest) while praying in public to show off.
Conceptual Metaphor
RELIGIOUS/MORAL DISPLAY IS PHYSICAL BEATING (of the chest/throat).
Practice
Quiz
What is the most accurate definition of a 'craw-thumper'?