empty cow
Very low (archaic/regional slang)Informal, derogatory, potentially offensive; chiefly British and considered dated.
Definition
Meaning
A derogatory British slang term for a foolish or incompetent person, often implying someone who is vacuous or lacking intelligence.
It can refer specifically to an absent-minded, lazy, or inept individual, often with a connotation of being burdensome or useless. In certain contexts, it may humorously describe someone who has made a silly mistake.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term combines 'empty' (lacking content or intelligence) with 'cow' (a derogatory term for a person, often a woman, though usage can be gender-neutral). It is an example of a compound insult.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
This term is almost exclusively British (likely English). It is not found in standard American English slang.
Connotations
In British usage, it carries a strong derogatory force, combining contempt for someone's intellect with general insult. It can sound rustic or old-fashioned.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary use; primarily found in older literature or as a consciously archaic/regional expression.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] is an empty cow.What an empty cow [Subject] is!Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
Potential use in very informal, jocular, or heated reprimands among certain groups in the UK. Highly context-dependent.
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- (Not used as a verb)
American English
- (Not used as a verb)
adverb
British English
- (Not used as an adverb)
American English
- (Not used)
adjective
British English
- (Not standard. The phrase functions as a noun phrase.)
American English
- (Not used)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- (Too low a level for this slang term.)
- He forgot his keys again - what an empty cow!
- "Stop staring like an empty cow and help me!" she said.
- The new apprentice turned out to be a complete empty cow, misplacing all the important documents.
- I felt a right empty cow after locking myself out of the house for the third time this month.
- The character of Purvis in the novel was portrayed as a loveable empty cow, whose heart was in the right place but whose head was decidedly not.
- Her insult, calling him a 'great lumbering empty cow', was straight out of her Yorkshire grandmother's vocabulary.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a cow standing in a field with its head completely hollow and empty, just like the ideas of the person being described.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE MIND IS A CONTAINER (an empty one). A PERSON IS AN ANIMAL (a bovine one).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as 'пустая корова'. This will not convey the intended insult and will sound bizarre. The equivalent sense is closer to 'дурак' (fool) or 'болван' (blockhead).
Common Mistakes
- Using it in formal contexts.
- Using it in American English where it is unknown.
- Misunderstanding its strong derogatory tone.
Practice
Quiz
In which context might the term 'empty cow' be MOST appropriately used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a derogatory insult. While its archaic nature might soften it slightly in humorous contexts, it should be used with great caution as it is likely to cause offense.
Historically, 'cow' as an insult has been applied more frequently to women, but compound insults like this can be and have been used for any gender. Its usage is based on perceived foolishness, not specifically gender.
No, it is considered very dated and regionally specific. You are most likely to encounter it in older British literature, films, or from older speakers in certain parts of the UK.
"Cow" is a general insult implying unpleasantness. "Empty cow" specifies that the person is foolish, vacuous, or lacking in intelligence, not just unpleasant.