maulers: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, colloquial, humorous
Quick answer
What does “maulers” mean?
Hands, especially when they are large, clumsy, or used aggressively for grabbing or hitting.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Hands, especially when they are large, clumsy, or used aggressively for grabbing or hitting.
A person or team known for aggressive physical play or rough tactics; can refer to sports teams or fighters. Also refers to large, powerful tools or machines used for crushing or shredding.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is broadly similar, though slightly more common in British informal/slang contexts. The extended meaning as a team nickname is used in both.
Connotations
Both varieties share connotations of physicality, roughness, or lack of finesse. Can be used humorously.
Frequency
Not a high-frequency word in either variety. More likely found in specific contexts like sports commentary or casual, descriptive speech.
Grammar
How to Use “maulers” in a Sentence
keep/keep your [NP] off [NP] (e.g., keep your maulers off my chips)with [NP] (e.g., a man with maulers like shovels)Verb + with + [NP] (e.g., he pawed at it with his maulers)Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
Used informally to refer humorously or critically to someone's hands, especially if they are being greedy or clumsy.
Technical
Can refer to industrial shredding/crushing machines (e.g., 'timber maulers').
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “maulers”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “maulers”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “maulers”
- Using it as a singular noun (e.g., 'he has a big mauler'). It is almost exclusively plural. Confusing it with 'maul' (the verb/noun for the tool/action).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is informal and can be rude if used directly to describe someone's hands. It is often used humorously among friends.
Yes, it can be used humorously for an animal's paws, especially a large dog or bear.
Yes, but it is rare for hands. A 'mauler' is more commonly a person who mauls (e.g., a brutal boxer) or a type of machine.
They are similar slang terms. 'Maulers' strongly implies roughness and strength, while 'mitts' is more neutral and can also refer to gloves.
Hands, especially when they are large, clumsy, or used aggressively for grabbing or hitting.
Maulers is usually informal, colloquial, humorous in register.
Maulers: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɔːləz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɔːlərz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Get your maulers off (something)! (an imperative to stop touching something)”
- “A pair of maulers”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a bear MAULING its prey – it uses its big paws or MAULERS. So, MAULERS are the 'tools' used to MAUL.
Conceptual Metaphor
HANDS ARE TOOLS (specifically, tools for rough handling or damage).
Practice
Quiz
In an industrial context, 'maulers' could refer to: