mutt and jeff
Very LowInformal, Humorous, Dated
Definition
Meaning
A state of being completely deaf; to ignore or pretend not to hear someone or something.
Deliberate or feigned deafness; a pretense of not hearing or understanding. Also used to describe someone who is genuinely hard of hearing, often in a humorous or informal context.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
This is rhyming slang (from the names of early 20th-century comic strip characters Mutt and Jeff) for 'deaf'. It is primarily used in British and Australian English. The meaning is fixed; it does not refer to the characters themselves but to the state of deafness.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is almost exclusively British/Australian rhyming slang. It is extremely rare and considered highly dated in American English, where it would likely not be understood in this sense.
Connotations
UK: Humorous, informal, working-class origin, somewhat dated. US: Largely unknown or misinterpreted.
Frequency
Very infrequent in modern UK English, primarily found in older texts or used self-consciously for humorous effect. Virtually non-existent in contemporary American usage.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] is/goes mutt and jeff.[Subject] is stone mutt and jeff.He's gone a bit mutt and jeff.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “stone mutt and jeff (completely deaf)”
- “go mutt and jeff (to become deaf or pretend to be deaf)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Virtually never used; mentioned only in linguistics or cultural studies discussing rhyming slang.
Everyday
Extremely rare; if used, it's among older generations in the UK/Australia in informal, humorous contexts.
Technical
Not used in medical or audiology contexts.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Stop mutt-and-jeffing me, I know you can hear!
adjective
British English
- My granddad's gone a bit mutt and jeff in his old age.
- He's stone mutt and jeff without his hearing aid.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He's been a bit mutt and jeff since the loud concert.
- Don't go mutt and jeff on me now, I need an answer!
- The old boxer was stone mutt and jeff from years of taking punches to the head.
- She just smiled and played mutt and jeff whenever we mentioned the debt.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a MUTTerring old man named JEFF who can't hear you, so he's MUTT AND JEFF (deaf).
Conceptual Metaphor
A PERSON IS A COMIC STRIP (where the named characters stand for a physical condition via rhyme).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate as 'мутт и джефф' expecting meaning. It is not a personal name. The correct concept is 'глухой'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to refer to two people (like a pair).
- Using it as a standard adjective without the 'and' (e.g., 'He's mutt jeff').
- Assuming it is modern or widely understood.
Practice
Quiz
In British rhyming slang, what does 'mutt and jeff' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be considered mildly disrespectful if used to describe someone with genuine hearing loss without their consent, as it is informal and humorous. Context is key.
It is not recommended. Most Americans will not understand the rhyming slang meaning and may think you are referring to the comic strip characters or something else entirely.
It originates from early 20th-century Cockney rhyming slang, based on 'Mutt and Jeff', a popular American comic strip created by Bud Fisher. 'Jeff' rhymes with 'deaf'.
No, it is considered very dated. You are most likely to encounter it in older British films, novels, or from elderly speakers using traditional slang.