schmutter: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (specialised slang)Informal, slang, chiefly British (London/Yiddish-influenced)
Quick answer
What does “schmutter” mean?
Clothing, especially cheap or flashy garments.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Clothing, especially cheap or flashy garments.
A dismissive term for clothes; rubbish or nonsense in broader slang usage.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Almost exclusively British; largely unknown in American English outside specific communities (e.g., New York Jewish diaspora).
Connotations
UK: Often conveys a dismissive, working-class, or market-trader tone. Can imply something is cheap, tacky, or unimportant.
Frequency
Rare in formal contexts; used regionally (especially London) and within certain social groups.
Grammar
How to Use “schmutter” in a Sentence
N to wearV (have/get) some schmutterAdj (fancy/cheap) schmutterVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “schmutter” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Not commonly used as a verb.
American English
- Not used as a verb.
adverb
British English
- Not used as an adverb.
American English
- Not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- Not commonly used as an adjective.
American English
- Not used as an adjective.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
Informal reference to clothing, often with humorous or dismissive nuance.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “schmutter”
- Using it in formal writing
- Assuming it's a compliment (it's often derogatory)
- Overusing outside UK informal contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not rude, but informal and often dismissive. It suggests clothing is cheap, flashy, or unimportant.
It would likely not be understood by the general American public. It remains a chiefly British slang term.
Both are British slang for clothing. 'Schmutter' often implies cheapness or tackiness, while 'clobber' is more neutral slang for one's clothes or gear.
You can say someone is 'talking schmutter', meaning they are talking rubbish or nonsense.
Clothing, especially cheap or flashy garments.
Schmutter is usually informal, slang, chiefly british (london/yiddish-influenced) in register.
Schmutter: in British English it is pronounced /ˈʃmʌtə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈʃmʌtər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Talk schmutter (talk nonsense)”
- “All schmutter and no trousers (all show, no substance)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'schmutter' sounding like 'mutter' – you might mutter about having to wear cheap schmutter.
Conceptual Metaphor
CLOTHING IS DISPOSABLE MATERIAL/RAGS.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'schmutter' be LEAST appropriate?