snout
B2Mostly informal; neutral when referring to animals, potentially derogatory when applied to people.
Definition
Meaning
the projecting nose and mouth area of an animal, especially a mammal such as a pig or dog.
Used informally or derogatorily for a person's nose, particularly a large or unattractive one. Also refers to the nozzle or front projecting part of certain objects (e.g., a tobacco pouch, an aircraft). In British slang, can mean a police informer or a cigarette.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Typically implies a longer, protruding shape. For animals, it is a standard anatomical term. For humans, it is almost always informal and carries a negative connotation, suggesting coarseness or unattractiveness.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The noun is standard in both varieties for animals. The British slang meanings 'informer' and 'cigarette' are not used in American English.
Connotations
In both varieties, applying it to a person is insulting. The British slang uses add a layer of criminal/underworld connotation ('snout' as informer) and informal, dated smoking culture ('snout' as cigarette).
Frequency
Equally common for animal reference. The slang usages are low-frequency, regionally marked within the UK, and declining.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
N of N (the snout of the aircraft)N's N (the dog's wet snout)V N (He has a huge snout) [derogatory]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “snout in the trough (BrE, idiomatic): seeking to gain personal profit, especially from public funds.”
- “pay through the snout (archaic/slang): pay an excessive amount.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used, except in metaphorical idiom 'snout in the trough' in UK political/business journalism to criticise greed.
Academic
Used in biological/zoological contexts to describe animal morphology.
Everyday
Common when describing animals (e.g., pets, wildlife). Used as an insult for a person's nose. British slang meanings understood by some.
Technical
Standard term in zoology, veterinary science, and paleontology. Also used in certain engineering contexts (e.g., 'snout' of a glacier, aircraft).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The badger snouted about in the undergrowth.
- He snouted into his tobacco pouch.
American English
- The hog snouted through the compost pile.
- The puppy snouted the ball across the floor.
adjective
British English
- Snout beetles are a common garden pest.
- He had a snout-like profile.
American English
- The tapir is a snout-nosed mammal.
- The snout reflex was tested by the vet.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The pig has a big snout.
- My dog's snout is cold.
- The anteater uses its long snout to eat insects.
- He rubbed his dog's wet snout.
- The journalist accused the councillors of having their snouts in the trough.
- The fossil showed the dinosaur had an unusually short, blunt snout.
- The aircraft's redesigned snout improved its aerodynamic profile.
- In the criminal underworld lexicon, a 'snout' is a valuable but risky source of information.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a pig SNOUTing around in the mud, with its SNOUT down. The word sounds like 'snout' and 'out', as in something sticking OUT.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE NOSE/FRONT IS A PROTRUSION (A snout is a protrusion from the face/front of an object). PEOPLE ARE ANIMALS (Using 'snout' for a person's nose metaphorically assigns them animal-like, crude qualities).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'рыло' (rylo), which is almost exclusively derogatory for faces. 'Snout' for animals is neutral like 'морда' (morda), but for people it's an insult like 'рыло'.
- The British slang meanings ('informer', 'cigarette') have no direct Russian equivalents and are false friends if translating literally.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'snowt'.
- Using it for a human nose in formal or polite contexts.
- Over-applying it to all animal noses; 'beak' is for birds, 'trunk' for elephants.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'snout' MOST likely to be neutral and non-offensive?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is generally considered rude or derogatory, implying their nose is large and animal-like.
No, it is typically for mammals with protruding noses (pigs, dogs, anteaters). It is not used for birds (beak), elephants (trunk), or insects (proboscis, though sometimes used informally).
It is a British idiom meaning to be greedily taking advantage of a situation for personal gain, especially when involving public money or resources.
Yes, though less common. It means to push or root with the snout, as in 'The pig snouted through the mud'.