stinkaroo: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Rare / SlangInformal, colloquial, humorous
Quick answer
What does “stinkaroo” mean?
An informal, chiefly American term for something that is a complete failure, disaster, or flop, particularly in entertainment or performance contexts.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An informal, chiefly American term for something that is a complete failure, disaster, or flop, particularly in entertainment or performance contexts.
Often used to describe a creative work (film, play, TV show, book) that is critically panned or commercially unsuccessful. Can also refer to any disappointing or embarrassingly bad situation or outcome.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is almost exclusively American. British speakers are unlikely to use it naturally, though they would understand it in context. In the UK, synonyms like 'flop', 'disaster', or 'turkey' are more common for the same concept.
Connotations
In AmE: playful, slightly old-fashioned slang, often used with mock exasperation. In BrE: recognized as an Americanism, may sound affected or deliberately folksy if used.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both varieties, but higher likelihood of encounter in American pop culture commentary or informal reviews.
Grammar
How to Use “stinkaroo” in a Sentence
[Subject] be/was a stinkaroo.They called [Direct Object] a stinkaroo.What a stinkaroo [Subject] turned out to be!Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Could humorously describe a failed product launch or marketing campaign.
Academic
Not used. Considered inappropriate slang.
Everyday
Used in informal conversation to describe a bad movie, meal, party, or plan that failed.
Technical
Not used in any technical field.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “stinkaroo”
- Using it in formal writing.
- Overusing the term, making speech sound dated or trying too hard to be folksy.
- Confusing it with 'stinker', which is more common and can refer to a bad thing OR a difficult problem.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's not offensive. It's informal and playful, though it expresses strong negative judgment about the quality of something.
Rarely and non-standardly. Its primary and almost exclusive use is as a noun (e.g., 'a stinkaroo'). Using it as an adjective ('a stinkaroo movie') would be understood but sounds awkward. 'Stinker' is more flexible as both a noun and informal adjective.
It emerged in American slang in the mid-20th century (1940s-1950s). It is now considered quite dated and is used primarily for humorous or ironic effect. You are more likely to hear 'flop', 'bomb', or 'turkey' in modern speech.
'Stinkaroo' is more emphatic, specific to a failure/flop, and more dated/playful. 'Stinker' is more common, can mean a failure ('The film was a stinker') OR a difficult problem ('This math equation is a real stinker'), and is less consciously humorous.
An informal, chiefly American term for something that is a complete failure, disaster, or flop, particularly in entertainment or performance contexts.
Stinkaroo is usually informal, colloquial, humorous in register.
Stinkaroo: in British English it is pronounced /ˌstɪŋkəˈruː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌstɪŋkəˈruː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “go down as a stinkaroo”
- “pull a stinkaroo”
- “stinkaroo of the century”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a skunk (which STINKs) doing a kangaroo (-AROO) jump into your living room while you're trying to watch a movie. The movie is as unwelcome and smelly as that situation.
Conceptual Metaphor
A FAILURE IS A BAD SMELL / A FAILURE IS A RIDICULOUS SPECTACLE.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'stinkaroo' be LEAST appropriate?