tosspot: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
lowinformal, slang
Quick answer
What does “tosspot” mean?
A foolish or contemptible person.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A foolish or contemptible person; a drunkard.
A term of abuse for someone considered inept, worthless, or overly fond of alcohol. It often implies foolish or sloppy behavior, whether general or specifically related to drinking.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Predominantly British. Extremely rare in American English; likely to be misunderstood or sound antiquated.
Connotations
In British use, it is now somewhat old-fashioned, heard in period dramas or used for mild, humorous insult. It lacks the contemporary harshness of stronger swear words.
Frequency
Low frequency in modern UK English, but understood. Virtually zero frequency in US English.
Grammar
How to Use “tosspot” in a Sentence
[Noun] is a {tosspot}.That {tosspot} forgot his keys again.Don't be such a {tosspot}.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Never appropriate.
Academic
Never appropriate.
Everyday
Only in very informal UK contexts, often jocular among friends.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tosspot”
- Using it in formal contexts.
- Using it in American English expecting it to be understood.
- Spelling as 'tospott' or 'toss-pot' (though historically hyphenated).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is considered mild slang or informal abuse, but not a strong swear word. It's dated and often used humorously.
It is traditionally masculine, but can be used for anyone, though it's less common for women.
It comes from 'toss-pot', literally a pot for tossing back drinks, hence a drunkard (16th century).
No, it is almost exclusively British/Irish. An American is unlikely to know it or would find it very old-fashioned.
A foolish or contemptible person.
Tosspot is usually informal, slang in register.
Tosspot: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtɒs.pɒt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtɑːs.pɑːt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine someone who TOSSES their drinks back from a POT. That TOSS-POT is a foolish drunkard.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PERSON IS A CONTAINER FOR WASTE/ALCOHOL.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'tosspot' MOST likely to be used appropriately?