mucky

Everyday

1. (informal, UK, Ireland, Australia) Dirty, muddy or messy: mucky hands. tree →
2. (informal) Rude in a slightly naughty way: a mucky joke. tree →
3. (informal) About weather: wet, grey and unpleasant. tree →

In the lessons

Common in British, Irish and Australian family talk: «Wash your mucky hands!». It is casual and friendly, not rude itself. In stories, a «mucky pup» is a messy child. Phrases: mucky pup, mucky boots, a mucky day.

Examples

• Take off your mucky boots before you come in! tree →
• Your face is all mucky from the chocolate. tree →
• You mucky pup, look at your clothes! tree →
• It's a mucky old day; let's stay inside. tree →
• The dog came back from the field really mucky. tree →
• He told a mucky joke and Mum frowned. tree →
• My hands are muckier than yours. tree →

Note

Informal; in formal writing use «dirty» or «muddy». From «muck» (dirt, manure). Comparative: muckier, muckiest. Related: muck about/around (UK: mess around).