tit

Everyday

1. A tit is a small, lively bird, such as the blue tit or great tit, common in gardens in the UK and Europe. tree →
2. (rude, slang) Tit is also a rude word for a part of the body; not for school. tree →
3. (UK, slang, mild insult) A tit is a silly or annoying person: «Don't be a tit.» tree →
4. «Tit for tat» means doing something bad back to someone because they did it to you. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons in the UK, blue tits and great tits appear in bird watches, nest-box projects and food chains (they eat caterpillars and seeds). In playground talk in Britain, «you tit» is a mild insult, and the rude meaning of the word is not polite; teachers may tell children off for it. «Tit for tat» is a common phrase in stories about fights and arguments. Phrases: «blue tit», «great tit», «long-tailed tit», «tit for tat», «feel a right tit» (UK, slang: feel stupid).

Examples

• A blue tit is feeding at the bird table. tree →
• Great tits nested in our school's nest box. tree →
• Long-tailed tits fly around in little flocks. tree →
• They kept taking each other's pens — tit for tat. tree →
• (UK, slang) "Don't be a tit, give it back!" tree →
• (UK, slang) I felt a right tit when I fell off the stage. tree →
• Blue tits eat lots of caterpillars in spring. tree →

Note

The bird meaning is perfectly polite. The body meaning (rude) and the insult (UK slang) are not used in class; in a story they show rough talk. American English calls similar birds «chickadees» and «titmice». Plural of the bird: «tits»; the word «titmouse» has the plural «titmice».