twit

Everyday

1. (informal, UK, Ireland, Australia, mildly rude) A silly or foolish person. tree →
2. (old-fashioned, rare) verb: to tease someone. tree →
3. Twit can also be the chirping sound a swallow makes. tree →

In the lessons

In stories and everyday British talk, «you twit!» is a mild, often jokey insult — stronger than «silly», much milder than swear words. Roald Dahl's book «The Twits» is about Mr and Mrs Twit, a nasty, dirty couple who play tricks on each other. Phrases: «you silly twit», «what a twit», «The Twits».

Examples

• «You twit, you've put your jumper on inside out!» laughed my sister. tree →
• Don't be a twit — wear your helmet. tree →
• Mr and Mrs Twit are horrible people in a Roald Dahl book. tree →
• I felt like a twit when I forgot my lines. tree →
• He's a bit of a twit, but he means well. tree →
• Calling someone a twit in class might still get you told off. tree →
• The linden-trees were in blossom; while the swallows flew here and there, crying, "Twit, twit, twit, my mate is coming,"--but it was not the fir-tree they meant. tree →

Note

Countable: a twit, twits. Mild insult (rude, but not a swear word); between friends it can be friendly. Similar: idiot, nitwit, prat (UK), plonker (UK), drongo (Australia). Do not confuse with «tweet» or «twitch».