Cur
Definition
- Noun:
- A derogatory term for a person: A "cur" is a contemptible, cowardly, or mean-spirited man. It implies a lack of courage, honor, or decency.
- A mongrel dog: A dog of mixed breed, especially one that is considered inferior, aggressive, or unattractive.
Usage Examples
- Noun (person):
- Hắn là một tên cur hèn nhát. (He is a cowardly cur.)
- Đừng tin lời tên cur đó. (Don't trust that vile cur.)
- Noun (dog):
- Con cur đó cứ sủa cả đêm. (That mongrel cur barks all night.)
- Một con cur lạc vào sân. (A stray cur wandered into the yard.)
Advanced Usage
- The word is almost exclusively used in a figurative and insulting sense when referring to a person. Its use for a dog is now somewhat archaic or literary in English but is understood.
Variants and Related Words
- Cur-dog (n): An alternate, now rare, term for a mongrel dog.
Synonyms
- Cad: A man who behaves dishonorably.
- Scoundrel: A dishonest or unscrupulous person.
- Villain: A character whose evil actions are important to the plot.
- Mongrel: A dog of no definable type or breed.
Related Idioms
- While "cur" itself is not commonly used in modern English idioms, it appears in classic literature and older texts as a standalone insult. A related concept is:
- To have a curlip: This is not a direct idiom with "cur," but the word contributes to the imagery of cowardice and low breeding often associated with dogs.